The Seven Seals: Dragon Crusade

Kate’s eyes widened as she looked up at the Goblin King in shock. The image of Callon’s lifeless face continued to flash in her mind. She couldn’t wrap her head around the situation that they were in as the smell of flesh had quickly replaced the normal breathing air. It felt thick and sickening. Pull yourself together! she tried to tell herself. But before she could register Zogba’s words, something grabbed a hold of both her arms. Kate’s senses came to as she heard the laughing of the goblins that was equivalent to the cries of a dying animal. They were going to be cooked, burned to death to be eaten by a hundred leering little devils.

The goblins surrounded them from all sides as the ones latched onto them dragged them to the door. Their laughing was greater than before, bouncing off the walls and impaling the minds of the group with fear. Everything grew much more terrifying than it had before. The firelight dancing across the wall revealed the shadows of the goblins excitedly shoving, cackling and howling. The shadows stretched up to the ceiling, standing over them like demons ready to lead them into what torture lie waiting. Some of the voices of the Goblins rang out in song, chanting in an unknown tongue. The thought of Callon being dead hung in their minds, dangling back and forth. A member of their crew now gone, who would go next?

Kate felt a sharp puncture in her back as she was shoved down a corridor with everyone else. They entered a domed room as the goblins flooded in. Small fires were station in several places but one thing was for sure. They were going to be roasted to death. Kate felt a grimy hand grab her shoulder and drag her over to a wooden steak. She thrashed and shoved, her heart pounding in her chest. “Agh— no!” Kate cried, but their grip was one of iron. The goblins laughed at her futile attempts before shoving her back against the wood. Kate grunted, feeling her hands being bound to the pole. Forcing her eyes open, she could see Kirith trying to break free with no success. The others were in the same dilemma.

A small brown head appeared through the green mass of goblins. Laela had her back shoved against a pole next to Kate, tears falling down her face. The goblins around her began to joke about her insignificance, or saying that she could be a “side dish.” Kate clenched her teeth as she felt her blood begin to boil. “Hey!” she snapped, trying to lunge forward, but was automatically held back. One of the goblins behind her pushed her back down, causing her to bend forward. Suddenly the ground left her feet left the ground as both sides of the stake were raised. They’re going to do it…they’re going to burn me, she thought. Kate could distinctly hear Laela’s sobs through the mass. It tore at her heart to hear the young girl in such fright like that. And there was nothing she could do about it. Kate clenched her teeth, as her body grew shaky. This isn’t fair!

Below her, the crackling flames came into view. The heat became excruciatingly hot, the flames nearly caressing her body. It was a heat she had never felt before, something that she could only describe as if the hottest day of the year was three times hotter than it was. Her lungs felt as if they were closing up with all the toxic air, forcing her to cough. Kate shut her eyes, feeling her eyes begin to burn. She wanted this to be a dream and wake up. She wanted to cry “I give up” and the journey would end, just like that. No more, no more adventuring, no more toil, no more pain, no fate that would leave them forgotten. But she knew she couldn’t. She knew she had to live these last moments with her friends. Every last second would be burning with them. Hot tears emerged in Kate’s eyes, but quickly evaporated with the heat. If only she were strong…

Out of nowhere, there was a loud shriek of goblins from beside her. Several of them nearly knocked right into the cooking station she was on. Kate whipped her head to the right to see the goblins drawing their weapons and facing Travis. His bonds were burned to a crisp; in fact, he wasn’t hanging from the pole any longer. Travis slowly rose from the flames, not a single scratch on his skin. His eyes glowed with a fiery luminescence as flames wrapped around his fists. The power of his Seal, it was activated!

The goblins surrounding him stood idly, looking around at each other if they should try to attack. Tazolk was with them, looking around at them in rage. “What are you waiting for?!?” he roared, spit flinging from his mouth. “KILL HIM!”

On his command, the goblins charged forward, raising their clubs and blades. Travis simply stood there as they converged, unflinching. Holding his fists at his side, he slammed his heel into the ground. A wave of flames shot forth and collided with the goblins, sending them flying back.

Kate’s jaw dropped open has he single-handedly fended off the goblins, made his way to Kirith, and pulled him from above the fire, burning away the rope. How was he able to do all of this at once? The real question was how did he manage to unlock his Seal power? But her thoughts were suddenly pushed away when she felt the intense heat of the flames.

As the chaos continued to ensue and goblins continued to flood inside, more of the members of their group were set free, pulling out their weapons to fight. Kirith rushed towards Kate, sword in hand. “This will only take a moment,” he said and pushed the pole over. Kate fell on her side directly next to the fire and let out a yelp. Her lungs began to open up again as she coughed up the fumes. Kirith rushed around to her side and used his sword to cut the rope. The bonds loosened from her wrists until the raw feeling left. Kate shot up as soon as she was free. “Alright, let’s go!” she said impatiently, pulling out her sword.

Everyone was freed and trying to fight off the goblin forces. Travis’ powers were dwindling by the second, but he still managed to put up a fight. One of the goblins had tried to take Laela away, but Travis stopped the creature’s efforts and burned it to a crisp.

Earidon waved his sword to the archway opposite of where they entered. “This way!” Everyone followed after him, but Epheldor began to slow behind the group. He stopped and looked back at the goblins that were flooding into the room. The look in his eyes was longing and enraged. Derenil skidded to a stop, seeing his state of being and that there was more than a dozen goblins charging his way. She grabbed his wrist and yanked him towards the group. “Callon is gone!” Derenil yelled over the chaos. “We can’t go back for him!”

Rushing through many different halls and rooms, some to which also had goblins in them, the group ran for their lives. It was practically endless, but Earidon seemed to know which way to go. The others hadn’t bothered to question it, especially with the shrieking mob of green little devils at their feet.

