Astral paced the forest floor, she had not looked back since running from her own castle, leaving the prince defenceless. She wanted desperately to stay, but something inside her told her to do as he wished. `The prince was a strange man`, she thought. `Nothing like the stories, nothing like his father actually` she continued. Just then a flash disturbed her concentration. Light filled the area and she found it hard to see in front of her. She squinted her eyes and looked into the source of the light, she felt the presence of Paix all around her. “The time for Goreoth draws closer” the voice of Paix said to her. “Stay with the prince, his heart is full of love, but it also has a black exterior. Goreoth will try and exploit him” Paix continued.
“I shall do my best” she told the goddess in front of her.
“I will help you elf queen” and with a blinding flash she was gone. Astral jumped from the forest floor and looked toward the castle, she could not see Valandt. `Where are you prince` she asked herself. Just then noises in the bushes behind her made her jump. `Could it be that some guards have followed me here?` she thought as she conjured a ball of fire in her hands, ready for an attack. The bushes parted and Astral saw that it was Valandt and he had someone else with him. This stranger had a calm aura about him. His hair was black and slick, his eyes seemed endlessly deep, he did not look at Astral initially but he soon looked into her eyes and she felt a shiver run down her body as he did. “I was surrounded by guards, but this warrior helped me” said Valandt to Astral after he had cleared the bushes.
“I thank you for your help” Astral said to Imunzo “do you have a name?” she asked him.
“Imunzo” he said to her, and she started to back away from him in fear.
“What is the matter?” Valandt asked Astral.
“I have been warned about him” she said to Valandt telepathically. Imunzo sat down on the forest floor and laid out his curved sword on his lap “my apologies to you, I need to meditate, I will not be long”.
“Its not a problem, please let us know when your finished” Valandt said to Imunzo `walk with me` he then thought, intending for Astral to pick up. “What is your problem?” Valandt said to Astral “this man saved my life and you treat him with almost disgust” Valandt’s anger was clear.
“I do not trust him prince Valandt” she said to him.
“I trust no-one” he said to her coldly “I know evil when it is near and he is not evil” he paused and walked a couple of paces alone, looking in the direction of the castle. “Kaiazal will find us here” Astral blurted out to Valandt after a long period of silence.
“No he won‘t” Valandt paused and drew his sword “because I am going to find him” he turned to face Astral “as soon as Imunzo is ready we shall return to the castle with, or without you” he stopped dead in his paces “I have to find my father, I cannot stand this waiting” and he then walked off toward where Imunzo was sitting. The night sky was completely and only the only light in the forest was moonlight. Valandt looked at Imunzo, who had his eyes closed and was in deep thought, he could sense pain but Imunzo refused to register any. Valandt walked off and sat down on the edge of the forest staring at the castle. Imunzo continued his trance, not making a single sound. Astral made her way and sat down opposite Imunzo, she closed her eyes and tried to think. “I know you do not trust me” came Imunzo’s voice, and she jerked her eyes open.
“What do you mean?” she asked him.
“You have been told by Paix to watch out for me, but that does not mean I am evil” he walked to her “come I will show you my story” and he took her by the hand, she saw what he was thinking. “My land was one of peace and honour, much like this, I was the greatest samurai warrior in the land and heralded as a king by the people. Then Kaiazal and his followers came” as he spoke this she felt pain “He tortured many people, raped women, killed children and many of my best warriors were sent as sacrifices to Goreoth until there I was all that was left. I escaped my land and have been watching Kaiazal for over a year now, I will stop him. For it is my destiny.” She felt the light of Paix surround her “I am the last living descendant of the disciples of Paix that sealed Goreoth all those years ago, and it is my duty to make sure he never escapes”. Astral pulled her hand away from Imunzo “I do not care for your trust elf queen, but I am no evil man” and with that he walked off toward where Valandt was sitting. Astral soon went after him, she didn’t want to trust Imunzo, but she was going too, for now.
“Kaiazal will send many to kill us” Imunzo said to Valandt, they were planning an assault on the castle.
“Then many will die” Valandt said confidently.
“I can use my magic to vanquish many” Astral added.
“However, we do need a plan, we cannot just rush in” Imunzo said “I have an idea, but it is very dangerous” he continued.
“I‘m listening” Valandt said to Imunzo.
“If you give yourself to Kaiazal on the pretence that you want to discuss the matter of your father, we can follow you and get to him” said Imunzo explaining his plan.
“And Astral, you could keep anyone from getting to us once we‘re alone with Kaiazal, couldn’t you?” Valandt added.
“Yes I suppose I could, but not for too long” she said hesitantly.
“Then it is set” said Imunzo.
“Wait..” said Astral “.. How will we get a message to Kaiazal?”
“Oh he knows” said Imunzo “All you have to do is walk in there”. Valandt was slightly concerned but he shrugged it off “Hey, I walked into one trap allready, why not two”.
“I will back you up young prince” said Imunzo, he then got up and started to walk.
“Are you sure about this?” Astral said to Valandt once Imunzo was out of hearing distance.
“I have no choice” Valandt said “if Imunzo wanted me dead he could have had it, but he prevented it and besides, I have to find my father”. The two got up from where they were sitting “and are you just gonna let Kaiazal capture me?”
