Chapter 6

Zandor's POV

After stepping through the portal, I find myself on a plain being nighttime. In the distance I saw a light coming from a fort in the distance. I made my way to the fort, taking caution as I neared.

Upon reaching the fort, I saw that a battle took place not too long ago. I saw bodies of lightly armored men, as they had arrows sticking from there body, and many having burnt and blackened skin from fire magic. I approached the fort cautiously, and upon reaching the wall, staying low, I looked for a way in.

I looked for a couple minutes and saw one part of the wall where quite a bit of rope was used. I started climbing being silent as to not let the soldiers know of my presence. As I neared the top, I heard two people speaking to each other. I climbed carefully and when I got to the top, I peeked over seeing the two soldiers weren't facing me. I climbed over and snuck to my right, where an enclosed tower was.

Upon entering the tower, I saw it was simply a watch tower. I saw a window to my right and when I approached it, I saw that it overlooked the inside of the fort. To the right, I saw some soldiers taking soldiers to some cages, where I saw other prisoners. To the left, the gate to the fort, being heavily guarded. Directly below, I saw a camp fire with some guards laughing and talking. As I continued scanning the fort, one of the soldiers caught my eye. There armor was a bit more decorated than the others, most likely being the captain of the fort. They walked towards a wooden building structure straight ahead from where I was.

*That captain will have information relating to the forts and battlements in the area. I will have to take him out first before releasing the prisoners, to make sure he doesn't get a distress call out.* I thought.

I looked around for a way to get to the building without getting noticed. I noticed some rope spanning from the top of the tower I was in to one of the spires of the building.

*I should be able to walk across that and sneak inside.*

I then left exited the tower and climbed up to the rope. I tested it and found it to be tight enough to walk across. I began walking across, trying to be silent. As I got closer to the building, I noticed a guard taking one of the prisoners to the building. Most likely to be interrogated by the captain. As I got next to the spire, I noticed an open window below, and I defended silently.

I entered through the window and saw myself in a hallway with several doors. I walked down to the right of the window and followed it till I found a large dining hall. There were a few guards walking about, and talking. I kept to the shadows and saw that I could possibly use the beams above the room to get across without being spotted. I looked around but found no way to get up there. I then noticed one of the guards coming towards me, luckily not spotting me.

I mentally went through a few things I can do and decided that it would be best to let him past, only taking him out if needed. The guard walked past me and I saw him go up the stairs. Leaving only two guards. One was standing next to a pillar, with his back to the wall, as the other is sitting eating.

I made my way, hugging the wall, as I got closer to the guard. I pulled out my sword and focused on it being a knife. I felt it change in my hand, and when I got behind the guard, I put my hand over his mouth and stabbed him in the neck, as I pulled him back into the shadows. As I felt his body began to stop struggling, the spear he was holding fell from his hand, landing with a loud clang.

The guard sitting at the table spun around, as I silently put the dead guard on the ground, removing the knife from his throat. The guard at the table, stood up drawing his sword and began approaching the source of the noise. If I didn't take him out soon, he might sound the alarm. When he got to the opposite side of the table in front of me, I dashed forward, jumping off the table and I landed on him pushing him to the ground, and then driving my knife into his skull. He quickly went limp as I heard scuffling from my right.

I looked and saw the guard from earlier. He tried making a run for it but I quickly withdrew my knife and threw it at him, hitting him in the back of the skull. He went down instantly and to my surprise the knife disappeared in a vapor of smoke and reappeared in my hand.

*Handy, I bet get going before more guards show up.*

I quickly got up and went down a hallway to my left. I then started to hear sounds coming from one of the rooms to my right and as I got closer it sounded like someone beating someone else with their fists. I then heard someone speak and asking the other about other people. I then heard the other yell that he would never tell him. It was the prisoner who yelled. I kicked down the door to find two guards, one interrogating the prisoner, the other standing watch.

I quickly threw my knife at the interrogator as the other charged. The knife hit the interrogator in the arm, taking him down. The guard charging, lunges with the spear he held. I grabbed the end of it, right below it's point, summoned my knife and dig it into his head and pulled out, he then fell to the floor. I then see the prisoner finish off the interrogator. I walk over to him as he backs up a bit.

Zandor: It's okay, I won't hurt you. I am here to get you and the others out.

The prisoner simply stared, but after a moment he took a step forward, still being bound by rope. I walked up to him and cut the rope binding him.

Prisoner: Thank you for freeing me. Now why are you here?

Zandor: I am here to free the fort of its soldiers and help a resistance I have heard of.

Prisoner: Well, your in luck. Me and the other prisoners are apart of that resistance. A group attacked the fort but perished. If you can help me get the prisoners out, we can make a surprise attack from the inside.

Zandor: Agreed, but without weapons, it will be useless.

Prisoner: I believe their armory is inside here somewhere. I can get the weapons if you can free the other prisoners.

