ANGEL OF JUSTICE (2014 revised)

Chapter Thirty Five - A Brief History Lesson

A Brief History Lesson

After hours of walking through the mountain tunnels created during the height of the volcano's activity, Darric paused at the entrance of yet another cavern. Bright daylight streaming in through the cave mouth enticed him to walk out onto a jutting rock balcony. The rush of warm air swirling up the cliff face tousled dark hair about his shoulders. He glanced over his shoulder as he heard Talen's heavy breathing.

"About time! Come out here and take a look at the view."

"That piece of rock doesn't look safe enough for one of us, let alone two." Talen retorted.

"These natural balconies are still standing five hundred years from now. And the view you are missing out on..."

"I'm coming. Give an old man a chance to catch his breath."

Darric chuckled. "I thought you were in your prime!"

"On the outside I may look forty, but remember I'm a few hundred years older than you!"

"That's easy to forget sometimes."

Darric turned back and stared at the hill of rocks they had climbed the afternoon before. He envisioned the four mile citadel wall of the future that would be built across the crater's gap. Darric wondered if it would still be standing in his time. And what of the Lord of the Bridge, would his power be enough to stop the enemy from entering the citadel? In his heart, Darric knew that would not be the case. But his main concern was how old High Priest Thomas was faring under the responsibility of trying to keep the citadel intact in the height of war. There was no doubt that he would do his best but would it be enough? Darric's smile quickly turned into a scowl as he knew his own talents were wasted here in the past when he was the one trained to lead his kingdom. Dropping his gaze to the lake shimmering under the midday sun, an image of the royal city where he last saw his parents' alive beckoned. That memory only served to fuel the already overwhelming deep sense of home sickness and loss.

Too many lives have already been wasted all for the power of one demented man and his willing followers.

Darric recalled the long conversations with Keltin during his training and still, he could not believe what he had learnt of the Destroyer's plan to wipe Cardinia and the citadel out of existence to gain the artifacts.

Talen took a step out on the ledge to stand beside the warrior Prince and noticed the far away gaze. He studied the young man he had come to regard well in the few months since they had met on the sands of Darleay Island. Although Darric wasn't impressively muscled like the ancient arena gladiators, Talen recalled from his younger days, he knew looks were deceiving. The calloused hands that never strayed far from the blade at Darric's side were no stranger to wielding steel. And regardless of the quiet demeanour and the fumbling with his new magic abilities, Talen knew first hand Darric was an awesome warrior. The oddest blue tinged chain mail shirt that turned into the hardest plate of magical armour Talen had even seen was testament enough. It still annoyed him that he knew of its origins but every time he tried to remember clearly, the images would fade leaving him still with no answers.

"What has you so glum, lad?"

Reluctantly pushing concerns of the war at home aside, Darric turned to see Talen studying him. "I was just thinking how strange it feels to be standing in the place where I will be born five hundred years from now. I can see the ghostly images of buildings and roads, the people in the marketplaces along with the soldiers on the wall. I can almost hear the priests chanting as they walk these crystal lit hallways and the smell of burning incense is strong. And in all this I wonder how much will be left intact when I get home. And how many of my friends and countrymen will have died at the hands of the Destroyer while I'm stuck here."