Arik smiled, watching a doglus theif limping away outside the camp. A soldier beside him let loose an arrow, and it found its mark in the creature's back, causing it to slump to the ground.
----
{How did Arik know Malokar had the sceptre?}
♫Czech Philoharmonic Orchestra - Hal0♫
A bit of movement from a tent out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. He turned to see a man with white hair leave the tent. In his hand was a four foot wooden scepter. The morning rays caused a soft glint from the green crystal atop the staff. The man looked directly at Arik with an evil grin as he shoved the rod into a pouch on the side of a black stallion.
"STOP HIM!" Arik shouted, pointing at the man.
Arik heard the sound of an arrow's release behind him and watched in amazement as the man deftly dodged out of the way of the projectile. In the distance, the man lifted two fingers on a gloved hand, and touched his eyebrow in a mock salute. He then quickly mounted the horse began to ride away.
"After him!" Arik ran towards his horse, sheathing his sword as he went. His foot in the stirrup, he felt a firm hand touch him on the shoulder.
"Sire, I beg you to reconsider."
"Don't counsel me now Bart." Arik said, trying to mount up.
"This is not a time to chase, Arik." The firm hand held him down. Arik turned to face Bart.
"He's getting away. With my sceptre. With the Royal sceptre."
"We're deep within Doglus held Canoan - we're already far beyond Audranian jurisdiction. Our actions here today could be considered a violation of the treaty..."
"Weaponsmith, either get out of my way, or join me as I retake what is mine." Arik pushed Bart's hand off his shoulder and mounted his horse.
"I live to serve you my prince." Bart said firmly, his right fist tapping against his breast. Arik didn't bother to hear the words, and had already begun racing after the white haired man.
"MOUNT UP!" came Bart's booming voice.
----
In the distance Arik saw the rider speeding ahead at a full canter. Behind, his men were mounting up, and racing to catch up.
The events of several days ago again flashed in his mind. The massive gargoyles, crash landing all around him. The group of riders who leaped up into the midst of the ceremony overwhelming the few guards there. Arik shuddered as he remembered one grabbing the very sceptre Arik held in his hands, and trying to yank it from him. Anger again overwhelmed him as he remembered being shoved down, the staff ripped from his hands by pure force. He could only look up at the Doglus in fear. The scar carved across the left eye of that doglus was embedded in his mind.
The sound of hoofbeats brought Arik back to reality. His men had made good time, racing to him at a full gallop. They were closing distance with the white haired rider, who seemed oblivious to the cadre of soldiers pursuing him.
Bart closed in on Arik. "Your orders sire?" He shouted, over the thunder of hoofbeats from the soldiers.
"We will overtake and surround him" Arik returned, drawing a C with his two hands. "That is, unless you have a better plan."
Bart winked at Arik, and slowed his pace a bit. He lifted one hand high, and shouted "Archers! Ready!"
♫Cirque de Soleil - Rondo♫
Behind him, several soldier readied their bows.
"Take him down." Arik ordered.
"Archers! Fire!" Bart shouted, his raised hand falling to point at the white-haired rider.
Several arrows flew in the air, aimed perfectly at the rider who was now about fifty feet away. Several of the shots fell short, landing firmly in the soil next to the rider. One hit the rider squarely on the back. The white-haired man reached around behind him with one hand, and pulled the arrow out of his back and tossed it to the ground. Turning toward the pursuing Audranian soldiers, his face appeared to snarl. Arik watched as the rider flipped one foot across the neck of the horse, and balancing himself, sat backwards on the horse. Ahead, the horse kept racing as the rider stared squarely at Arik and his men.
"Second volley! Fire!" Bart shouted, again giving the hand signal to fire.
Ahead, the man leaped from his seat, and stood on his horse. He lifted his hands high as the
soldiers arrows rained around him. Not a single arrow managed to hit the mark.
Arik could not believe what he was seeing. No more than thirty feet ahead of him stood a man atop a horse racing at a full canter. His face was locked in a vile smile. His hands were outstretched, taunting, mocking. He turned towards Bart. Bart said nothing, staring at the white-haired rider for a few moments before turning towards a nearby archer and demanding his bow and an arrow.
Arik again stared at the tormenting rider. His ear heard the quick twing of Bart's bow. The arrow tore through the right rear hock of the horse, and continued through to the left forward fetlock. With two ankles permanently disabled, the horse crumpled on its next step.
Arik watched as the rider leaped into the air, and came to a crashing roll several feet ahead of the disabled horse. As Arik's men surrounded the rider, the prince realized this man had managed to tumble to his feet, and now stood above the injured horse.
"Be careful with this man Arik, he's not-"
"I can handle this Bart." Arik dismounted and approached the man.
"Now, I'll be taking back that which you stole from me and my kingdom."
"Oh? Will you now?" The man leaned over, and removed the sceptre from its housing in the saddle. "This? Is this what you'll be taking back?"
"Return to me what was stolen!"
"No."
Arik's hand went to the hilt of his sword as he began to try to stare this man down. The man's hair was white as snow, but his face showed very little age. He didn't seem to be that much older than himself. His eyes were a deep and eerie black. Arik decided against staring down this man, and looked the rest of him over. A kind of
black leather armor covered him from his boots to his neck-guard. Arik had never seen armor like this before. The rider wore a cape, which he now pushed aside to reveal the hilt of a sword.
"You will yield. I am the P-"
"I really don't have time for this boy." With those words, the man began to turn his back as if to walk away.
"I am the Prince of Audrian!" Arik firmly asserted. "You are surrounded. Lay down the sceptre now!"
The man turned back towards Arik. "I told you, boy, I don't have time for this nonsense. If you were wise, you'd leave this fool's errand. Go back to your pampered life. Following me only leads to death."
At this, Arik drew his sword and rushed forward. His sword moved quickly, coming down at the exposed shoulder of the black armored rider. The rider moved quickly. He raised his forearm, and blocked the strike with his arm. The boy was confused and shocked as he heard the distinct sound of metal hitting stone. The rider's blocking arm reached out and grabbed Arik's sword hand. He yanked the prince toward him, and violently struck Arik in the face with his forehead. Arik collapsed to the ground, stunned by the sudden pain. The man reached down, and picked up Arik by the throat. Arik had no choice but to look at this man in the eyes. He felt as if the man's eyes were on fire, glowing with a haunting crimson flame. He hadn't noticed before how black and ominous his eyes were. Fear began to overwhelm him as he realized there was something demonic about this man.
"You're not even worth the effort." he spat, and threw the prince down on the ground.
Arik reached up towards his face and felt blood trickling down from his nose. Beyond the throbbing in his ears, he heard the sound of swords being drawn all around him.
The rider turned towards the men. "Attack me if you wish, but I do believe you have greater matters to attend to."
All around them, the sounds of clanking metal and grunting voices could be heard. The members of the squad turned to see hundreds of armed Toadmin advancing on them from all directions.
----
"Protect the prince!" Bart shouted.
----
♫Breaking Benjamin – I will not bow♫
“Nowhere.” - Caldon
"We have them on the run sire."
-------
♫Rise Against - Ready to Fall♫
"Hold on soldier, again from the top now, and tell me every thing."
"I know I've been gone for, what seems like forever."
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