Chapter V:
The Final Battle
1
In the afternoon, the blazing sunshine was abruptly replaced by a sky full of dark clouds. Lightning flashed, and large raindrops began to fall.
The soldier guarding the Roid castle gates didn’t even have time to put on his rain gear—instead, he quickly took refuge in the shed to continue his duty from within.
He tensed as he saw a cluster of dark shadows approach through the sheets of rain.
“Who goes there?” he called out nervously to the six figures.
“My name is Parn,” the lead shadow answered, lowering his cloak to show his face and immediately getting soaked. “We’ve journeyed from the Great Magus’s mansion on orders from King Fahn. Please send word of our return to His Majesty.”
“Sir Parn!” the guard cried joyously. More than a month had passed since they had left Roid. “I’m glad you’re safe! I’ll have them open the gates.” The guard stepped out of his shed, ignoring the rain, and waved to the guard beyond the moat to lower the drawbridge.
Fahn was in a war council with Elm and Kashue when he received the news, and he requested that the returning adventurers be brought there to speak to them all.
Parn and his companions were led through the castle and into a room containing dry clothes and steaming hot towels to wipe themselves down with. Parn finished pulling on a light hemp shirt, then caught sight of an approaching servant. His eyes widened in surprise.
“What’s this?” he asked, looking at the armor the servant presented him with. It wasn’t his father’s breastplate, but a white one with a shining silver crest—a cross on the left breast.
“His Majesty’s orders.” The servant bowed.
“I’m happy for you,” Deedlit said with a soft smile. She had changed into a loosely tailored grass-green outfit with a silk sash wrapped casually around her waist. Her hair still stuck damply to her forehead.
Parn shot her a grin as he buckled the new breastplate, then hung his father’s sword at his hip. The sword fit perfectly against the new armor as if they’d been made as a set.
“Let’s go,” he nodded to his friends.
Slayn wore a white Sage’s robe, identical to what Elm wore. Etoh was dressed in a Pharis cleric’s gown and had been given a ceremonial mace. Ghim changed into clean underclothes but wore his own mithril chain mail and garb over it, as well as his own battle axe on his back. Woodchuck changed but also put his own armor back on—he’d dried the leather armor and long black boots by the fireplace.
The group made their way to the room where King Fahn waited, which was in one of the castle’s spires. There were no windows, and they couldn’t even hear the fierce rain outside. Even so, a gentle breeze somehow kept it from feeling stuffy.
Deedlit glanced at the ceiling, looking conflicted. “Thank you for working so hard,” she murmured.
Parn glanced at her quizzically.
“Is it Sylph?” Slayn asked.
Deedlit nodded and raised her right hand into the air. The breeze stopped momentarily, then resumed.
The wind elemental was trapped in this room by some kind of spell, probably working to prevent any sound from getting in or out. This was not Deedlit’s kind of magic. It was ancient magic, tied to a magical device built in the days of the ancient kingdom. Elemental users like Deedlit controlled them to cast spells, or sometimes confined one in an object and thus put it to work. However, they wouldn’t enslave and exploit an elemental for hundreds of years. Deedlit couldn’t help but feel resentful at the treatment, though she tried not to let it show on her face.
There was a round table in the center of the room, with Fahn, Kashue, and Elm seated around it. On the table was a bottle, several unfinished glasses of wine, and a map of the area around Roid marked with colored lines.
“Well done, all of you,” King Fahn declared. The group bowed their heads at the praise. Kashue rose from his seat and stood before Parn, looking him up and down.
“That Holy Knight’s armor suits you now.” Kashue laughed, and he shook Parn’s hand firmly. “I have nothing more to teach you. I knew you’d all make it back, but it was a tough journey, wasn’t it?”
“It was,” Parn agreed. “The ruins of the stone kingdom are swarming with monsters. I think one day we should work with Moss to wipe them out, once and for all.”
“How valiant,” Kashue said, laughing loudly this time.
“Now then.” Fahn motioned Parn alone over to his side, gaze solemn. “Parn will be formally inducted into the Order of Knights soon, but for now we have business to discuss. I’d like Parn, Lord Slayn, and Lord Etoh to remain here and join our war council. The rest of you can make yourselves comfortable elsewhere and receive your rewards. You have my gratitude for aiding Parn and fulfilling this quest.”
“I didn’t follow him for a reward,” Deedlit said, shaking her head. Her stomach turned. Fahn’s words made it sound like Parn was no longer one of them.
“Likewise. I don’t need a reward. Give our shares to this man,” Parn said, motioning toward Woodchuck.
“Hey, thanks,” the thief declared shamelessly.
“How you divide it is up to you.” Fahn nodded magnanimously, then turned his attention back to the map. The guards escorted Deedlit, Woodchuck, and Ghim out, and the door closed behind them.
“There is a meal waiting for you in the guest room,” a servant informed them politely.
‘I figured as much,’ Woodchuck said. He shot a look back at the closed doors but obediently followed the servant.
“Well, this is dull,” Deedlit yawned and folded her hands behind her head.
“Have you lost your manners?” Ghim scoffed.
“Traveling with you lot did it to me,” Deedlit shot back.
“That sounds about right,” Woodchuck smirked with a sidelong glance at Ghim. “We’re lucky we get to fill our bellies, anyway.”
“True,” Ghim replied with a sigh. “That council will go on for a while…”