Awakening Book 1: Rebirth [Editing]

Part 4: Jack

The flames from the fire sent shadows dancing along the forest floor. Jack was lying against a tree, poking the fire with a blackened stick. Sparks and embers danced into the air whenever he shifted the twigs. He had lit the fire with magic, so he didn't have to worry about it going out. It would last as long as he wanted it too. 

The remains of a rabbit lay discarded by the fire pit. It had been a good meal, though a little lean. The horse was content to graze on the ferns and small leafy plants that populated the forests at Jack's elevation. He was glad it wasn't a high maintenance animal, otherwise he would have left it behind. He wasn't equipped to care for such a beast, so he was elated the Shadow Lord's horse was hardy enough to survive without too much care. Without it he wouldn't be very far from the village.

Jack was surprised that it had obeyed him. He had expected it to throw him off or run away, but it didn't. It seemed to like him too. Jack thought it had something to do with him speaking too it. He guessed the Shadow Lord hadn't cared very much about the creature. Only enough to enchant it with witchfires. 

He had hitched the horse to the tree behind him. The creature lowered its head over him. Jack reached up and stroked its mane and rubbed it under its chin. The beast let out a soft whinny, pleased. Jack thought he would give it a name but he couldn't think of any good ones. He had already tried to ask the creature if it had a name but he quickly learned all their conversations would be one way.

Jack took a quick inventory of all of the defensive wards he had put up around his camp. He would be invisible to any average traveler, but if someone was looking for him and had power, he would be found. He accepted that since he wasn't on the road or in a clearing. He was simply in a spot in the forest that had space for his horse and a flat spot for him to lie down on. 

He extinguished the fire and went to sleep. 

In his dreams, Jack was walking through a grand hall, as white as snow. At the far end was a grand throne with someone sitting on it, but he couldn't make out who it was. His body continued to walk down the hall, passing statues of kings and portraits of men he had never seen before. His feet eventually reached the foot of the throne. 

Sitting atop the golden seat was a man in full gold plate. His head was covered by a helmet with a horsehair plume. He began to walk up the steps to the throne. His hands held out before him, he reached out to remove the helmet. As soon as his fingers touched the cold metal the man changed forms. He was suddenly touching Dymat's grotesque helm but instead of the face being covered the helmet was open, revealing a disfigured, grey visage. 

The Shadow Lord opened his mouth, revealing rows of pointed fangs. His head shifted into that of a dragon as he lunged forwards and tore into Jack's chest.

Jack awoke with a start. He was drenched in sweat and his heart was pounding. He put a hand to his chest and felt about. Nothing had happened, it was just a dream. He looked around. The camp, if it could be called that, was as he left it. The sun had already come up and was shining in his face. 

He stood up and kicked the fire pit, spreading the ashes and twigs. He took the rabbit carcass and tossed it into the woods as far as he could send it. He didn't want to leave anything that could be tracked. He went and unhitched the horse and pulled himself into the saddle. 

He flicked the reins and the horse began to step forwards. They moved at a slow pace while exiting the woods but as soon as he found the road Jack squeezed his heels against the horse, telling it to go faster. It pounded down the mountain road, heading west. That's all Jack new. Go find a valley that was westwards. He shook his head at his situation. At least he was alive, he thought. That was what kept him moving. He was alive but all of his friends were not, he would find the Sentinels for them.

He hoped to ride hard all day but he wasn't sure of the horse's stamina. It was huge and powerful, that was for sure, but he had only rode it for half of the day before. Today he would learn the creature's limits. 

The beast's hoof beats were like thunder, birds fled from the trees as they passed and any travellers on the road ran out of the way. He liked that they all feared him. He found it amusing that they thought he was so much more then he really was. He guessed that Dymat had ridden through previously, probably wreaking havoc just for pleasure. The Shadow Lord's name left a bitter taste in Jack's mouth as he muttered it. He spat in disgust. At least the world was free of him, he thought to himself.

They thundered on through the woods, passing the odd settlement or trading post, but nothing overly interesting. The horse galloped past trees and caves and forks in the road. Jack didn't stop to see anything, he just continued west.

They eventually broke from the forest and followed the road out along a barren cliff. The ground was white with frost, and had few plants growing. There were small specks of green poking through the snow but very few and far between. 

A white cloud formed behind them as the horse's hooves kicked up the snow. Jack could see very far from atop the cliff. The road he was on continues along the cliff and out onto a wide open plateau. It was completely barren save for  a few tiny shrubs. A clear blue sky was directly above him and the world was out to his left.

He reached the plateau and told the horse to go faster. The wind howled in his ears and his hair blew back in the wind. It was a freeing feeling, being on that flat ground going as fast as possible. He let out a cheerful laugh and stood up in the stirrups. He held his arms out wide and closed his eyes. He felt like he was flying.

Suddenly a great shadow covered him and his horse. Jack's gaze shot upwards, searching for the source.  He saw a great winged beast soaring high above him, just floating on the wind. He couldn't believe he was seeing a dragon. They were supposed to be locked away under the Shadow Lords bindings. 

The beast turned and began to dive. The horse whinnied in fear as it watched the dragon turn to face them. Jack pulled his staff from it's holder and began preparing a spell. The dragon raised it's claws, ready to snatch Jack and his horse up. Jack let his spell loose, creating a dark cloud above him and the dragon. 

Lightning struck the dragon as it passed beneath the black cloud. It swerved, letting out a roar of rage. Jack launched more lightning at the beast, striking its belly and wings. The dragon howled again and flew in behind Jack. He urged the horse to move faster but it was already going as speedily as it could.

The dragon opened it's mouth and released a stream of fire. The flames enveloped Jack and his horse but were diverted by a shield he created. Once the flames stopped Jack spun in the saddle and began firing bolts of energy at the beast. It was like a thousand swords were striking the dragon in quick succession, all around it's body. Jack had learned that from the Grand Elder in a special training session.

The dragon howled and lost altitude. It recovered and sped after Jack. He felt his horse loose speed. It was getting tired. He allowed it to slow, he didn't want to kill it from exhaustion when he would need it if they survived.

The dragon quickly gained ground and spewed more fire. It harmlessly parted around Jack's wards. He sent more bolts at the beast but it didn't seem to do much. The beast would roar or drop a little, but it would always recover. Jack needed to put it down or he would surely die. He knew he couldn't keep up his magic forever.

He needed to use the words he used on Dymat but he couldn't remember them. They had come as an instinct. Jack dug deep into himself, searching for the words. They wouldn't come. He swore softly and threw some more bolts at the dragon. The creature took the hits and dove towards Jack. It was then that he truly felt afraid. He watched as the dragons jaws came towards him and it raised its claws.

It was then that the words came and erupted from his mouth. The dragon was sent backwards, writhing in pain. It his the ground with a thud and began to roll to the side. The creature slipped off the cliff and fell into the valley below. Jack sighed in relief and slumped in his saddle. His heart was pounding fast. He slowed the horse and allowed it to rest. 

Jack reached the end of the plateau  and entered the forest on the border. He was determined to go as far as possible without resting.