The Realmsic Conquest: The Hero of Legend - Book 1 [2015 Watty Award Winner]

Chapter Twenty

Just as Thane had expected, the inhabitants of the cottage were caught off guard as its steel door nearly flew off the hinges. It took only seconds for Thane to assess the structure's interior. These people were indeed the Realmsic Council, he could tell by their clothing. Along with them were two random kids. But where was his target? Thane's eyes were enraged as he repeatedly scanned from one side of the room to the other.

"Where's Maebus?" he shouted, reaching for the closest person to him. His chest heaved violently from the adrenaline flooding his body.

The Council members fled from his grasp as he stormed across the room after them.

"Grab everyone!" Thane ordered through clenched teeth and tensed neck.

A soldier tried to corral the smallest child, but he was too fast. The child slipped from beneath the soldier's arm, knocking him off balance and forcing him to fall on his face.

"Nice!" the older child cheered, shoving who must have been his brother away from further harm.

"Quickly, everyone out! I'll hold them back," ordered a young Councilwoman. Thane noticed she was dressed differently than the others, wearing a lavender sundress instead of the olive uniforms worn by the other Council members.

"Landi, look out!" her colleague warned as Thane's second man lunged towards her. As Landi side-stepped, the Legionarie missed her completely and landed on the ground atop the first soldier who'd yet to recover from the child's maneuver.

But now, she was only a few inches from Thane. He raised his sword high into the air, prepared to strike her down. But with a repetitive circular motion of her arm, Landi heated the air in front of her, producing a solid white bubble within seconds. Flicking her fingers forward, the bubble popped with a bright flash, blinding Thane.

"Agh!" he shouted, dropping his sword, stumbling forward. While rubbing his throbbing eyes, he tripped over his other two soldiers and tumbled to the ground. Rolling upon his back, he opened his eyes wide. Spots floated within his vision. He couldn't even see the ceiling above him.

"Go now!" he heard Landi shouting to the Council members.

Thane forced himself on to all fours, but his eyes had yet to recover. From the ground, he could barely make out the silhouettes of the Council as they escaped through the cottage's rear door.

• • • • •

"Nice work Landi!" Greeve said as he and the others rushed through the cottage's rear exit. But waiting for them were two other Legionaries. Without thinking, Mert ran from behind and launched his entire body into one of the men, tackling him to the ground. Simultaneously, Councilman Greeve grabbed a rock from the ground and smashed it into the helmet of the other.

Greeve smiled as Mert slowly rose from atop the soldier he'd knocked out. High-fiving his fellow administer of military, Greeve shouted "Good job!" He then drew a deep breath and wiped the sweat from his wrinkled forehead. Despite his age, he'd always been a wilder, rowdier member of the Council, and this fight further invigorated him. He felt like a young soldier again. With both Legionaries on the ground, the group ran full speed towards the Hellish South Plains.

"Come on!" Heegan yelled, skipping as fast as his small legs would carry him. He waved the others forward. "Follow me! There's a back-up place in the Plains."

"Wait!" Greeve bellowed, stopping the entire group. "What about the box? We left it behind!"

"Leave it!" Jawn yelled.