Legacy

When James had been deemed healthy enough for travel, the group continued on their journey. There were no lingering physical effects from the illness bothering James, but the emotional toll the apocalyptic vision had left with him would remain always.

“Are we doing the right thing?” Aiko whispered to Archer. There was distance between the two and James and Jaycee, making it possible for such a touchy subject to be discussed without offending James.

“What do you mean?” asked Archer.

“Shadow Kahn wants James, not us. So aren’t we just putting ourselves in danger for nothing? You know someone like that won’t stop until he gets what he wants. Who knows what’ll happen to us if we get in his way again.”

“Put yourself in James’ position. How would you feel if everyone you were depending on just abandoned you?” After giving Aiko time to ponder what he had said, Archer brought up a very sensitive subject. “Is this because of what Sage told you?”

“What did Sage tell you?” asked Jaycee.

It was unclear if Jaycee had heard everything Aiko and Archer had been discussing, but it was evident that she had heard about Sage. But what was a much larger concern to Aiko was if James had heard the conversation.

“Uh, well,” said Aiko, who felt an immediate pain in the pit of her stomach. “He said we shouldn’t waste our time trying to save the third Nova.”

“What?” gasped Archer. “You didn’t tell me that.”

“You didn’t ask,” replied Aiko.

“Yes, I did.”

“Is that so?” asked James. When he came to a stop, everyone did the same. “What did Sage really tell you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s obvious just by the tone of your voice that you’re hiding something,” replied James. “So what did Sage tell you?”

With so many eyes on her, Aiko was unable to stay silent for very long. “He said we shouldn’t try to save the third Nova because that one was being saved for Shadow Kahn, which means we’ll only end up getting killed, too. So we shouldn’t even bother wasting our time. Who knows what that maniac has in store for us.” Aiko actually felt relieved to have been given that piece of information, so that she would have something to tell the others that wasn't the secret she and Sage now shared.

“Is that all?” asked James.

“Yes, I swear.”

“Then that gives us even more reason to try to save her,” said Archer.

“Her?” asked Jaycee. “The third Nova’s a woman?”

“It’s just a rumor,” said Archer. “Because no one other than the other Novas have actually seen the Nova of the north, no one really knows who he or she is. And there’s another rumor. It’s been said that there’s something different about her.”

“How so?” asked James.

“People think she isn’t from this world.”

“Like from another planet?” asked Aiko.

“How would that even be possible?” barked Archer. “Some people seem to think there’s something divine about her, not otherworldly. I’ve always just passed it off as nonsense. But after what’s been happening recently, nothing seems impossible now.”

“If there was a chance these rumors were true, why didn’t we seek the Nova of the north’s counsel first?” asked Jaycee.

“I considered it,” said Archer. “But from where we began, the first two Novas were much closer in proximity, and time was crucial.” When he was finished, Archer turned his attention to Aiko. “Are you sure you didn’t forget to tell us anything else?”

“What?” gasped Aiko. “No.”

“Then let’s be on our way. Time still isn’t on our side.”

As hard as she tried, Aiko was unable to quell the guilt she was now feeling from keeping her secret from the others. But she knew deep down that it had been the right thing to do. Had she revealed what Sage had really told her, relationships would forever be changed.

With an air of tension now enveloping them, nothing was said amongst the travelers for the next few hours. The fact that secrets were being kept at such a dire time left the others less than pleased with Aiko.

The awkward silence was eventually broken hours later when the group arrived at a place that was well known for past atrocities.

“The Valley of Death,” said James, gazing at the vast stretch of land.

Jaycee and Archer had the same solemn demeanor about them as they gazed at the plain that had seen more than its share of misery.

“What is this place?” asked Aiko.

“The Valley of Death is a place where a very bloody battle took place,” replied Archer. “Many men lost their lives here. They died for nothing, as far as I’m concerned. No amount of power is worth the shedding of human blood.”

Hearing such things, James couldn’t help but think back to what Shadow Kahn had told him about the evil in men’s hearts. But James refused to entertain the same beliefs as a man whose heart was filled with far more evil than anyone against whom he had preached.

Before the group ventured into the valley, the sound of an approaching horse kept them from advancing.

“Andrew,” said Archer as the rider approached.

