The light of the trodden

The Game

"Three days, we require the General to come to the lost islands which will take three days and then we execute the order, the General will go back and he will have lost six days. Gives us enough margin to handle things by then." Shadow smiled "We would accomplish our goal and the world would be ours to rule."
"What if he isn't distracted by that?" Council member Earshel asked.
"What is the thing which is most dear to the General?" The leader quietly asked. The room fell silent. Every breath was taken slowly so that no noise comes out. After what happened to Barrock, no one was going to take any chances. The leader looked around the room enjoying the tension.
"The kingdom that he had sworn to protect." Shadow replied, grinning.
"That's right." The leader smiled "We'll strike at his heart. Then we'll see what he does."
******************
"Okay, everyone listen" The General called out to everyone. Everyone obediently come up to the bow and stared at the General. "From now on there's going to be daily training for each and everyone on the boat. We're going to be in dangerous waters and even though we have some fighters on board they might not be able to protect each and everyone of you. Oliver will be in charge. I'll be in my cabin."
Oliver clapped his hands "Okay you heard him. I'm in charge. First thing we're gonna learn is awareness. Always be aware about what happens on the battlefield. It may save your life. Watch." Oliver looked at the General and clicked his fingers. Just before the General reached the cabin a large spike arose from the ship's deck right underneath General's feet but in that split second the General leaped away and continued walking away.
"That was some reaction." Nolander praised.
"It was nothing." One of the boatmen said.
'The predictionist' Oliver thought 'Let's test his powers'
"So you think you can do better?" Oliver asked, fully knowing the answer.
"Obviously." The predictionist answered.
"Let's see it then." Oliver smiled "If you can escape my spikes for a minute then I will kiss your feet but if you lose then you will do one command that I tell you to do, no matter what the situation and what I ask you to do."
All the boatmen erupted and warned him not to do it. Lionheart shaked his head "There is no merit in this. A fool's game you all play. If you want to challenge there should be no conditions. This goes against the warrior merit."
"I'll accept the condition." Predictionist answered "I haven't introduced myself yet have I? My name is Zane."
Oliver and Zane stood facing each other ten metres apart. Oliver clicked his fingers and just beside Zane a spike erupted going right at his head he stepped back and the spike missed him by millimetres. Zane quickly leapt away from the place where he was standing and a second later a spike erupted from the ground that would have finished him for good. Then came the most magical sight that the sailors had witnessed until now. Zane always moved a second before the spike erupted and always the spikes missed him by a few seconds or sometimes by a few centimetres. It was almost like a dance. Every spike missed Zane, every curve of his body, every time he leapt with his feet, the precision of it all was graceful, every move Zane made was carefully planned yet executed with such speed it was almost as if Oliver's spikes were a joke, the way he leapt around the deck was as if he was aware where the next spike was going to come. Oliver became frustrated. Every spike he made was useless.
'There's no other way' Oliver thought 'Special move: erupting battlefield.'
Suddenly twelve foot spikes erupted all around the ship. Except for where  the crew members were standing the whole boat was covered in spikes. And Zane was nowhere to be seen.
"You killed him." One of the boatmen screamed.
"It certainly seems so." The beast trainer scratched his chin.
"No he didn't." Nolander smiled in appreciation, looking at the longest spike of all, for there was Zane standing on top his newly gained cloak flapping in the wind, the spike had the sharp tip broken off so Zane  was standing on a flat base. The weapon's specialist smiled. It was his white cloak that Zane had borrowed. He removed another cloak and cover d himself with it before anyone could see his build or face. Oliver looked around the ship. It was eminent that he was going to lose. Oliver looked down.
"Killer series: special move: Spiked death." Oliver looked up at Zane. Zane jumped, fear in his eyes. His instinct told him only one thing 'Death'.
The whole ship burst open with spikes erupting from every inch. The basic structure of the ship which enabled it to stay afloat was barely left. Midair spikes came at Zane. No one announced the obvious conclusion 'No way to dodge midair. Death is certain.'
The General came out to see the commotion. He saw Zane midair with a dozen spikes racing towards him, trying to tear his body apart. He ran forward, all the while looking at Zane. There was no way that the general could save him. Then came another magical moment that completely shook everyone. Using the spike that almost reached him first as a footing, Zane launched himself sideways, missing every spike by the length of a hair. New spikes rose and failed. The spikes themselves were assets to Zane's magnificent manoeuvres. Knowing every spike's position and knowing when they would reach where, that was Zane's incredible predictions. Hence the predictionist. Zane leapt up and landed right in front of Oliver.
"I believe a minute is over. So bow and lick." Zane smirked. Oliver smiled
"Look at your cheek. It just grazed you but I believe I win."
Zane touched his cheek. Sure there was a small wound there, so small that it had barely broken the skin but still a win was a win. Nevertheless Oliver and General both knew one thing, Zane had made his mark on the ship.
***************
"The game's about to begin, Shadow. Contact our friend on the ship. We need to make sure our message reaches the General." The leader laid back on his chair. Shadow, standing in the corner, smiled "He will make sure. He knows what's at stake."
The leader looked at the dark clouds circling over the castle.
"The darkness all around doesn't appeal to me, Shadow. The castle, training grounds, the mountains and even the water appears black here. I understand we might be villains or something but can't you add colour here or something." Leader said looking at the surroundings. Shadow chuckled.
"I have no control over the environment, leader but he can do it but he won't."
Leader groaned "Let's not talk about him, can we?"
Shadow glared at leader "I don't understand why you send him there."
"Because if the General doesn't react to the order when he reaches the lost islands then we will be behind that's the reason why I sent him because if they go past the lost islands then  they'll be annihilated."
"They sure will be annihilated if they meet him." Shadow laughed a cold, dark laugh.