Veil of Shadows

Chapter 48. Princeling

Mere seconds after Ranger had vanished inside the room and the door closed after her, Shadow turned to the closest guard and calmly stabbed him through the heart with the sharp end of the glass pen.

The guard's eyes flew wide open, and he collapsed to the ground with a weak grunt of pain.

The other two guards charged at him, swords drawn in the intent of avenging their fallen companion. Within moments, Shadow's world became a blur of steel and darkness.

Slipping under the blade of the first guard, he whirled and brought up the glass pen, narrowly blocking a sideswipe from the second. The guard twisted his sword, and Shadow winced as it slashed across his forehead and stopped barely above his eye.

Blood welled in the cut, dripping down into his eye, temporarily forcing him to see through only his left eye. Shoving the guard's sword away from his face, Shadow lashed out, catching the guard off balance and sending him careening into the wall.

Seconds later, Shadow slammed the blunt end of the glass pen into the guard's temple, knocking him unconscious.

The third guard had abandoned his sword, and now came at Shadow from behind, throwing an arm around his neck in a chokehold. The force of it alone was enough to make Shadow lose his hold on the glass pen.

It might have worked - but Shadow was still wearing his helmet.

Throwing his head back with all the strength he could manage, Shadow felt the guard's grip loosen abruptly as the helmet connected with his jaw. Shadow then grabbed both of the guard's arms, and flipped him.

The guard went flying over his head and collided with the ground face-up, trying and failing to suck air back into his lungs.

Shadow momentarily scanned the three guards, who were dead, unconscious, and stunned, in that order. Then he eyed the locked door, braced himself, and shoulder-slammed it with all his strength.

Nothing.

Clenching his teeth, Shadow backed off a few steps, then shoulder-slammed the door once more. This time, he heard something in the lock mechanism crack. He assumed that was a good thing.

He repeated the sequence several more times, but the hinges wouldn't give way. Eventually out of frustration he jammed the pen into the lock, trying to get it to open that way, and for a moment it seemed like it might work.

Then the end of the glass pen broke off, still stuck inside the keyhole.

Shadow swore to himself under his breath.

~

Blaze, Toxic, Wolf, Dave, and Midnight reached the entrance of the dungeons. They'd opted to leave the apprentices behind, just in case things went terribly, horribly wrong.

The first guard they'd seen had been pacing the main holding chamber, and had just stared at them in surprise for a second before saying "You're not authorized to be in the dungeons."

Blaze had dealt two blows - one to the jaw and one straight to the face - and he was out like a light. They continued, letting Dave lead the way, since he was the only one who knew how to reach Ranger.

The prison's hallways were much longer than they looked, and the journey was frustratingly time-consuming. Everything looked the same, and Toxic was on the verge of asking if they were lost.

Then they heard pounding from down the next hallway, and she knew they were going the right way. "Hurry, for the love of all things holy!" She growled, breaking into a sprint.

They did not expect to see what they saw. Shadow, repeatedly slamming a fist into the lock. The second they saw the scene, they knew who was behind the locked door, and what was going to happen if they didn't do something fast.

Shoving Shadow out of the way, Midnight said "Move, princeling." Seconds later, a blinding white light exploded in their vision, and the door shuddered open a bit. The lock had been completely blown off.

Kicking the door aside, Wolf launched herself at the first guard she saw, knocking him flat on the ground.

Ranger had been chained, and her eyes, once glowing vibrant purple, had dimmed considerably. The process hadn't been finished, but they were nearly halfway to destroying her Ender side entirely.

Midnight engaged the other two guards, while Blaze, Dave and Toxic moved to assess Ranger's condition and free her from the chains.

"Tsk tsk, boys," Midnight said, a smile playing on her lips. "Messing with the Queen of Nightwick is hardly a wise idea."

The guards exchanged an uncertain glance. Moments later, a white wall of energy crashed into them, sending them both flying backward. Deciding that they valued their lives after all, the remaining guards fled.

Having taken up one of the fallen guard's swords, Shadow met them just outside the doorway. "Nope," was all he said before one of the guards drew his own sword and the fight continued.

~

"Sir, we have a breach in the dungeon sector."

King Notch looked up, knowing what the messenger was about to say. "It's the Hero Squad, isn't it?" He asked, standing from his throne.

The messenger nodded. "Yes, sir. The original members. The apprentices aren't accounted for."

"Good. Send in half a legion, and do not let them escape." Notch ordered. He'd been expecting this. He'd known this was coming from the second he'd detained Ranger.

As much as he valued the Hero Squad as fighters, there was no room for disloyalty among the ranks of his army. If they could not be trusted, then he would turn his back on them all.

The messenger turned to leave, but Notch called him back with one final order. "Tell the guards to find the apprentices at any cost. All of them. When they are found, bring them to me."

The messenger's eyes briefly shone with something Notch couldn't place, but it was gone within moments. He bowed his head to the King of Minecraftia and replied "As you will it, sir."