“Good to see you’re still with us,” said Andrew. The newcomer was one of King Lionel’s most accomplished knights and had been on the fast track to becoming general of his highness’ army before recent events threw everyone’s plans to the wayside. “Many of our comrades have not been nearly as fortunate as us.”

“What are you doing in these parts?”

“I assume we’re headed in the same destination.”

“You’re also seeking the Nova of the north?”

“That’s right,” replied Andrew. “We dispatched scouts to the Novas of the east and the west, but I’m afraid we sent them too late. Now we have no choice but to seek the help of the Nova of the north. I’m a bit wary of that one, with all the unusual stories that I’ve heard. But we have no one else to turn to at a time like this. I sent a group of my best soldiers to the north. I just pray I didn’t send them too late as well.”

“But if the rumors about her are true,” said Archer. “Then she might be the only one who can bring an end to all of this.”

A lone horseman appeared in the distance. He brought his horse to the apex of the opposite slope and began watching the group. From that distance it was impossible to see just who the rider was. But when he traversed the slope and took his horse to the center of the valley, it became evident who it was.

“Raspheet,” said Archer.

“A friend of yours?” asked Andrew.

“Hardly.”

The group’s collective attention was then captured by the sound of marching. From the woods emerged hundreds of soldiers. Some were dressed differently, showing that they were made from different armies.

“We called up every available man,” said Andrew. “We even promoted the instructors from the academy. And the king was well respected by his neighbors, so allies have lent some of their men to our cause. If we don’t find the Nova of the north’s advice to our liking, then we always have plan B. Overwhelm the enemy with numbers and sheer brute force. In times like these, it’s been known to work quite well.”

With such a large gathering now to contend with, it came as no surprise when Raspheet directed his horse out of the valley.

“Well, at least your friend had sense enough to turn tail and run.”

It was shortly thereafter when the army began making its way across the valley. The sky, which had been a pristine blue, had become saturated with black clouds. And the once fresh air had become thick and stale, producing a most unpleasant aroma.

“I don’t like how this place feels,” said Aiko.

“You don’t have anything to worry about,” said Jaycee.

“We have an entire army on our side,” said Archer. “If that isn’t enough to keep the enemy away, then I don’t know what will.”

It was faint but James was sure he had seen something ahead. A slight movement of dirt was enough to stop him in his tracks, prompting his friends to do the same.

“What is it?” asked Jaycee.

To their collective dismay, the group watched as a hand covered in rotted flesh thrust from the ground. This brought the entire army to an immediate halt. Had the thought of retreat crossed their minds, it would have quickly been quelled when similar arms began thrusting out of the ground in every direction. Before long, the army was surrounded on all sides by dozens of undead soldiers pulling their decimated bodies from the earth. Their faces were twisted with looks of extreme rage, making them look as if they had never been human. But the tattered clothing that they wore and the weapons that they wielded left no doubt that these were the bodies of soldiers who had perished in bloody combat.

James was about to draw his sword but Archer kept him from doing so. “Let them take care of this,” he said.

With a mere nod of his head, Andrew had given the order to a number of his soldiers to attack the gruesome creatures. The soldiers broke from their ranks and cut down the enemy with no more effort than what would have been used against wild dogs.

“Are those things dead?” asked Aiko.

Before the attacks could be deemed a success or not, more of the undead began emerging from the earth. Where there had only been dozens before, there was now well over a hundred of the enemy.

Andrew drew his sword. “You four, stay close to me.”

A harrowing battle then took place. The soldiers of the Deerborne kingdom and their allies used exemplary skill to vanquish horde after horde of undead soldiers. But their skills wouldn’t be enough to overcome the staggering numbers of the enemy. Despite their best effort, they were quickly overrun by an enemy that seemed to have no end. All over the valley more of them began emerging from the earth.

“Is there no end to these monsters?” asked Andrew.

As the battle raged on, the undead soldiers that had fallen began getting back to their feet, eager to finish what they had started.

“Impossible,” gasped Andrew.

Not only were the undead now overwhelming the enemy with their numbers, but many of them began feeding on the flesh of the fallen. The more casualties there were the closer the battle got to James and the others.

“You four need to get out of here now,” said Andrew.

“I won’t abandon my comrades,” said Archer.

“That’s an order! I am acting as the king’s general, and you will do as I say! Now leave while you still have the opportunity!”

