ANGEL OF JUSTICE (2014 revised)

Chapter Seventy Nine - Storm of Sorcery

Storm of Sorcery

The icy winds raged around the glistening gold Star Chamber upon King's Plateau. Like a beacon, the chamber's gold dome roof stood out in the murkiness like a lighthouse in the blanket of night. Born out of sorcery the wind coerced its intended victim with fingers of evil intent out of the Star Chamber's warded safety and onto the cliff's edge. Looking out across the vast Cardinian Sea, Darric stood as if in a trance as the winds swirled viciously above the cliffs. Sensing the human presence, the wind suddenly bore down upon the Prince of Cardinia just as thick clouds parted to bath him in the brilliance of the silvery moon. As if awoken from a dream, Darric shook his head and reached for the glinting sword hilt at his side. The contact initiated an ancient spell infused in the sword's making to bring forth the blue lights of his soul focus. Once the blue lights had fully encompassed his body in Keltin's ward of protection, the brief ambiguity that had grasped Darric's senses, slipped away enabling him to see he was no longer in the safety of the Star Chamber. All too familiar, the sense of déjà vu that had held him in a vice like momentary stupor passed to enable him to finally protect himself.

Clashing his wrist guards together and invoking the name of the armour's creator, Darric folded his arms in a gesture of defiance as the moonlight danced in and out of the fleeting clouds, shimmering off broad blue armoured shoulders. Darric stood his ground as red lightning flashed violently just beyond the cliffs, highlighting the deadly green and purple storm clouds racing towards him from the horizon. The water below churned madly, whipping the waves into a foamy broth that smashed against the cliffs.

Higher and higher the chaotic waves rose, pounding against the rocky cliffs with intent of tearing them from beneath the solitary figure. The sensation of dejavu was strong as Darric felt the first cold salt spray hit his face. He watched the screeching winds accumulate into a vortex of incredible intensity. Yet as it attempted to slam into him it was spurned aside by the protective blue aura and veered off uncontrollably into the forest behind. The sound of smashing timber drowned out the explosion of thunder that rocked the cliffs. A scowl of annoyance flickered across Darric's face and his hand flexed unconsciously around the dragon hilted sword at his side. The contact enhanced the aura of protection by several feet beyond his body.

The storm clouds approach swallowing the moonlight which masked the silent eruption of deadly ice daggers spilling out of the sky towards its prey. The force of the attack sent Darric stumbling backwards as the ice daggers pierced his outer ward releasing sparks of blue light that were swept frantically in the air by the howling winds. Darric threw his arms up to the heavens and screamed out a curse at the storm's creator. With vigor the storm erupted in dazzling sheets of blue and white death across the heavens above, its fingers of electricity blinding as it sizzled upon the sea. Once again Darric braced for the impending attack.

"Here we go again. If you can hear my pleas Jarron, know I await your participation to form the trinity."

A deadly bolt of energy struck nearby with enough force to cause the ground to shudder. The warrior prince slid his sword free with features set in grim determination, acutely aware of what was about to occur again. Swinging the mighty sword of justice given to him by Keltin overhead, Darric deflected the first wave of lightning, then several more. Swinging the blade overhead, he defended volley after volley, each lightning bolt exploding harmlessly against the silver blade glowing with silver-blue runes of ancient magic. With the grace and speed of a master swordsman, Darric swept aside the blows easily, the sword flaring each time it neutralised the intense energy until beads of sweat shone upon his brow. In a moment of building lethargy, Darric misjudged the next bolt which struck the ground with enough force to throw him from his feet with ears ringing. Darric rose to his feet shaking his head as the earth beside him cracked open with hissing vents. He continued straining against the constant barrage until the silver blade began to glow white hot. Then once more the wind strengthened into a raging vortex that coiled around his body.