9 Chapter 8 - The Sky Witch.

In the Drunken Ogre, Endar and Cyren in the back room as she lays on the table, Endar looking at her with accurate scrutiny, running his hands over her skin as he feels the texture, its like a rough sandpaper against his finger tips. Camilla entering from the sheet Rodahn had set up for them, walking over briskly.

"How is she?" she asks as Endar breaks from his trance, gazing at Camilla with dark circles under his eyes from brainstorming all night how he could save her and bring her back.

"She's subdued for now, but I cant wrap my head around it" He mutters scratching at his neck, a similar tattoo to Cyren's neck tattoo. Camilla's eyes squint as she takes a closer look at it, Endar quickly covering it up.

"Can I help you princess or did you come to gawk at me?"

"My apologies, its just...you two clearly know each other"

He looks back down at her with saddened eyes, sniffling slightly at the sight of her sending shivers down his spine.

"She's my sister...not by blood anyways" he says, walking away under the tarp as the princess follows listening close to what he had to say about her.

"She and I grew up in Candervale, and we were best friends...like siblings...then I got banished and I never saw her again"

"That's horrible I'm so sorry"

"Don't be, be it the will of the tribe" He mutters, a certain tone of resentment towards the witches that cast him out, but he loved them regardless, they were his family after all. He turns to the princess with pleading eyes.

"There's only one way I can think of to return her body back to normal but its a two man job...I need your help again" He asks a she smiles calmly, placing a hand on his shoulder gracefully.

"Tell me what needs to be done, I'm here for you both" she says, hugging him unexpectedly, her bright red curls and face washed and clean, he awkwardly wraps his arms around her back.

"Fine, I'll let you have this one..." He scoffs, leading her to the tarp and in front of the unconscious Cyren, placing the princess on one side as he leaves for a few seconds, getting Major and Ro into the back room under the tarp.

"I need you two to hold her down, it may seem like she's in pain but its normal...trust me"

Rodahn does as he asks without question, Major however held back hesitating as he gazes at the scene in front of him. slowly moving to her feet while Rodahn secures her head, Camilla placing her hands on her left leg and arm, Endar on the opposite side doing the same as he peers into the princesses eyes through his mask.

"Hold my hands, I'm about to sync our minds so you'll find this easier"

"Is that safe?" Major speaks up in concern as Endar replies.

"Don't worry, the elders at Candervale do this to help novice witches learn advanced spells, it'll be fine"

He mutters whispering that no-one can hear but after a few seconds, Camilla's mouth opens slightly in shock as she follows along with his chanting flawlessly, the two of them communicating through magic of the mind, both their hands glowing as they wave them over Cyrens body, waking from her slumber viciously.

They both continue as the other two boys restrict her convulsing, pained screams coming from her agape mouth, seeing Camilla put up a sweat Endar feels her pulling away as he gets her attention.

"Hold it Camilla, this spell is about trust!" Endar says in his mind as her face distorts into discomfort

"I cant! we're hurting her!" She whispers weakly, Endar quickly thinking of a way to get her to trust him, ripping off his mask and staring into her eyes with reassurance.

"I trust you" His mechanical eye moves well with his emotions as he begins feeling her come back into the spell, focusing on her deformities as they continue, their hands glowing with high energy.

Major and Rodahn holding her steady, the mounds of unnatural flesh and hair shrink back into her as her face becomes more human like, Camilla's eyes widened as she watches her body unfold back into a regular woman. slowly getting less aggressive and falling back into a steady sleep.

Her features petite white snow white skin and jet black hair, her lips a soft pinkish color.

Endar and Camilla both fall over, Camilla was caught by a quick Major as Endar hits the ground roughly, but gets up easily and sits on the floor as he rests his head on the wall.

"I thought you said it was safe!" Major whines as the witch shakes his head, Rodahn kneeling beside him and helps him up.

"It was safe, but that spell was hard and way past our skills alone...but together we could both take the brunt of it...Sorry for not warning you princess"

She simply smiles and looks around dizzily, this feeling completely new to her.

"The dizziness will go away in a few minutes..." He says, getting carried back to the bar as Camilla fiddles with Majors armor while he holds her. her eyes flitting up to his as she warmly smiles at him.

"Thank you for everything Major~"

"It is my duty and my pleasure Princess" He replies, carrying her from the room to allow Cyren to rest a little while before the group moves on to the tower, unlucky in their endeavor into the ratways, unable to find their friend.

"Ro can I have a drink?" Endar asks as Major sets the princess down at a bar stool.

"No"

"Why not!?"

