The Forge Of Kings

Chapter 6: New Allies

     The light elf leader snapped and the crowd of elves disappeared into the darkness in an instant. He then turned to the brick wall behind him and whistled a peculiar tune, it was hard to hear over the sounds of battle just outside the alley. The wall rumbled and the bricks moved as if by magic to reveal a stairway going down into an underground... Something. The elf nodded towards the tunnel and began defending the stairs. I reached for my dagger and followed, I was suspicious of him, but he did have ample opportunity to kill me and didn't. "Where are we going?" I asked him sternly, trying to avoid soundling like prey, a nearby torch burst into flame with a Whoosh, more followed, both sides of the tunnel lit up by a series of torches. "We Sylhalins have been tortured, enslaved and forced into the imperial armies. Families were separated, women, children, even infants were taken from their mothers. The last of us have resorted to an underground defensive approach." I listened to his concerns, it seems he has a bone to pick with the imperials, so he could be a useful ally. "I know you have no reason to trust me, or my fellow elves, but your assault on Sylhalin has granted us with a perfect opportunity to take out the commander who controls this city." he said in a pleading tone.

     The elf and I finally reached the bottom of the staircase and we were in a meeting room with papers scattered on a table and a chair, which looks to have been thrown. "This is where we were discussing our attack, but now we just need your army to keep the defensive troops distracted, and you, to help us get into the observatory in the upmost part of the city." I agreed with a soft nod, and he gave me a slight smile, "Follow me." He gave another whistle and a door opened across the room from the staircase. It was a corridor, I followed him into the darkness, the torches erupted into light. "We have tunnel that leads straight to the center of the city, as far as we know, The Imperials don't know of it's existence. We approached a ladder and a hatch with lights beaming through.

     I began to climb up, I pulled up my hood and readied myself, I then followed him up the ladder. The hatch was in the northern part of the city, not far from the observatory in the center. We tried to keep a low profile and make it to the observatory which gleamed in the high moonlight. Once we got to the entrance I waved the elves off into the shadows, and The leader to follow behind. "I'll clear the way, you follow, watch my back" I whispered, He nodded and pulled up his mask. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes while I focused on clearing my mind. I heard the whistle of the trees, songs of the crickets, The croaking of the frogs and the screams of my people, I opened my eyes and headed inside, He gasped at my sudden disappearance, I walked about the foyer freely, There were two guards by the stairs, I pulled my dagger and walked up behind them, I grabbed one and slit his throat and then the other before he could gasp.

      The elf ran for the stairs, and with a flick of my cloak I followed. We headed up four flights of stairs before we entered the main room of the observatory, it was built with high metal ceilings and large windows in every direction. It's said that those who control Sylhalin control the eyes of Rhova. There was a man, in white and golden armour humming to himself and looking at the ruins of the city. I growled and approached him in my ghost like form.

"Who goes there!?" The Commander yelled pulling his sword. And turning towards the stairs, I stopped dead in my tracks and watched as he walked to the stairs and discovered my elven accomplice, "Well, Well, Well, are you here to kill me? All alone?" The man asked seeming amused by the events, The Elf began to glare daggers at the man, and the commander just responded with a menacing chuckle and aggressively pulled the elf over towards the window by his shirt collar. "You see that?... That right there, is the right way to enforce law, People don't listen unless some blood is spilled." The commander whispered.

     I moved closer to the commander and with each step, he'd turn and face me and hold the elf defensively. The Commander narrowed his eyes and began to inhale, "You aren't alone." He smiled, and let out a loud chuckle "Hello Verath. Have you come to admire the view with my new friend and I?" he asked playfully. I glared, I didn't know the man, but he knew me and that was more than enough reason to take him down. I took a calm breath and emerged from my place in the spirit world. "Ah, there you are." The man said with contented sigh, "Let's just do this, you know you don't stand a chance anyway." He said with a condescending growl, and threw The elf to the side and readied his sword.

     I lowered my hood and put away my dagger, and prepared to let him kick his own ass. He charged and slashed his sword and destroyed a bookshelf in his wake, I jumped over him and focused my breathing and rose my hand, The elf watched from the the wall, as my vision went green and I became full of rage, I let out a cry and lowered my hand and a group of undead soldiers rose to my sides. "ATTACK!" I shouted as I ordered them towards the commander, The soldiers shimmered light blue as the moonlight shimmered through the observatories glass ceiling, they raised their swords and shields and fought The commander, he put up quite a fight but in the end he was outmaned and overpowered finally one of my soldiers cornered him, grabbed him by the head and jammed the sword through his throat in an upward thrust. He gurgled as his blood filled his airway and spewed out the neck wound and fell to his knees. Then face down on the floor. The soldiers put their swords away and approached me, they bowed and faded away in a shimer that fused into the beams of moonlight.

     I raised my hood, and walked over to the elf, I extended a hand, and he took it and stood up in disbelief as if shocked to be alive. He looked at me, eyes wide open and asked, "What... Are you?..." I sighed. "I'm a necromancer, I bring those who have lost touch with mortal soil back." His expression went from one of fear to awe. He walked over to the window and glanced down at the city and watched as the last of the imperial soldiers fled out towards the other kingdoms. The elven archer's took to the rooftops and prevented a few from getting away. The elf smiled and ran for the stairs. As we left the building the moon was on the horizon and the sun was beginning to rise, We looked to the City and watched as the elves claimed victory over the kingdom of Sylhalin, I looked to the elf, "We have to prepare, they'll definitely attempt to retaliate and try to reclaim the spectre." I said with a smile, it won't be long before we have a real leg up on the enemy. The Elf extended a hand, "It was a pleasure fighting with you, Verath." He said with a calm smile, I shook his hand. "Likewise." I replied, I narrowed my eyes and realized he hadn't told me his name, He smiled, "I'm Sam." as if reading my mind, or my face, I'm still unsure which.