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Chapter Four

“So, Dukaro has joined Roku’s army?” Raduko asked as the trio made their way back down the mountain. “That’s unusual.”

“I don’t think he joined, I think he was there from the beginning.” Tonya stated. “Do you know him?”

“We’ve crossed paths, yes.” He sighed. “His powers…you have to be careful, his necromancy knows no limits.”

“I know of his powers but they are not limitless, nothing is.”

“How do you know so much about the Seifuku?” Storm asked, slipping past Raduko on the narrow path to walk at Tonya’s side.

“I had an informant on the inside but…Roku found out and had him executed at dawn a few days ago.” Her hands balled into fists and she slammed her right one into the wall. “She used her powers to crush every bone and organ in his body…”

“And who’s Shyna? Where does she come from?”

“She is the sister of the Princess in one of the neighboring countries, I’m not sure which; not that it matters now…”

“Why not?” Raduko grabbed her arm to stop her. “What do you hide from us?”

“I hide nothing but you obviously haven’t heard.” Tonya waited for a reply but all she got from the other man was a questionable look, so she continued. “Shyna’s sister, Princess Serena, somehow made her way into the castle to battle Shyna but she didn’t come out alive. Her corpse was fed to the wolves in the forest near the castle.”

“That…that can’t be true…” Raduko’s grip tightened on Tonya’s arm but she ignored it. “You damn Telek! Why are you lying!?”

“I don’t know why you’re so upset, but whatever it is don’t take it out on me.” She pulled her arm free and continued on. “It’s not like I killed her.”

Storm looked from Raduko to Tonya’s back and shrugged, following the girl into the forest once more. “What’s the plan now?”

“I was thinking of doing a reconnaissance around the castle, I was told there was a back entrance where Roku blew a hole in the wall. You can do as you wish.”

“And Raduko?” He looked over his shoulder to see the older man trailing behind slowly.

“The King of Equoya may have assigned him to protect me but I know he wants to kill me, I can see it in his eyes.” She sneered. “I imagine that once Roku is defeated he will put an arrow through my heart. He will follow the King’s orders for now though.”

“I see…” Storm looked to the ground for a moment before bringing his eyes back to the Telek. “Perhaps I’ll stay with you then.”

“I’m a big girl, I don’t need protecting.” She stated as a black hand shot out from the ground, grabbing her around one ankle while another grabbed the other. Tonya drew her sword as a black skeleton leapt up through the ground; she swung the blade and sliced the skeleton in half then sliced the hands around her ankles. Storm cracked another skeleton across the face with his sheathed weapon, watching as the head rolled along the ground to a stop, and turned back to the still moving body. He drew his weapon as a gust of wind flew over his shoulder, blowing the skeleton to pieces.

“Where the hell is Raduko?” He asked as he stood back to back with Tonya, watching the sudden mass of skeletons surround them.

“Right here!” Dukaro rode behind them and threw the unconscious Raduko to the ground.

“Well he was bloody useful…” Tonya muttered as Dukaro descended from his black steed and strolled through the parting skeletons to the pair.

“Queen Roku has requested your presence alive and I don’t like to disappoint her, so come quietly or I might have to hurt you.”

“I’ll think about it.” She swung her sword at him, causing him to stumble back. She stuck her blade in the ground and cupped her hands at her stomach, motioning to Storm with her head. He ran over after cutting down another skeleton, placed his foot in her hands and she threw him over the mass of skeletons and Dukaro, he rolled along the ground to a stop and looked back. “Run!” She ordered as she turned, earning herself a punch in the stomach from Dukaro.

“Tonya!” Storm watched the wind being knocked out of the girl and yet she still managed to yell at him one more time.

“Run you idiot!” She screamed before passing out.

“Get him!” Dukaro ordered while picking up the now unconscious girl. A small group of skeletons went after Storm, a few more picked up Raduko and the rest sunk back into the ground. Dukaro placed Tonya on the back of his horse, mounted it and took off for the castle.


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Storm raced through the forest, swerving in and out of the trees to confuse the skeletons, he was fast but soon he would run out of energy and then they would catch up. He stopped under a tree to take a quick break, leaning against it with one arm and leaning on his sword with other. A screech from behind startled him, he swung his sword and sliced a skeleton down, jumping back in surprise as it pulled itself back together.