A pair of arrows were then fired into Andrew’s back.

“Andrew,” exclaimed Archer.

Though the man was in obvious pain, Andrew turned his horse toward the fiercest part of the battle. “Don’t let my final request be denied,” he said.

“You can’t,” said Archer.

“For the king!” shouted Andrew before riding into the battle.

It was easy to tell just by looking at him that Archer wanted to follow Andrew into the battle. To prevent him from doing so, Aiko grabbed him by the arm. “I know you want to help them,” she said, “but there’s nothing you can do.”

The soldiers who had survived the first wave of attacks soon found themselves being taken not by weapons, but by their enemies’ bare hands and teeth. The scene unfolding was far worse than anything that could be conjured in even the worst of nightmares. Dying screams could be heard only faintly through the roars of the insatiable victors.

“We have to go!” exclaimed Aiko.

But the group wouldn’t be escaping so easily. Their way had become blocked by a horde of the undead. And it wasn’t long before more had completely surrounded them.

“There’s nowhere for us to go,” said Jaycee.

James was ready to attack at the first sign of advancement from the enemy, though he knew any attack would be futile against such a foe.

To the utter shock of the group, the undead began to separate, making a path for them through which to escape. It was clear by the growls coming from them that though they were giving them safe passage, the undead were doing so against their will.

“Let’s go,” said James. And with that, the four sprinted through the opening.

Archer took one last look back while escaping. The scene was more of what he had already seen. Fleeing soldiers were being chased down and eaten alive.

James and the others ran for all they were worth from the carnage. And once they believed themselves to be out of danger, they stopped to catch their breath.

Before anyone could consider themselves grateful for still having their lives, Raspheet rode in and became yet another obstacle.

“You didn’t think you’d be getting away that easily, did you?” asked Raspheet. After dismounting, Raspheet let the group in on a piece of information they had been curious to know. “Do you know why those things let you go, when every instinct of theirs tells them to slaughter everything in sight? It’s because the master told them to.”

“Why have you aligned yourself with that man?” asked Archer.

“You should already know why. It’s the same reason why you aligned yourself with that king of yours. Choose the strongest side and go from there. It isn’t that hard to figure out. I was even put in charge of this so called army. It’s not quite like when I was in charge of my men, but I suppose this was the next best thing. An army of undying monsters, what more could a man possibly ask for?”

Archer drew an arrow and took aim.

“When the master creates his new world, he promised me a front row seat for the festivities. And there’s no way any of you are going to stop that.”

“Many of the men who died back there were my friends!” exclaimed Archer.

“Do you really think I care?”

Letting his rage take control of him, Archer fired an arrow into his foe’s chest. Raspheet lurched over and feebly grasped at the arrow. But shortly thereafter, he began laughing.

“Impossible,” gasped Archer.

When Raspheet straightened himself, the look on his face sent a chill down everyone’s spine. The grin on his face showed that not only did the arrow have no effect, but he had actually enjoyed the act perpetrated against him.

“Did you really think that man would put someone in charge of an army of the undead if they themselves weren’t undead?” asked Raspheet. “A man who can grant everlasting life, who wouldn’t follow someone like that?”

Rather than giving Raspheet’s grim proclamation a reply, Archer fired another arrow into his chest. This time, though, there was no feigning of pain to mock his opponent. Raspheet merely pulled both arrows from his chest and tossed them to the ground.

“You just don’t get it, do you?” asked Raspheet, drawing his sword. “Maybe I need to show you what I mean rather than tell you.”

Showing no fear, Archer drew another arrow and again took aim.

“You really are a stubborn one.”

“What are you doing?” asked Aiko. “That’s not gonna work.”

Having made sure his shot would be precise, Archer let arrow fly. Rather than striking his foe in the chest again, Archer had fired his arrow into Raspheet’s remaining good eye. The roar that burst from Raspheet was so horrendous that it was clear to the others that, unlike before, this show of pain was no mere act.

“You may still be around when your master creates his new world,” said Archer. “But you won’t be seeing any of it.”

Without saying another word or even looking at the others, Archer began his departure. James and the girls followed Archer’s lead, treading carefully around Raspheet, who was writhing on the ground in agonizing pain and howling like a dying animal.