Chapter 3 - Peace No More

Valandt awoke with a groan of pain, he looked around but he could not see much because it was very dark, he saw bars on the only light source in the room, a window and immediately knew he was being held in a prison. He tried to stretch out, but his arms were around his back tied to a chair. “Are you okay?” he heard a voice, Astral’s and looked around to see that she was in the same cell as he was, also tied up. Now he was silently glad that he was in darkness as if he saw her incredible face he would lose all concentration. “Yes” he eventually moaned out “more importantly, are you?” he said to her.
“I am alive, that is all that is important” she said back with a slightly eerie sense of calm. He sighed.
“Can you get yourself untied at all?” he called to her.
“It appears not, this rope is very strong” she looked out of the cell “even so there are seven guards waiting in the darkness in front of us”. Valandt looked in the same direction that Astral was.
“How do you know?” he asked her.
“I sense their presence” came Astral’s voice, this time from inside Valandt’s head “if they hear us talking they will know what we are up too” she said to him telepathically “I can hear your thoughts”. Valandt was glad he did not know this before otherwise he would have been thing all sorts of embarrassing things but under the circumstances, here in this cell, it seemed a little inappropriate. Valandt’s mind raced for ways to loosen the rope tying him up, it then occurred to him that with a flick of his foot he could easily break the chair he was tied to up, then the rope would be all but useless and Astral could untie him, but this thought was countered by Astral’s voice “do not break the chair, they will hear you” it said to him. Valandt paused for thought once again and then had an epiphany “well can you use your powers to create some sort of distraction while I break the chair” he thought, knowing her mind would pick it up. Astral said something but the deafening sound of thunder drowned out her voice. “My apologies Astral, I could not hear you over the thunder, what did you say to me” he heard her chuckle to herself softly, and he noticed what a enchanting laugh and voice she had, but he quickly dismissed the thought as he didn’t want her to hear him. “I said” she said to him right before another ear-splitting round of thunder, this time she waited before it had gone before speaking to him “how about if I create a powerful thunderstorm outside”. Valandt smiled wide at her creativity.
“Use your powers to make the thunder as loud as you can” he said to her moments before booming thunder filled his ears once again. He wrapped his left leg around the front left leg of the chair he was on, he then using his lower body strength snapped the leg of, in time with another immensely noisy thunderclap. He then did the same to the right leg, his left leg then had to take the brunt of his body as his body adjusted to get in a crouching position. Valandt waited for another boom of thunder before mule kicking one of the back legs and then repeating this with the final leg. Valandt then realized the fault in his plan, the back of the chair was still perfectly intact, so he could not free his hands. He slowly walked over to Astral, making sure that his crouching shadow did not signal the guards watching the cell that he was moving. he then took up position behind Astral `can you untie any of my ropes` he thought, she heard it and without word attempted to tug at Valandt’s ropes. `This will not work unless you come closer` she said to him, and with that she outstretched her hand and grabbed his. She pulled him close, Valandt felt a feeling of euphoria flow all around his body as she touched him. Valandt regained his concentration quickly and felt the ropes loosen momentarily, but not enough for him to be free. Valandt could now move his hands now, and he fiddled with the ropes, making them looser and looser until he is hands were free. He was sure not to forget about the chair and let it fall to the ground, he held it, by one of the wooden bar his hands were previously tied to and silently placed it on the floor. `Now you must untie me prince Valandt` came Astral’s voice into his head again. He did not speak and began to loosen her ropes, his hand brushing against hers every so often and Valandt felt weak as he did. Valandt finished untying her ropes and he took her by her hand and pushed her up against him. This made Valandt’s heart race and he could feel his heart beating at a pace also `what is the meaning of this prince?` she asked him.
`I saw your shadow move, which means they most likely did too, I merely pulled you close so that they could not pick up on this` he explained to her.