"You get stupid drinking after a high level spell, you always do..."

"You're no fun"

"May I have something to drink?" Camilla asks Rodahn as he smirks at Endar teasingly as he pours her something sweet and easy passing it to her swiftly.

"Of course Princess, you're an honored guest in my Bar"

Endar rolls his eyes, moving seats and sitting next to Major.

"Just wanted to thank you for saving my ass in those nests...I don't do spiders well" He says nervously as Major chuckles to himself.

"Had me fooled" He teases as the witch punches his shoulder playfully, a brotherly bond forming between the two easily, bouncing off one another well. Endar gazing down at his scraped and worn armor and clothes.

"You know if you want I have a little juice left, I can enchant something for you"

"You'd do that?!" he said excitedly, never owning an enchanted weapon before, but the witch holds his hand up.

"Don't get too excited, it'll only be a small and simple one, I'll even let you choose~" He says, drowsily leaning against the bar as Major thinks about it.

"I have no idea, you pick it for me"

"HAHA! such trust in the so called witch!" He laughs out loud, looking at Majors sword with curious eyes, thinking of a suitable enchantment for the noble guardsman. Smiling lightly when he gets it.

"Hey Ro? you still got that enchanting table?"

"Yeah its upstairs, feel free"

Major and Endar walk off while Ro watches over the sleepy princess at the bar, attempting to talk with the friendly orc, reaching the upstairs room the two sit comfortably in the seats, quickly finishing their drinks gazing upon the equipment.

"Now, I wasn't chosen to be an enchanter, but I make a mean one still...but if I'm doing this for free you're going to help me" Endar says as the solider rolls his eyes.

"Fine, just run me through it"

The two stand at the large enchanting table that sports cobwebs as Major wipes them away for the witch, who starts grabbing at multiple vials of different things, luminescent liquids, crystals, plants and bottled light. Major gazes among it all with interested eyes.

"You know so much...what do you mean wasn't chosen?"

Endar looks into Majors eyes with surprise, unaware Major wanted to know anything about his tribe.

"Witches are born with magical abilities and each baby goes through a ritual of sorts...not a lot survive it, but the ones that do have their class chosen, some were regular offensive witches like fire and ice...others were healers and enchanters..."

"What were you?"

"Not important...I was a rebel, I didn't want to limit myself when I could learn everything and anything I wanted" Endar deflects, telling him about how the elders weren't happy with his choices, expecting him to be bound by the magic he was chosen for.

"And your friend, she a dangerous type?"

"Definitely, you shouldn't mess with a sky witch"

After everything was set up, he holds his hand out for Majors sword, passing it along to him as he lays it on the table, the outer rim and the middle begin to glow with beautiful pinks, purples and greens, grabbing a few vials as he sprinkles them over the sword with Majors help, his hand gliding over it, seeping into the sword like it absorbed them.

Taking another vial which held a bright white light in it, showing it to Major with a proud face.

"Holy light~"

"Its so beautiful" he stares at the vial in complete awe, the light so pure it brightens his face from the inside.

"Its deadly too, I trust you not to ever swing at me ok?" he says jokingly as he washes light over the sword, which slowly begins glowing with the same colours, twinkling nicely on the table, taking a tiny hammer and smoothing the energy around it, leaving a sleek finish on it.

Lifting it up from the table with a proud face.

Presenting it before the guardsman as he takes it gratefully, smiling at Endar in a way he never has before, grabbing his hand in a brotherly gesture as he clasps it tightly.

"Thank you, my friend"

"Anytime"

They leave the room and join the others downstairs while they await the wakening of the mysterious sky witch, Cyren.

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The army of the dead march on through the ravines of The Howling Valley with increased speed, marching faster as the bodies in the caves are raised for them, gaining significantly in numbers, but other than the bodies nobody occupied the caves, the Wolves fled days ago once they smelled the incoming plume of death.

The Prince wasn't happy with this, his power pushing it from him in shock-waves that shook the walls as he talked to himself, the second in command, Charles, rides beside him in out of loyalty, sweating as his undead comrades trail behind him as he nervously looks at his ruler.

The beast he rode on feasting on the bodies that were to mangled to be brought back.

Unsure of his choices were correct in betraying his kingdom for survival.

"They fear me! Running with their tails between their legs!" he yells in anger with a sadistic laugh as Charles nods in agreement.

"Yes sire, Cowards...all of them"

The Prince smiles at his words.

"I value your loyalty, Accrington, Everyone else either defies me, or fights against me...but you stand by me" He smiles generously at the stubbly man, his patchy facial hair creasing as he scoffs and grins back at him.

