The Seven Orbs

Chapter Two

The Wizard's Apprentice

3

Beneath the Castle of King Terria, there was a pathway that formed a cross. The south entrance was designed as an escape for the King (when he was a Governor) should the War of the Three Kingdoms away from Terria's advantage. The west path changed from escape route to a secret entryway to the King's council chamber, an entrance covered by a tapestry of King Terria. The east passage led to the Dragon's Lair, where the creature has slept for ages since the War ended in Terria's favor. The north path led to the Wizard's Chamber, full of bottles, and barrels, and mutated creatures from the forest and mountainside, sea beast who'd lost their way and fallen into the current of the river, only to be tossed into the riverside to drown in air. Eight-legged slugs as big as pigs, fish that were neither water-bred or earth-born, with scales not unlike a dragon's and the capacity to mimic a bird's song, hairless wolves that preferred to walk on its hind legs but used all four limbs for flight from foes, and baby dragons that appeared to be growing into something resembling an old man with sinewy muscle but no skin or scale, more toad than fire-breathing beast. All these creatures, and more, the Wizard had captured, subdued with magic vapors, and stuffed with wood shavings to preserve their appearance and decorate his workplace. 

Why didn't you call me to help, Old One? wondered Malik the Apprentice to the Wizard. You raised me since the death of my father who died in battle for Lord Terria. You taught me what you could with the time we had. I, not even 20 years of age yet, with so much more to learn, cannot replace thee, my Master. I have only skills to conjure sparks and embers, to freeze an apple, to open a book with my thoughts, at the cost of a nose-bleed, however, and a two-day headache. What am I to do to replace you? What were you tasked with? I, who am not invited to the council, nor given instruction, save to finish what you started. And what was that?

Malik gazed up to face the seven floating orbs just below the ceiling.  

Seven. Only seven before your heart failed you. In the original War, there were 100, each carrying two arbalists, crossbowers. The bolts could exit the sphere, but bolts, spears, or arrows could not penetrate into the walls of the orbs. They floated above the battle. The first arbalist helmed the vessel with concentrated thought, as the Wizard so molded his mind, but he still could fire bolts, one to the free arbalist's three quarrels. The Kingdoms together could not mount an attack while their armies wavered in a defensive posture. What chance had they? Hundreds of small arrows with double the steel and sharper the tips raining down on them, piercing their shields and armor. And on the ground thousands of foot soldiers bearing broad swords and spears struck down any stragglers who couldn't retreat fast enough. But slow or fast, the Dragon's fire charred the armies to ash, as the Governor Terria rode the nape of the beast like a rider on his steed. Yet...here we have but seven orbs. I must study one and try to duplicate it. Battle will soon be upon us. 

Will we be ready? 100 orbs, 10,000 men, and a dragon. I closed my eyes and squeezed out tears of hubris, lest they overtake me. 

The Governors & The Machines

4

The forges in the caverns beneath the Anglican Forest burnt white hot, as bladesmilths, toolcrafters, blacksmiths, and carpenters attended to their mission and task. The molds and casts were filled with molden metal, and when they were cooled in the stream that was redirected to flow through the cavern, the metal parts were passed along to the next group who fit them with the wooden platforms and wheeled structures to build another machine. And another. Till there were dozens of the mechanical weapons. The largest could fire twenty foot spears, three feet thick, with a metal point so sharp, it could pierce a dragon's scales. The boxed weapons had openings in the front for the projectiles and a handle on the side that a soldier could turn to fire multiple circular blades that could slice through any army. The foot soldiers were armed with smaller versions of the boxes, but which fired smaller versions of the blades in higher numbers. One more day and they'd be ready for war. 

Governor Bosque and Governor Aquell strolled about the great cavern, fanning themselves as the heat from the forges fell heavy in the air. "These fans don't help a bit," said Bosque. "As a matter of fact, they make it worse. Fanning oneself with the hot breath of Hades."

"You speak true, my friend," agreed Aquell. "Still, your daughter's idea for the machines also spoke true. Look how her plans fared. We are near prepared. Abora trains the front soldiers in the use of the Spit Box."

"What a silly name? Who would fear such a name," Bosque laughed.

"May they die in laughter then," added Aquell. "It is pure evil. Each machine, from small to large, spits two, three projectiles at a time. They'll be overwhelmed."

"But what of the orbs, and what of the dragon?" Bosque's face was now fully serious. 

"We will concentrate first on the things of flesh and blood that we can reach with the small and large Spit Boxes. Then we'll unleash the Jousters last for our fire-breathing friend."

"Will it work?" Bosque asked with doubt. 

"You should trust the skill of your daughter's designs. I truly believe she sees goodness in these weapons. I truly believe they will surrender and give us our freedom without a fight. But we must guarantee that our freedom will not be taken from us again. They must be eliminated from any future equations. Only then can there be peace." Aguell looked Bosque straight in the eye and still saw doubt there. When the blood starts flowing, he'll believe. They'll believe as well. And then, they, too, will flee. 

Coming soon...

Winsome and Agyle In the Cavern

 5

The Night Before Battle

6