I nod and we both left. He went left as I went right. If I were to free the prisoners, would need to find them first. I wouldn't be surprised if they had a room in here where they kept them. Most likely, the ones in the cages outside were there newest ones. I crept down the hallway, till I found a staircase. I went down to find that the hallway it connected to, was made of stone. I was most likely underground now. I followed the hallway when I heard voices coming from a hallway up ahead, to the left. I crept towards it and peeked around the corner. I saw three guards and they were guarding several jail cells. This must be where the prisoners were.

I stepped out into the hallway, picked up a pebble and threw it at one of them. It hit them and they turned around. They saw me and they weren't too happy. I pulled out my knife and charged them. They readied there weapons and I threw my knife at one of them. They blocked it and I punched the first guard in the gut, took his weapon, which was a sword, and impaled him. I then summoned my knife and changed it into a sword as the next two charged. I blocked one and punched the other.

The one I punched became dazed and I blocked the swing of the other and I grabbed him by the throat and threw him against the wall. The other recovered and charged again. I grabbed the spear he was holding and drove it into the guy I threw into the wall and thrusted my sword into the one holding the spear.

They fell to the ground as I went to the jail cells. I saw that there were at least twenty men inside and they approached the door seeing that they were being rescued. I searched the guards and found the key, and unlocked the doors.

Zandor: Now, one of your friends is grabbing weapons. We will be taking the fort from the inside. Follow my lead.

They nod, as three got the weapons the guards had. We went back the way we came when we saw the prisoner I freed.

Prisoner: Follow me.

We followed till we reached an armory and the prisoners geared up. The one I freed from earlier approached me.

Stargen: The names Stargen. Yours?

Zandor: Zandor, so what's the plan?

Stargen: Well, if we are to take the fort we must clear it out but we have one issue. Did you see the battlefield outside?

Zandor: Yeah, it looked like they have a mage here.

Stargen: Yeah, that mage is the captain of the fort. We alone can't fight him but if you can take him out, the fort will be ours.

Zandor: Understood.

Everyone was geared and ready. Stargen motioned to follow and we reached a door that lead outside. Stargen looked through a window and saw them preparing themselves outside.

Stargen: Well, they know we're here.

He turns to everyone.

Stargen: Kay, we will charge out with shields in front. Archers will be in back taking out any archers they have. Ready?

We nod.

Stargen: Kay, give em hell!

He then kicks open the doors as those with us, with shields, charged forward. I pulled out my sword and charged with them. Our archers fired at those above us and on the towers as we began punching through their lines. As we started to dwindle their numbers, I noticed a fire tune forming. I pulled back those around me, as a wall of fire formed. We stayed back as a man in black robes walked through the flame. This must be the captain of the fort Stargen talked about.

Captain: So, I see we have some intruders in our fort. May I ask who leads this force?

I see Stargen about to step forward, but I beat him to it.

Zandor: I do.

The captain looks to me. He wore a helmet, which was odd for a mage, but I also noticed that he wore armor as well.

Captain: So, your the one who leads this force. Quite strange. Aren't you the one who protected the elves in the forest kingdom?

Zandor: Yes that would be me.

I grip my sword ready for anything.

Captain: Well then, I will be happy to make sure you don't cause anymore problems.

He then holds his left hand up and a ball of fire appears. It then fires and I block with my arms and the ball hits, exploding upon impact, as it throws me back a couple feet. I tumble backwards and when I stop I jump up, despite feeling some pain. I see him fire another one, and when I hold my arms up to block, I hear it hit and explode but it didn't reach me. I look and see a wall of black in front of me. I then recognize it as Aether and understand what Xander spoke of about solid Aether. I put my arms down and it goes into the ground disappearing.

The captain fires a volley and I raise my arm up and another wall of Aether rises. It stops the fire balls but I notice every time they hit, I feel stronger. The energy that they are giving off I am absorbing through what I am summoning. I start charging forward, and I form a shield on my left arm. The captain fires again and I block with the shield, still pushing forward. When I got about arms reach he was about to fire another but I grabbed his palm and felt the energy he was storing fill my arm. I then brought my other hand and with palm facing his head.

Then there was a loud boom and a bright flash. I let go of the captains hand and he falls to the ground, with his head gone. As the others looked, the other soldiers saw what had happened to their captain and they backed away. Stargen and his men, then surrounded them and disarmed them. As they began binding the soldiers he came up to me.

Stargen: Well, if I knew you could do that, I would've just had you take the fort.

Zandor: Well, all I can say is that we have it now.

Stargen: Which is good because we now can start freeing the nearby towns.

He starts walking towards the building and I follow.

Stargen: All of us here is what remains of the resistance against Zargoth and his army.

He stops and looks to me.

Stargen: We need your help. If we are to free Thaydar, we need someone with your abilities.

Zandor: Since I am hunting Zargoth, I will help.

He smiles.

Stargen: Good, now we have a room for yah you can use for now till we start expanding.

I follow him inside and he shows me a room. It doesn't have much but it's enough things I need.

Stargen: This will be your room. Get some rest, we will be strengthing the fort tomorrow.

He leaves and as I walk in I see a later on a table. I grab it and it simply says I am needed back, being signed by Xander. It then turns to dust and a portal opens in the room. I walk through and return back to Xander.