Then the Princes face turns dark, his ginger hair falling just over his eyes.

"Why?~" He says with a devilish tone, laughing under his breath maniacally, turning Charles's steel fame to crumble with doubt and fear, wanting to adhere to his honor.

He stammers at first, but finds his ground once he takes a deep breath, the overwhelming fear of the Prince was undoubtedly the most fear he's ever felt with anyone, seeing exactly what he's capable off. A force to be reckoned with, and with enough bodies he could conquer the entire realm, maybe even beyond.

"I live to serve you My King, and that is how it'll always be..." He says in reply, satisfying the prince enough as they continue to ride on through the ravine, coming up the the back wall leading up towards the outskirts of the Capitol. Ever so close to his goal, destroying the magic counsel, and making them his slaves.

Climbing up the wall with his creature as his army look at him from below, reaching the top as he looks down at the general of his undead army with a smug grin, the sweat trailing from his forehead to his neck as the Prince raises his arms.

"WITNESS ME!" He yells, a grayish light emits from his hands before it turns jet black in seconds, the ravine slowly moving as it splits wider, the entire cave breaking and building upwards in a giant staircase, giving access to his entire army up the wall as they gradually make their way to the forests edge.

Traipsing feral fairies see them and scatter in the opposite direction as they storm their way towards the capitol walls, gathering in full force, the huge mass of dead surround the outer brim of the forest as he gazes up at the massive tower with hungry eyes, glaring as the magical energy reaches him.

Breathing in with a satisfied groan, his eyes turning a different color, a blazing red as his teeth bare in an animalistic rage. opening his mouth in a sneer.

"General Accrington, prepare to charge..."

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The gang celebrate with each other as the bar seemed to be in good spirits, a centaur in the back playing a jolly tune on his lute, multiple species dancing around each other as Camilla joined in n the fun, twirling around her tattered dress, no longer looking like a prim and perfect Princess. Her heart flying in freedom as she prances around the tables singing along with their shanty.

The patrons dancing with her as the boys drink at the bar, Major looking longingly at her, but looks away as he sips on his ale, Rodahn nudges Endar as the two look at him with amused eyes, his face turning red as he scowls.

"Piss off you two!"

"No way, this sight is both amusing and exhausting to watch~" The two tease him as he gazes at her again, this time with a thoughtful look on his face.

"You should just tell her Albert, I'm fairly sure she feels the same" The witch recommends, Rodahn joins in.

"Yeah, you two are peas in a pod"

"So hooked on my love life, what about your escapades huh? Pray tell any juicy stories?" Major directs the conversation away from him as Endar laughs to himself.

"Love is a sickly thing, but it has its moments" he says, as Rodahn chuckles discreetly as he locks eyes with Major.

"Yeah, love is so disgusting...I'll stick with my axe, now that's love" he says kissing his axe lovingly as the others laugh in merriment, the mood light and happy, not many opportunities come like this often in Aspendria, the heroes taking a well deserved break.

The calm before the storm.

The song comes to an end as the people finish their dances ending in an uproar of cheers and applause, everyone laughing and having a great time. before Cyren walls in thee room looking dazed, everyone looking at her as Endar leaves his stool and holds her arms gently.

"Cyren...Cyren its me are you ok?..." he asks as she looks at him with bagged eyes and a raspy voice.

"They're here..."

As she says it, the bar begins to shake as rubble falls from the ceiling, screams erupt from the surface as marching footsteps slam on the surface ground creating shakes and rumble throughout the underground, everyone clinging for balance when the candles blow out. Everyone beginning to panic.

But a familiar pink light rises in the darkness, the orb brightens up the room when the walls continue to shake as Camilla stands balanced with the help of Major, everyone looking to her from the ground.

"Everybody stay calm and at peace, we can get through this, I know we can if we help and protect each other" she says, inspiring the others to stand from their hiding places, protecting the smaller bodies from falling rubble as the mages and casters light up the room so everyone can see, the bigger bodied people help keep the ceiling up from falling in.

The room in complete control of the princess, stepping up to help boost the patrons moral, helping secure the room in a matter of minutes. after the shaking stops and the rumbles had ended, the only sound was the marching of an army in flawless unity as they continue to march in the direction of the tower, Camilla making sure the entire room was dead silent.

Nobody moved, nobody spoke. Everyone in shock at the scene that just unfolded, not sure if they were being invaded...or obliterated, everyone huddled together as the marching grows constant and never ending, the entire city above was unheard and forgotten.

The Capitol had been Conquered...

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