Trickery [Ch. 15]

Desert Biome, OverWorld

Line Rangers Village

Dawn

Daniel was standing outside in front of Elena's house. He was holding the piece of paper with his name on it. Reading it would vanquish his curiosity as to what Petra wrote, but not reading it only would only continue to fuel his anger. Which should he choose? Read the letter? Or don't read the letter?

Elena opened the birch wood door and walked outside. She looked at Daniel and saw what he was holding in his hand.

"You should read it," Elena said.

"I'll read it once this is all over," Daniel said as he put the letter back into his inventory. Elena sighed as she walked past him. He followed behind her.

At the entrance to the village, a group of people were huddled. They were all equipped with weapons and had full iron armor on.

The sun was still rising. The skies were still transitioning from night to day. As Elena and Daniel approached the small group of people, they all turned their heads to look at them.

"Is everyone ready?" Daniel asked.

Everyone nodded their heads and raised their swords. They were all indeed ready to help Daniel take back his Kingdom. Daniel grabbed the map that HeroBrine had given him last night. He looked down and examined it thoroughly.

"The Kingdom, by the looks of it, isn't more than a three day journey from here. But if we hurry, we could arrive by nightfall tonight," Daniel said.

"Daniel," Elena said as she gently grabbed his arm. He turned his head and looked at her. "Are you feeling okay? You've been acting differently ever since last night."

"I'm fine," Daniel said as he pulled his arm away from Elena's grip. He then walked away. Sheriff Robert approached Elena on his horse.

"I'll keep the village safe while you're away," he said, "be safe."

"Thank you Robert," Elena said, "oh. Hey. Is it just me or is Daniel acting strange all of a sudden?"

"I've noticed. You're not alone on that one, Elena," Robert said, "keep an eye on him."

"Planned on it," Elena responded as she walked away to join the others.

As their journey back to the Kingdom began, HeroBrine was walking down the hallway of the Castle. He was headed for the Throne room to report his mission to Scarlet. He was gone for three days, and Scarlet was anxious to hear what he had to report.

Two guards standing outside of the Throne room opened the doors. They allowed HeroBrine to enter. Scarlet was seen sitting in her chair. Her arms resting on the arm rests.

"Ah, you've returned," Scarlet said, "did you complete your task?"

"Indeed I have your majesty," HeroBrine responded.

The effects of the mind controlling potion have long worn off. But Scarlet didn't know that. So he continued to play the whole "mind control" game with her. He acted as if he were still under the control of the potion.

"I have good news," HeroBrine said, "the King and Queen have both been killed. They will no longer be a threat. Building an army won't be necessary any longer."

"There will be a revolution," Scarlet proclaimed. "The people of this Kingdom will rise up and try to dethrone me. Building an army is still necessary, HeroBrine."

"My apologies, your majesty," HeroBrine said.

"Tell me HeroBrine," Scarlet said, "did they suffer a painful death?"

HeroBrine nodded his head. As he looked up at Scarlet sitting in her chair, he could see flames burning from behind it. He pretended he didn't notice, but he became suspicious.

"Good," Scarlet said, "very good indeed. You're excused."

"Thank you, your majesty," HeroBrine said as he turned around and began walking back towards the exit. The doors to the Throne Room opened and HeroBrine left. Once the doors were closed, an ally of Scarlet's walked out from behind the chair.

His head was burning, and his eyes were glowing a bright red. "The potion has worn off on him. You do realize that right Scarlet?"

Scarlet smiled as she looked at him. "Well of course NetherBrine. How delusional do you think I am? I could tell he was lying. He didn't kill anyone. This must be a part of their plan."

"Should I go after him?" NetherBrine asked. He was prepared to go after HeroBrine and finish him off.

Scarlet held her hand up. "No," she said, "let them think they have the upper hand. If they find out we know what they're up to, it'll ruin my plans."

"Then what shall I do in the meantime?" NetherBrine asked.

"You want to make yourself useful to me? Prove your worth, huh? If so, then kill the dragon!"

"Elderon?" NetherBrine questioned, "he's still here? In the Kingdom?"

"Why yes," Scarlet said, "the King and Queen gave him a home here in the Kingdom. Go to him. Fulfil your urge for revenge."

"I'll do that with pleasure," NetherBrine said.

"I have no doubt you won't," Scarlet responded.

As both of them continued to talk, HeroBrine was running through the Kingdom and back to Elderons home. Guards were chasing after him.

"They know!" HeroBrine shouted to Elderon, "they know we're onto them!"

Elderon stood up on all four of his legs and spread his wings. HeroBrine ran up to Elderon and jumped up onto his back. Without a second to spare, Elderon began flapping his wings and flying away.

As HeroBrine and Elderon flew farther away, the guardsmen below aimed their crossbows loaded with poisonous arrows at Elderon. Their goal was to hit Elderon and bring down the beast for good.

Elderon was flapping his wings as fast as he could, continuing to ascend into the sky. But as bad luck would have it, something hit Elderon. Whatever had struck him, knocked him out cold. He abruptly stopped flapping his wings. Together, HeroBrine and Elderon began falling out of the sky. The ground was getting closer and closer.

"Elderon!" HeroBrine shouted, "come on! Wake up!"

HeroBrine was holding onto Elderon for dear life. He closed his eyes and began hoping that Elderon would wake up. If he didn't, they would hit the ground at a record fast speed.

The ground was approaching ever so quickly. When HeroBrine opened his eyes, he became aware that Elderon wasn't going to wake up. And before he knew it, they struck the ground. The ground shook as Elderon landed violently on his stomach. His wings were retracted. HeroBrine went flying off of Elderon's back upon impact, landing a couple of blocks away.

Once HeroBrine got back up onto his feet, he had seen what's caused Elderon to suddenly fall out of the sky. They weren't very far from the Kingdom either. The Guardsmen were surly on their way. HeroBrine could either stay or he could escape.

What struck Elderon must've been something that was on fire. Elderon's stomach was burning. HeroBrine knew exactly who could have been behind this. It was his brother NetherBrine. But how? He thought NetherBrine was dead?

"You see brother," NetherBrine said as he descended from the sky over Elderon and HeroBrine, "good doesn't always win."