`I thank you prince` and the Valandt put his hands on her waist, his legs felt week and he guided her into the corner where they definitely would not be seen. `We must act fast young prince, Kaiazal will return very shortly, he will know where your father is.` The name Kaiazal spoke to Valandt, he had heard it before, but he could not remember where. `Kaiazal is one of the three disciples of Goreoth` said Astral, giving Valandt his answer. `Goreoth? the god of war, he is sealed under the earth, what does he want with my father?` asked Valandt.
`I see you know the legend of the battle between Goreoth and Paix, and how she sealed him as he could not be beaten, do you not know of the legend of his return?`
`it appears I do not` said Valandt, whose concentration moved to a noise, someone was approaching. `Stay perfectly still` he thought to her, and he held her once again in his arms, and felt a wave of pleasure, something more intense than he had ever experienced rush over his body. The noise came and went `you will have to explain the legend of Goreoth to me some other time, first we have to get out of here` Valandt thought to her as the noise disappeared. Valandt looked around in a feeble attempt to think of some means of escape, there were according to Astral, seven guards watching them merely metres in front of them. Valandt then tried to look out of the window, but this also was in vain as he could not see a thing at this angle. `What is on the other side of this wall?` he asked Astral.
`see for yourself` she said to him, and before he could reply, the wall appeared transparent and he could see far into the distance as if it were not there at all. Valandt reached out his hand and touched the wall in front of him, just to be sure it was still there, but now he had a plan. `Is there anything you could do to break this wall?` he asked Astral.
`Yes, but it will be loud` she said, with an air of scepticism. Valandt’s thoughts were silent for a long while, eventually he said `when you do what you do, I want you to run toward the small forest at the end of that open field, I will take care of any guards that come after you and then I shall join you in the forest`.
`Please` she said to him `let me stay with you, we can both go to the forest, I was the one that brought you here and got you into this trouble`.
`Just do as I say and go toward the forest, I do not want to worry about you` Valandt’s mask of politeness falling apart. Valandt was expecting a harsher reply, but instead he felt a kiss on the cheek and at that moment he nearly collapsed `you would worry about me sweet prince? I thank you`. Astral sensed Valandt’s slight embarrassment so she moved on. `Stand back` she said, and moments later a huge boulder came crashing through the prison wall. Valandt dived and pushed her to safety the floor, making sure it would not crush her. The boulder slammed into the bars of the cell and got wedged there. Valandt getting up turned to Astral `go, I meet you soon` he said as she started to head in the direction of the forest. Valandt saw three men who were guarding the outer perimeter of the castle start to give chase, but Valandt shouted at them and they turned their attention to him. One stupidly ran at him and Valandt merely used his momentum to toss him aside matador like into the wall. More men arrived, and a few swift kicks later, more men lay on the floor in agony. Valandt stood firm as four of the guards, sword in hand advanced on them. Two more men came, and the six surrounded him. Moments later the six became ten. Valandt was easily outnumbered and probably facing death, but he stood stronger and more confident of any of the ten surrounding him. Valandt wasted little time, he dropkicked the swordsman nearest to him to the floor and then grabbed the mans sword. Swords were thrust in his direction but Valandt rolled around on the ground avoiding all of them. Valandt then floored three swordsmen with the same sweeping kick. Valandt then stood up and plunged the sword he hand acquainted deep into the chests of all four men lying on the floor, killing them instantly. Valandt then looked around, he was sure there were more around but no more swords men stood around him, in their place corpses, they were all dead. Valandt turned the corner and saw a strange man kill one of the swordsman. He had dark hair and wore purple clothes, his sword was long and thin, curved at the end. Valandt approached him cautiously, the man saw him coming. Valandt walked up to the man, who’s eyes were staring blankly in front of him, at nothing in particular. Valandt spoke “I thank you for helping me, I am prince Valandt” he extended his hand to the strange man, a feeling inside him told him to befriend the man. The man broke his gaze and now looked at Valandt “What is yours” he said. The man did not speak initially, Valandt waited and then gave up hope, he was about to head toward the forest when he heard him speak “My name is Izumo” said the man.

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.