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The BloodVaine EpicChapter 33: The Day After Tomorrow
“Not here again…” Aros muttered. Last time he had been on this beach, he had been captured.
“C’mon! Quickly!” Aros shouted to the group, and they rushed into the trees just as an enemy sentry came to investigate.
Luxus held up his hand and rummaged through his pack. He pulled out his sling shot, loaded it, and fired at the sentry. It ricocheted off his head and he fell to the ground out cold.
“Gotcha.” Luxus giggled.
It was getting dark. The company had decided to camp on the island for the night.
“Better to sleep with something solid under your feet.” Gib said.
On top of that, Lord Void was too tired to travel. The wizard was already sleeping, keeping one eye open as was his habit. Meanwhile, Gib and the rest were busy. Gib sent Jackal was out to patrol. The wolf would keep watch for the rainbow colored knights until the camp was ready. Marus didn’t help but insisted on skulking a ways off. Lord Void had been to tired to punish him. When the camp was finished Gib and the rest sat down and started chatting around the newly built camp fire.
“I still don’t trust him.” Reno said, referring to Lord Void.
“I'm not asking you to.” Gib responded. “As a matter of fact I’d caution against it. But if we fight a common enemy we can’t help but work together. Not that I’ve been any help my self. His majesty over there convinced me that I could help the cause by getting Gart on our side. I haven’t even had the chance for that.”
“Do you really think he’ll change sides?”
“No. I never really thought he would. But what do I care about wizards and wars anyway?”
“Well, why did you come then?” Aros asked.
“Now there’s a good question. I guess I just wanted to see Gart again. And all this time I told myself that I didn’t care about him. I wish I didn’t. It’s not fun being bitter, but it’s a lot easier then trying to forgive. Gart was right about one thing though...I have wasted my life. I’ve never struck a blow for the cause of justice, never risked my life in defense of the weak, never stopped to raise up a god fearing son.”
“It's not too late.” said Aros. “You can still do those things.”
“No. I’m no hero. No hermit ever was. But you boys...you’ve got something going for you. And when you get to be an old codger like me, you can say that you did something with your life. And what's more you won’t be left with animals for friends and dark lords for allies.”
Gib reached forward and picked up a coal from the fire with a pair of tongs. He placed it into his satchel, among the damp hay.
“Looks like a good satchel.” Reno commented. “I used to have one almost like that. Kept potions in it.”
“Well, I'm afraid I don’t have any potions in here. Maybe some herbs and oils...you’re free to look through it if you like.”
Reno looked through the bag. “Lets see...aspen bark...myrrh oil...hellicrism reeds?”
He fell silent until he finished his search. “Not bad, though it could use some fire-ball mixers and a vial of dragon blood.”
Gib grabbed the bag back. “I will never use dragon blood! That’s the same stuff that corrupted Gart!”
The hermit stood up and marched over to Marus.
“Not the most friendly chap in the world is he?” Aros commented.
Gib sat down beside Marus.
“Some stunt you pulled today.” he commented.
“I should have grabbed the boy.” Marus said glumly, “No one cared about Lord Void.”
Gib chuckled. “How’s your arm?”
“It’s fine. At least that wolf won’t leave a scar.”
Gib looked at the knights face. “You know, I can hardly tell which scar the dragon gave you.”
“Yeah, thanks to that pesky bird of yours.”
“Listen Marus. I told you once that I would leave you on the Classic LEGOland border with a sack of gold as heavy as your helmet. I still intend to do so. So don’t worry, I’ll get you back. After all, I need to keep you alive to help me kill that dragon.”
Gib chuckled and stood up.
“Good night Marus.”
The night was beginning in earnest now. The sun had set and even with its rays still visible it seemed to all that it was time to sleep. But no one in the party noticed the two figures standing watch from the trees.
“Well now. If it isn’t all my old friends. You were right Aezazel. I should have killed them before. But they will die today, and Lord Void shall die with them.”
“How is that, my lord?” asked Aezazel. He did not doubt BloodVaine, he was just curious on which process of elimination the powerful necromancer would use.
BloodVaine looked about him, at the palm trees and sand, then he looked to the dead body of a garishly-colored soldier.
“I think I will kill several annoying birds with one stone, Aezazel. The Knight’s Kindomers are pitying Forestmen, Wolfpack and Dark Forest. Also, their leading wizard, Orlon, has attempted to oppose me. Now they will perish, along with Lord Void and his buddies…”
He paused, and then said, “I think this isle in need of a climate change…”
BloodVaine dipped into the Mana power and molded it to his will, twisting and adjusting the magical life-force until it suited his evil needs. With a grin of satisfaction, BloodVaine released a potent spell right before he teleported himself and Aezazel to safety. At first there seemed to be no change to the climate, until frost gathered on the beach and the palm trees withered with frostbite. The southern Kingdom isle was going into a deep freeze.
Gib woke with a start. It was cold, desperately cold, too cold. The damp chill filled him to the bone and smothered him, he felt as if a wet blanket had been pulled over him. He opened his eyes and sat up, horribly surprised to find soft snow fall off him. Looking about frantically, all he could see of his companions were lumps in the white expanse. Gib jumped up and brushed off the first hill, it was Jackel, chilling but alive. He lifted the wolf onto his shoulders and brought him to where the fire used to be.
Gib swore and, stooping, brushed off another hill, this time exposing Lord Void. The Dragon Master dark wizard was white, but his eyes were open and he was murmuring, “Sn..now....cold…”
Apparently he had been the first to detect the snow, but he could not warn the others due to his killing exhaustion. Leaving Jackel with Lord Void, Gib scrambled about and roused the Reno, Aros, Luxus and Marus. Only Reno and Aros were alive enough to more about, and so the three of them dragged the others back to the Arklyndellys Vulondur as fast as they could, shivering in the deepening cold. At last everyone was on board and Reno spoke, raising his voice above the beginnings of a blizzard.
“What the tyco buildit megabloks is going on, the last time I was here this place was tropical!”
Gib shook his head, “Don't bother yer head with questions, just try to get this airship to warmer grounds!”
Aros was already at the helm, brushing snow off the complex controls.
“A friend of mine had an airship like this once...I think this...yes...here we go!”
Aros flipped and switch and the Arklyndellys Vulondur shuddered, strained, and broke free of the ice and snow, hovering like a humming bird. Aros, his face screwed up with concentration, adjusted a knob or two and grabbed of hold of the wheel.
“Ho--hold on!” he cried though chattering teeth, and the Arklyndellys Vulondur surge upward until it was high above the storm. All three of them looked down upon the isle and surrounding ocean.
“Holy megabloks, the whole island is frozen solid!” cried Gib.
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