Summoners: The Forbidden Ritual

Chapter 20: Final Fallout

Walking through the deserted war-zone of villages, a woman crawls for her very life, half burned and barely holding onto the thread of existence. Her vision was a blur, her great lack of hydration and food made her body slowly fail. She was basically dragging her own dying corpse.

Mid-way through the village, she stops. Lying down, looking at the smoke covered sky, she accepted her fate, she sighs as she breathes her last. Until, gallops were heard in the distance.

She looks to her side and sees a battalion of soldiers, Loyalist Men, racing to the village. The horses drew nearer, and each gallop was a second used for her last breath.

They stop near her body and one of the men immediately ran up to the woman. He held his fingers against her neck, checking for a pulse.

He immediately looks at their captain, nodding, indicating that she was still alive. Through the flying ashes of the village, the Loyalist rummage through the ruins and fire, trying to search for any survivor or item of value. Corpses, burned or bloodied, was all they could find, except for her.

They ride out back to the city, carrying the woman on one of the horses, unconscious but healed enough to breathe easily throughout the journey.

They arrive at Therias, the hold of men, under the rule of High King Freodin, it was weeks after the start of the Loyalist-Warden war. Many of the hold suffered for the Fore-Wardens' pillages and unjust actions.

They bring the injured woman to the healer's ward immediately, while the Battalion rush to report their findings to the High King.

The Captain kneeled as the High King stands from his throne, "Sire, another village has been attacked. Only one survivor as we scouted now." "Which village?" "Firolein." "Damn those Wardens." the King sighed.

The Captain stands as he says, "Let us find the Wardens, I want to bring every one last of them to the tip of my blade." "Patience, Captain. Rushing in to an unknown enemy is suicide." "We know the Wardens, they used to fight for you."

The King sat at his throne once again, "We used to. Ever since Valerius has been corrupted the Wardens' whereabouts and actions are unpredictable."

The Captain bows as he says, "Then I will defend every last village in the hold." "Do not underestimate the Wardens, Derrion. You once fought by Valerius' side, even Napholus, his forgotten General."

Derrion Allbourne, the Loyalist Captain, "Once, and it's more of a reason to bring him to death. I know their combat techniques, I will be an equal or even greater match."

The King looked at Derrion, "I will bring him down myself, Captain. The safety of my people will then rest on your hands. A better fitting task, you are a leader, then lead them to salvation." "If it means your death, then it may be unworthy of doing."

The King shouts in annoyance, "I am King! I give the orders, I give the tasks, what I say, you do. If I say save the people, you save the people, If I say die, you die!"

The advisors then immediately rushed to calm Freodin, "Sire, your stress is undeniable. You must rest." Freodin paid his men no mind, "Conjure a scouting party, Derrion. Find as many of my people possible, and bring them to safety. No conjectures."

Derrion kneels as he acknowledges the King's order. He grabs his blade and walks out, going to the healer's ward where the woman they saved was staying to recover.

He looks at her, burned but healing, her face was as pale as the moon, and her lips as dry as the desert. Her hair was badly damaged, some parts were cut short some were burned at the ends.

She was either ravaged, or fought off. And Derrion saw it as suspicious. Something about this lady was wrong, an aura of either evil or mysterious magic.