“Not a chance” she replied “I got you into this prince, I shall help you out of it”
“Its good to know” said Valandt, “I have to go now” he said and then walked off in the direction of where Imunzo was standing. “Be brave young prince” Imunzo said to Valandt as he walked past him.
“Just make sure you‘re there when I need you, or rather if I need you” he said with assurance. Valandt continued his walk toward the castle and in his mind likened it to the walk someone makes to their execution. The castle was clearly in sight and Valandt cursed the fact that he had told Schard and Raiguarde that he would stay with Astral at the castle the night, if he hadn't there would have been a huge number of horsemen and swordsmen taking out Kaiazal’s men instead of the lone and outnumbered prince. The castle looked deserted as he approached it, the huge boulder that had smashed into the wall had been removed but the hole it had created was still there. Valandt unsheathed the sword he had stolen from one of the swordsmen he killed earlier and went to make a hole in the wooden door, to let him in but it opened in front of him. Valandt walked through the door cautiously and looked around for any sign of an ambush, there was no-one there. He walked into the room where he had been in earlier the vast room where he had first met Astral and he looked around again, there was still no sign of anyone. Valandt continued and walked into the banquet room, there was a huge table, big enough for at least a hundred people spanning the room and there was a throne at the end of it. This was the room where the guests had the feast earlier, they probably didn't have a clue what was going on and the evil that was taking place. The doors he hand entered slammed shut making Valandt jump and turn around, he got his sword ready. `If I can take out several of his men with no sword` he thought `its gonna be fairly simple with a weapon`. He then suddenly jumped spun and sliced his sword into the chest of an attacker. `So it will be simple` he said to himself as he stared at the body in front of him and plunged his sword into his chest making sure he was dead. Valandt looked ahead at the throne at the front of the room, someone was sitting on it. “Nice of you to drop in” Kaiazal said to Valandt, getting up from his seat. This was the first time Valandt had ever seen Kaiazal properly, up until today he figured it was a simple legend with no real truth to it. Kaiazal was covered by a black cloak that covered up all but his face. Kaiazal’s face was unusually proportioned and his skin looked to Valandt as if it could possibly be a very light shade of green. “Where is my father” Valandt said, getting to the point.
“He is” Kaiazal paused, choosing the right word “busy, but he will be returned in time, but don’t expect him to be alive when we do return him” Kaiazal said icily.
“You‘re right about one thing” said Valandt “he will be returned in time, in time for me to kill you” Kaiazal laughed evilly.
“I could see to your death prince” Kaiazal stared at Valandt who was a little startled to see that Kaiazal’s eyes were all black. “However, I believe Goreoth could make use of you. What do you say, we spare your life in return for your services”. Valandt smiled wide and walked over to Kaiazal, who extended his hand to Valandt, this made him smile wider.
“No deal” said Valandt coolly as he swung his sword at Kaiazal, but the sword only sliced air. Kaiazal laughed “it will a shame to kill you, but more fun” Kaiazal was now on the other side of the room. Kaiazal snapped his fingers and four swordsmen appeared either side of Valandt. He swung his sword full circle around him, slashing three necks in the process and causing them to collapse, dead. Valandt quickly thrust his sword into the chest of the man nearest to him deep and then kicked him off his sword. Another man came at him and Valandt grabbed his shoulder and thrust him into his sword. Valandt removed his sword from inside the chest of the swordsman and severed the head of the one nearest to him giving him no time to react. Valandt sheathed his sword and dived onto the ground, rolling where the bodies were and collecting a second sword in the process. Valandt then quickly unsheathed his other sword and two swords in hand rammed them into the chests of the final two, he then removed the bloody swords from the corpses and looked at Kaiazal. “Impressive” said Kaiazal “It will indeed be a shame to kill you” and he turned his back on Valandt and suddenly ten men were surrounding Valandt. Kaiazal began to wave his hands in a circular motion and chant in a language that Valandt could not understand. Valandt wasting no time threw one sword into the neck of one of the ten men surrounding him and thrusting it deep into the nearest one too him. Valandt could see that Kaiazal was escaping and he jumped high into the air, clear of all ten men and landing on the grand table. At exactly that same moment an explosion shattered the window to the left of him, causing everyone in the room to fall to the floor. Astral came floating in, and she using her powers was soon followed by Imunzo. “Its about time” he called to them as they landed and he then felt one of the swordsmen grab his leg. Imunzo then jumped high into the air, landing right next to the man who had Valandt’s leg and slicing the arm off. Valandt then got to his feet and pulled Imunzo up off the floor. The two then started to kill all the swordsmen. A scream broke Valandt’s concentration as he killed the last of the swordsmen, he turned around and saw Kaiazal had trapped Astral into a bubble. “Release the girl I will take care of Kaiazal” called Imunzo as he ran toward Kaiazal, who had now created a black portal in the room. Valandt threw his sword at the bubble and he saw it burst, Astral fell to the floor with a bump. Kaiazal smiled and ran over to Astral, he then grabbed her. `Did Imunzo just watch him take her?` Valandt asked himself as Kaiazal disappeared into the black hole with her in his arms, the hole vanishing after them.