They stopped short when they entered a vast cavern. Before them was an edge, and beyond was a small gleaming light from a passageway. Earidon looked around hastily, but stopped when his eyes landed on a staircase next to them, which zigzagged down to the bottom. “This way!” he said.

As everyone was beginning to race down, the goblins began piling in, many of which drew bows and began to fire. Kate’s heart pounded rapidly as she looked up to the goblins that were taking aim. One of them directed its aim to her and released, but missed only by several feet. She bit her lip and looked away. What if one of them managed to hit them? Would they be able to escape? Kate turned a corner with the group and continued to quickly race down the stairs. The ground was not too far away, just one more turn—

Suddenly, an arrow stuck into Travis’ shoulder. He stumbled forward but managed to stay on his feet. The arrow didn’t seem to faze him at all; in fact, Travis was running a bit faster. Kate couldn’t believe what she was seeing, but quickly shook away the doubtful thoughts.

The group reached the bottom of the stairs and raced towards the passageway. A light could be seen, one that was natural and not the gleaming of flames. Arrows shot at them and hit the floor with a clink. Many of them were covered in flames and just barely grazed them. Kate’s legs burned and ached. As much as she wanted to stop, she couldn’t. Stopping would mean being burned by a flaming arrow.

Passing right under the arch, they entered into the long tunnel, safe from the arrows. The cries of the infuriated goblins bounced off the stone hewn walls. Before, it was an unbearable sound, but now it was music to the Seal’s and the elves ears.

The light before them expanded as it dimmed and clarified. They all charged out of the tunnel and into the light. Kate felt the ground beneath her change dramatically and she awkwardly fell to the ground, rolling in the underbrush until she came to a stop. She scrambled up, feeling the sense of adrenaline still inside her as she tried to catch her breath. As Kate looked around, she realized why she had fallen before.

All around were massive trees, trees that stretched so far she could barely make out the top with impressively thick trunks. Vines clung to the trees as long roots twisted and turned here and there before disappearing under the earth. Exotic plants and flowers were spread across the ground, large and small and many she had never seen before. The chorus of birds chirping echoed from above with many distinguishable and different chirps from insects and frogs mixing in like an angelic lullaby. The air smelled of rich soil and slightly intoxicating floral perfumes. The whole scene was like a dream; everything seemed too good to be true.

“Seal it up!” she heard Travis say from behind. Kate turned around to see the others standing around the vine covered entrance. Earidon held up his hands towards it and began to speak in another tongue. After several seconds of him speaking, the entrance began to rumble as debris fell from it. The black slab door began to move down as everyone watched in distressed anticipation. When it finally closed with a last quake, everyone felt a weight lift off of their shoulders. No one spoke as they still tried to catch their breath.

Travis sat down heavily on a rock, clutching his knees tightly as his nostrils flared. The arrow still protruded from his shoulder with blood dripping down from it. Laela ran to his side. She pushed back her hair nervously. “This isn’t good…” she muttered. “You wouldn’t mind me pulling this out, would you?”

Travis shut his eyes and clenched his knees tighter. “Just do it!”

Laela nodded worriedly and turned her attention back to the arrow. Grabbing hold of the shaft, her eyes darted between it and Travis. Laela yanked it out with one swift movement. Travis wailed in pain between clenched teeth, breathing deeply. Laela quickly pulled her staff from her back and held it to Travis’ bleeding shoulder, speaking words of comfort.

As Laela continued to seal up Travis’ wound, Epheldor sat down on a protruding root, putting his head in his hands. Derenil slowly sat down at his side, putting her hand on his shoulder. “He was my nephew…like a son to me,” Epheldor said quietly as his voice began to crack. “Oh Creator— how am I to explain this to my sister…?”

“Callon died standing up for his people…and for the Seals,” Derenil said softly. “He will be promised paradise.”

Kate felt an overwhelming sadness from their small words. She could still imagine the look of fear and innocence in Callon’s eyes before his neck snapped. Kate winced as the vision fleeted away in her mind. Derenil is right, he’s in a better place, she thought.

No one spoke as Laela finished up healing Travis. The weight of the aftermath was slowly befalling them, and it was only bittersweet that they had managed to make it out alive. They would have to continue the journey one member less.

Kirith stood up and stared directly towards Earidon. “You know something,” he said, his tone that same cold as before, “about the goblins, along with Onn Dorei. You knew the way through there, you knew the goblin captain, along with their king.”

Everyone seemed to turn their attention to them, catching on to Kirith’s words. Earidon turned and looked around at them somewhat surprised before directing his gaze to Kirith. He sighed and nodded, standing a bit straighter. “Many years ago, there was a team of elves that went in to skirmish the goblins,” Earidon said. “I was in that team. We knew the place well because we had been there many times before. But it was only then that we finally decided to attack the goblins and take out some of their ranks…” He pushed his hair back rather nervously. “Epheldor, Derenil, and I were the only ones who survived.”

Kate let his words sink in as she relaxed. That would make sense, she thought. But he and the others were the last ones? Kate couldn’t imagine what it must’ve been like.

Kirith looked away from Earidon, his expression still cold but somewhat regretful. Laela finished up with Travis’ shoulder and lowered her head a bit. “I apologize on our behalf, Earidon,” she said. “It wasn’t our place to pry, even when situations are difficult enough to swallow.”

Earidon turned to her and smiled weakly. “I appreciate your consideration, dear one,” he replied. “But don’t worry about me, we have more important things to deal with now.” He looked around at everyone, his smile fading with his words. “We still have our next Seal to retrieve, and she’s not too far away in the nearest Ivsaarian city.”