Trouble Seems to Follow Chapter 3

[sleetgeekartist]

AN: And here's chapter three! Updates for this fanfiction will be somewhat sporadic, based on when i write each chapter. Please leave feedback, it's the only way I can know that people enjoy my work!

Vechs Davion rode out to the shadow of the airship on Dunkey, his faithful steed, fully armed and decorated in armor blessed in light. As he approached the ship, he placed an arrow on the string of his bow, the infamous Kaen no Mai, enchanted to never end the supply of arrows fired. “Anders!” Vechs called out, bringing Dunkey to a halt a few feet away from the hull of the ship. “Cease and desist! You have violated the standing agreement of our houses! If you retreat now I may grant you mercy.” He called, drawing the string of his bow and aiming for the open window of the ship.

“The agreement wouldn’t be standing if it’s been violated, would it?” Anders called back, loud enough to be heard over the high altitude winds. “Besides, if you truly think that I am unarmed, your little bow could do nothing.” He gripped the handle of the lever as Vechs noticed the sunlight shining off the barrels of the cannons. “Your move, Davion.”

Vechs noticed that the cannons were aiming to the sides of the ship, and an attack raised from underneath would be protected by the ship itself. He drove Dunkey forward, beneath the airship. Redrawing his bow, Vechs fired a single flaming bolt into the underside of the ship. As the flames took hold of the wooden hull, the cannons fired, casting arrows into the ground. Vechs loosed off more arrows, the scent of burning oak filling the air. The rain of arrows fired from the cannons seemed to be ceaseless, darkening the area further. The fire spread, in effect inverting the ship’s shadow into a bright spot surrounded by darkness.

“Vechs!” A familiar voice. The thud of arrows against armor. The crunch of twisting metal and the sound of crushing bone. The distant neigh of a horse, causing Dunkey to rear up in surprise.

Vechs turned to face what had caused his steed to scare. He recognized his ally’s horse, Ferris Muller, straight away. The fact he lacked a rider, and the crumpled, bloody form on the ground beside him, spoke the greatest fear and tragedy of war. “Paul?” Vechs tried to ride to his friend’s body, in some sort of vain hope that he was merely wounded, not violently shot in the head, but the hail of arrows prevented him from leaving the underside of the ship. Preemptive tears began to fill his goggles, the realization that his friend was most likely dead filling his heart. The scent of fire lit that morose tinder into a blaze of revenge. “You will pay for this, Anders! I’ll accept no other payment than blood! I’ll have your head!” More flaming arrows pierced the underside of the retreating ship. The hail of arrows ceased. Vechs rode to his friend’s side, almost becoming sick at the sight of the mutilation. There was hardly a body to bury, simply a few tattered remains, perhaps a distinguishable limb here and there. Vechs dismounted Dunkey and slowly walked to the side of the remains. He knelt in the grass, holding back his tears and pushing his goggles onto his forehead. “You’ll pay for this, Anders.” He muttered as he took in the site. “I swear, by the Light that Saves us All from Evil, you will pay.”

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Zisteau sat gazing at his stone clock, fascinated by the events of the Overworld. “This may just be what we’ve been waiting for.” He turned to a withering skeleton servant, taking a glass of the same suspicious red liquid and draining it. “Ready the portals!” he called to his porcine servants, who hurried away with bits of flint and what steel weaponry they had. Zisteau began to walk to his portal chamber, donning his crown and royal cloak on the way. “Seems I owe the foolish victor a visit…”

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Pause finished writing his letter to Anders, offering his house’s services in the war effort, as the conflict had clearly spiraled into war at the firing of the cannons. None of the members of House Canada knew who had been shot during the battle; most assumed the worst, and that King Vechs had been shot down in the careless firing. Regardless, Beef owed Etho one diamond, if the smoldering ship was any indication.

Pause tied the letter to a single arrow, taking a simple bow with him. Having changed into something a bit more dignified than a house robe, he prepared to leave to deliver the letter. “Don’t do anything crazy while I’m gone.”

“Of course we wouldn’t.” Etho rolled his eyes. “What, do you really think we’d do something stupid, like light the house on fire? I’m not my brother.” Beef gave him a teasing shove, chuckling away the sudden awkward air.

Pause eyed the two of them. “Alright, well, I’ll be off then.” He left the room. Within a few moments, the sound of horse’s hooves on dirt could be heard.

 

Comments

[gummy53]

Yay, I love this series! Keep up the great work! <3

hey sleet

[crazyj2]

Ove the fic! Keep up the great work!