The Custodian Chronicles: The Rising (Finished)

Chapter 36: Nerofox: Take It or Leave It?

Finally, the time came to make their attack. They traveled swiftly and silently. Once close enough, plans were set, and they split up. Beforehand, Arylana had to make sure to remind Cedrick of the most important thing to remember. "Don't die."

Cedrick rolled his eyes and smiled, "I can't promise anything." He replied. Now he knew the battle was allowed to start.

Cedrick watched the city from on top of a hill. Elphacena was with him. She looked at Cedrick and back at the city. "Well? What do you think?"

"It's quiet." Cedrick observed. "Too quiet. You know what I mean?"

A wide green valley stretched before them, though it was browning for lack of water. The city lay in the middle of the valley. The hills surrounding it were small and rolling.

"Yeah, I do." Elphacena studied the terrain. "It's eerie."

The city gave no regular sounds. It was made of sand-colored stones and shone in the sun. Cedrick expected to hear the sound of people; the only sound that met their ears was the teasing wind.

"You'd think it would be full of noise. It's a big city." Cedrick kept his eyes on the gates.

"Well, with no supplies and no market, maybe everyone is hiding inside." Elphacena suggested.

"I don't know." Cedrick's eyes narrowed. "I don't like it." Cedrick knew Elphacena agreed with him, but she didn't say anything.

Mercutio joined them. "Ready?" He asked. "The gate is wide open. I think a full front on will do the trick."

"It's too quiet." Cedrick shook his head. "I think something's wrong."

Mercutio laughed. "Of course, it is. The people inside are starving. Come on; let's go."

Cedrick glanced at Elphacena. She returned the expression. Cedrick bit his lips. They looked back at the city.

"I better get back to my side." Elphacena sighed. She kissed Cedrick and ran off.

Cedrick watched her go. He still felt uneasy. He watched the city for another moment. Whatever happened next it would be interesting. Cedrick waited, ready to move out once Mercutio gave the signal.

It came swiftly. They moved down the hills towards the city and reached the gate. There were no guards. Cedrick gave Mercutio a look. Mercutio shrugged. "Changing of the guard." Cedrick wasn't so sure.

They stepped into the city. It was deadly quiet; there wasn't a living thing in sight. Cedrick had a bad feeling.

The men looked around. "What is this?" Mercutio asked.

"There's no one here!" A man called. "Not even any dead."

Cedrick's internal alarm shot off the scale. He knew it. He knew it! A powerful presence entered Cedrick's senses. A powerful energy that was stronger than anything Cedrick had felt before. His heart raced, and he looked around for the source. Then he felt the danger, something was shooting at them.

"Get out!" Cedrick yelled. "Get them out of here, now!" Cedrick put a shield around the city. He felt a dramatic drain on his energy. "Go now!" Cedrick screamed.

The energy hit. It was so powerful it sent Cedrick to his knees.

"Cedrick, are you alright?" Mercutio yelled.

"Yes, go!" Cedrick screamed at him. "There's no time! Go!" Mercutio hesitated. "Mercutio, it's a trap! Go!" Another blast hit Cedrick's shield; he fell to his knees a second time.

"Cedrick!"

"Go!" Cedrick shrieked at him. "Get them all out of here!"

"Is it him?" Mercutio asked.

"Yes! Who else! Mercutio, go!"

"How could he know--?"

"I don't know!" Cedrick yelled at him. "That isn't the problem right now! Go! There's no time! Get out of here! Go!" Mercutio didn't move. "Mercutio, we have to get out!"

Finally, Mercutio gave the order. The men who'd seen Cedrick go down had already started to run for it. Now all the men turned and ran out. Cedrick got to his feet.

"Come on!" Mercutio yelled at him.

"No!" Cedrick snapped. "I have to hold the shield; I'll be right behind you. You have get out before I can lower the shield." Cedrick felt another blow. He nearly fell. Mercutio caught him. "Go!" Cedrick screamed at him, pulling away. "I'll be fine, go!" Mercutio hesitated. "Go!" Cedrick bellowed. "I can't leave until you do. Go!" Mercutio bit his lip. "Mercutio, we could die! Go!"

Mercutio hesitated. He looked into Cedrick's burning eyes. He turned and followed his men. Cedrick almost fell to his knees as another strike hit the shield.

Cedrick shook himself and looked up. All the men were out. He let one more blow attack the shield before he dropped it. He turned to run after the other men. He'd only made it a few steps, when someone jumped down from the wall.

***

Elphacena watched as their men move into the city. She thought it was odd no one stopped them at the gate. She glanced at Margorim. He returned the expression. Something felt seriously wrong. Why were they pretending it didn't? Then again, what else could they do?

Elphacena watched as the last of the army entered the city. It was eerily quiet. Elphacena bit her lips; she could hear her heart pounding in her ears and feel it beating against her ribs. Whatever was going to happen was going to happen any second.

Then she saw the energy ball shooting towards the city. All the men stood with a gasp of surprise to watch its deadly progress. Elphacena saw the air around the city change. She felt sure Cedrick had felt the energy mass and put up protection. Sure enough, there was a huge crash as the ball hit the invisible barrier. It sent out a shock wave. They watched it fly at them with no time to react. It knocked the whole army back.

A roar filled the air. Elphacena was first to her feet. She turned to see another army running over the hills right towards them. Elphacena cursed under her breath. She should have known it was a trap. She was willing to bet there wasn't a soul in the city. How did he know they were going to attack Nerofox?

She didn't have time to worry about it now. She drew her bow and started shooting. They were surrounded on all sides. The other archers copied her. Margorim barked orders, preparing them for when the two armies mixed.

Arrows rained down on them. The first cries of the wounded and dying sounded out. Elphacena held her position. She kept firing until the army was thirty-six merids away. She drew her swords; Margorim unsheathed his. He yelled out one last order, but Elphacena didn't hear it. She was forced to duck.

Both armies let out an ear splitting scream and rushed each other. Elphacena spun one of her swords around to let out a bit of anxiety. Then the armies clashed.