“Now that’s what I call pulling yourself together…” He backed up as eight skeletons advanced on him, looking around for means of escape when he caught sight of one of his snares by his foot. “You know I’m sick of running from you guys and I’m not going to anymore.” He watched as the skeletons looked to one another. “That’s my decision and I’m putting my foot down!” He stamped on the snare which wrapped around his foot, lifting him through the air, he cut the snare before gravity brought him back down and grabbed a large branch, feeling his shoulder dislocate. He placed his sword between his teeth and used his other arm to haul himself onto the branch, after regaining his balanced he took off, jumping from branch to branch back to where they were ambushed and when he arrived he looked around carefully for any other skeletons. He dropped down from the tree silently, tucked his sword into his sash and pulled Tonya’s sword frown the ground, studied it and looked in the direction of the castle. He was going to give it back to her, one way or another.


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Tonya awoke just as the soldiers chained her hands behind her back. She was kneeling down a few feet away from the steps leading up to the throne and the chains forced her to stay in that kneeling position.

“Raduko? Storm?”

“Back here.”

Tonya twisted her head as best she could to look at Raduko chained with his hands above his head on the back wall. “Where’s Storm?”

“Maybe he escaped. Will he come for us?”

“I’m not sure…”

“So you’re the girl Roku’s been worrying about.” A girl with long golden hair strolled over to Tonya, kneeling down in front of her. The girl had crystal blue eyes and wore a leather shirt that formed a cross over her chest, a leather skirt and knee high boots. She eyed Tonya for a moment before frowning. “You don’t look like much.”

“I can assure you Shyna, I can be very dangerous.” Tonya retorted.

Shyna smiled while reaching behind Tonya’s back and pulling out her knife. She toyed with it a little, balancing it on her index finger, twirling it in her hand, running her finger along the edge, then she slashed Tonya’s right cheek with one swift movement. There was a slight pause then blood trickled down Tonya’s face. “That’ll teach you to be cheeky with me!”

“You shouldn’t attack someone without an order.” Tonya slid her gaze back to the blonde. “It could make your boss really angry…”

Out of thin air Roku appeared, grabbing Shyna by the back of her neck and throwing her onto the steps, she strolled over slowly as Shyna tried to compose herself and forced the blonde lie down, pressing her foot against her chest.

“Shyna…” Roku leaned over with a deep growl. “What were my orders?”

“N-Not to h-hurt the girl…”

“And what did you do?” Roku pressed her foot harder against Shyna’s chest, causing the girl to let out a small scream. “Well?”

“I hurt her.” She managed to gasp out.

“Do I have to make an example of you Shyna? Do I have to kill you to show the others what happens when you don’t follow my orders?” The girl shook her head, forcing Roku to press harder. “Shyna.”

“N-No ma’am…”

“Get out of my sight.” Roku moved her foot and Shyna stumbled to her feet and out the door on the other side of the room. Roku watched the door close before turning in time to catch the blade that flew at her, leaning to one side and grabbing the handle. She knelt down in front of Tonya, grabbing her chin and examining the cut before forcing the younger Telek to look at her. “Now that wasn’t fair my back was turned.”

“Attacking defenseless villages isn’t fair either, but you do it anyway.”

“Now is that anyway to talk to your big sister.” Roku stressed the words and said it loud enough for Raduko to hear, watching the emotion flicker in his eyes. “I see you failed to tell him we were related.” She stood, licking off the blood that had oozed over her fingers and strolled over to her throne, sitting on it slowly. “Do you know why you’re here, sister?”

“Because you know I’m a threat to your army and you.”

The Queen laughed. “Sure you are.” The laugh settled to a chuckle. “I actually want you to join me in conquering Bolian; we’re family after all and we shouldn’t fight.”

“Never!” Tonya shouted. “I’ll never join you, you’re wrong about everything! There are people out there who don’t wish to harm us!”

“Let me guess…you’ve met someone who isn’t afraid of you? Storm is it?” Roku replied calmly.

“Stay out of my head!”

Roku stood again, made her way down to her sister and looked down at her with a small smile. “I’ll give you a chance to think about this…”

“And if I still refuse?” Tonya met Roku’s gaze.

“Then I’ll kill Raduko and your friend Storm.” The smiled turned into a wicked smirk and she disappeared.