Excalibur Rising

Drums of war

Chapter 18

A hush had fallen over the group. Three days had been spent on relentless  training, honing skills and building stamina but most importantly, putting together tactics to try and come out of the battle alive. The only time that the group took a break was for food or short naps to keep their energy levels up. They gathered around a roaring fire for dinner which was cooked by Caliban who was turning the spit over the flames that licked up the sides of the meat. It was during this momentary time of peace that everything changed. The easy companionship and the smiles that had been on all of their faces fell away with one message. There had been a lull in conversation and they all sat there nibbling on snacks such as crisps and twiglets when it happened.

The sudden outbreak of Dun- Dun dun dun- dun dun dun- Dun dun duuuuuuuuuuuuuun- rang out from the pocket of a fleece jacket that had been discarded earlier in the day and was now laid across the end of the log bench. Every head snapped to the sound, eyes wide and alert, a new energy thrumming through their veins while their barely restrained smiles of amusement at the sound of the ringtone. Caliban blushed slightly which caused several of them to gasp, the embarrassment in his flushed cheeks so alien to them. Xandria laughed and shook her head, with this new sight of hers she could see the embarrassment radiating off of him. She found it strangely unusual that for once in her life she could tell what someone was feeling without waiting for the person to speak first so that she could dissect their speech.

Fumbling through his jacket, Caliban managed to find the phone and pull it out; deftly tapping buttons so that the music cut off abruptly halfway through the chorus, the small smile on his lips disappearing only for a frown to form across his brow when he read the message on his phone. He quickly tapped a reply before ever so slowly lifting his head to look at the group who quickly sobered up at the expression on his face.

“That was Magpie,” He gulped as he pocketed the phone. “The battle grounds have been selected; there is a large mass of dark beings gathering at the school.” He looked at the teens in particular. “Your school. I’m sorry but there will be people you recognise, whatever you do, don’t hesitate.” His voice had lowered and become harder, the serious undertone reaching every one of them, striking straight through to their hearts. “Get packed up, it’s time.”

After a moment of shocked stillness, the group discarded their food and dumped water on the fire so that a rolling column of smoke rose up into the air.  Wrinkling her nose at the smell, Xandria moved away from their makeshift camp and waited for the others to stop running around like headless chickens. She was grateful when someone handed her a sword and helped to attach the sword belt around her waist.

Within five minutes every single one of them, dressed head to toe in combat gear, was ready to go. They all looked fierce in their attire, enough to scare any mortal army but the nervous glint in their eyes showed just how scared they were to be fighting an entity that was definitely not human. War paint had been painted onto their faces making them look like true warriors. Colton smiled grimly at his friends. True they looked fierce and warrior-like but would it make the other side hesitate in attacking them, somehow he didn’t think so and as he looked over the people he had grown up with and the ones that he had grown to know, he couldn’t stop his eyes from shimmering before he blinked the unshed tears away. He knew that there was a high probability that some of them wouldn’t survive what was coming and looking at them now, staring at him and Xandria as if they were their hope, his shoulders hunched as if a giant weight had suddenly been put onto his shoulders dragging him down. Their lives were in his hands and there was nothing he could do about it.

“Everyone ready?” Caliban asked as he glanced at each person, checking that they had everything they needed before nodding his head. “Let’s move out.”

** 

The atmosphere was stifling as the cars drove towards the battlefield. The teens had been split up due to the number of people in the group and it just so happened that Colton and Xandria were trapped in a car with three adult, parents who most definitely did not belong to them. They had insisted that they come along to try and help their sons and daughters but Colton could tell by the way that Xandria was gnawing on her lip that there was little they could do for them and there was a very real possibility that they would not survive to see the sunset.

It was just after midday. Luckily it was the weekend or this battle would have been problematic. Yet, as it was, the area around the school was strangely deserted. As the cars pulled to a stop outside the school gates, each of the mundane gave a shudder as gooseflesh formed on their arms.

“You are just sensing their presence.” Xandria’s voice sounded off, kind of strained as Colton held a hand out for her and assisted her from the vehicle like a gentleman. She squeezed his hand in support when she felt it shake beneath his, the only sign in his steadfast composure that he was just as petrified as everyone else. Her voice lowered into a whisper as she turned her head slightly in his direction. “Come on, it’s time.”

He squeezed her hand in return and the two of them walked hand in hand to the rest of the group. There were around 40 of them by the time people stopped filtering out of cars. Xandria nodded as people passed her sombre greetings, this whole thing feeling more like a wake than a battle. It was as if everyone was already treating each other like they were dead.

The sky was quickly becoming overcast with thick black roiling clouds that grumbled in anger. It didn’t take a genius to guess that a storm was on its way. The only strange thing about it, was the epicentre was the school, the clouds gathering above their heads just waiting for trouble so that it can wreak its own havoc on them.

The group quickly got into formation. Each of the group with powers that were offensive were placed around the edges of the group so that they could attack anyone that approached and the people in the middle of their rather large circle of people, were those who had no powers at all and were instead wielding weapons from crickets bats and tennis rackets, to kitchen knives and samurai swords. The one commonality between them all was the look of sheer determination ingrained into each of their features.

As the group passed through the small gates, it was as if a mirage had dropped and the desolate school revealed just how full it really was. The courtyard was teeming with black eyed people, some of whom were familiar to the group. But that isn’t what terrified the group; it was the sheer number that they were up against. There were about five black eyed fiends to everyone on the side of Excalibur.

Exchanging nervous looks with the others, Colton cleared his throat and bellowed so loud, his voice enhanced with his magic. “FOR EXCALIBUR.”

With a  mighty roar the group raised their weapons and then without hesitation, the group charged towards hell, their only hope was that they would live to see tomorrow or die trying.