80 Kill That Priest
"Rowan wants to be a king?", Atrius felt his blood went cold, as those words echo in his ears. In the dark corner of the room, there he was standing by as he hear the conversation of the General and the Lord of Brandenburg. Piquing his interest on Haelan's hilt that carries the emblem of the royals, he wondered about his friend's real identity.
"That ain't good.", Jacomus whispered.
Atrius peeked at Lord Callaghan and General Rowan once more and sees nothing but treachery. Danger lurks with General Rowan's presence, along with his plans against Haelan and the Kingdom. He could hardly believe that Lord Callaghan is a part of it. Now, he can't figure out who to trust and who's part of this mischief.
The damp walls of the deeper grounds seethe with predictable dangers and perfidious misfits. Afraid for Haelan's safety, Atrius dragged Jacomus out in big and silent strides until they finally made out of the underground dungeons of Brandenburg. On their way out, they noticed that General Rowan brought along a dozen of knights who were roaming the castle.
"Do you still have the explosives with you?", Atrius asked they walk past the corridors, acting as if nothing happened.
"Yea.. I can't believe those two are nothing but bringer of rot in the Kingdom", Jacomus replied with uncertainty. "Lord Callaghan? I still don't believe it. As for the General, I know he's savage.. but not THIS savage... So Atrius, tell me what are you planning to do? I'm not as smart as you, unless you tell me… should we go to the King? or report to the Paladins?", Jacomus asked. "And.. am I right? Haelan is a healer soul traveler?", he's so confused appearing too clueless about what they just heard.
"He is", Atrius faced Jacomus as he start to lose patience at his friend with a pea-brain. "I don't know... but we need to find Haelan first, then we'll deal with Rowan and Callaghan", Atrius replied as he look out cautiously before walking away. "Haelan holds the power of some stone that they sought after", he whispered as he make a side-eye making sure no one heard him.
"Oh.. ", Jacomus furrowed his brows at Atrius. Then, he grabbed Atrius' arm with the most innocent eyes. "But if he's a traveler, why should we help him?", he asked. As how he was trained, Jacomus believes that healer soul travelers are enemies of the kingdom.
Atrius let Jac go and calmed his nerves. He sighed deeply and stared at Jac's eyes fixedly. "Jac, are you that unsure why I'm helping a friend?", Atrius asked. Jacomus creased his forehead at Atrius. Staring at him with his big round eyes, Jacomus sighed as he shook his head. He is torn between saving a friend and killing Haelan - considering he's a member of the cavalry with an oath of loyalty to the royalty who'd kill enemies of the kingdom such as healer soul travelers.
"What do you want to do with the explosives?", Jac asked as he drop his shoulders.
"I need to use them to make a distraction.. until I find Haelan.", Atrius whispered as he think of a one-shot strategy in finding her. Surely, it will buy them some time so Lord Callaghan won't squeeze the power of the stone out of Haelan and kill her as soon as he can. However, he had to make sure he finds her with so limited time he had. He continued walking with caution, followed by Jacomus.
"That's a plan… with no turning back", Jacomus figured. He thought that if they started an explosive mess in Brandenburg, they would lose their titles as Knights and become fugitives which he never dreamt of becoming, a twist of fate he never imagined.
"Haelan doesn't deserve to be imprisoned, and so is death. Going against them is still part of our oath with loyalty to the royalty", Atrius explained who's certain of not turning a blind eye on Haelan's possible connection with the royals.
"You'll bend your sword, and cut off your dreams for a friend?", Jacomus asked as he grab Atrius' shoulder.
"No.", Atrius removed Jac's hand on him. "I'll wield my sword more, with my head held high for something that I know that is right. And I think, Haelan is the child of the King", Atrius faced Jac with affirmation.
"How are you even sure?", Jacomus said with much hesitation.
"I just know. Jac, with or without your help, I'll still do this", Atrius said.
Jacomus stared at Atrius who seemed determined to make a stand on his own. "Fine… I'll do it", he said with sigh. "You try your best to find Haelan and.. I'll go get the map", Jacomus decisively uttered as he show seven candle explosives on his hands. Atrius widened his eyes at Jac's surprising decision. "Don't look surprised. Find Haelan, get the map.. then go to Caluso. That's plan, right? ", he said.
Atrius took one candle and smiled. "Yes. On the sixth explosion, no matter what happens, let's meet in Achelous", Atrius said. Despite Jac has a brain as small as a peanut, he has a heart as big as a mountain who values camaraderie, he thought. "Jac, thanks", Atrius shortly said as they parted ways.
With a nervous smile, Jacomus led himself to the parapet walk as he feel his heart beat like a drum inside his hard chest. Once he light one candle, he knew there's no turning back. As he go along, he continued to have second thoughts. His mind went on continued debates as he mumble words to himself whether he continue or not. As he reach one of the flanking towers of Brandenburg, he walked back and forth as his hesitation grew in his heart. Then, he stood frozen locking his gaze on the candles on his hand. "For the the Kingdom of Nether", he said as he make the hardest decision in his life. Making sure no one would get hurt, he checked the grounds first before he execute Atrius' outrageous plan of imminent disaster. Then, he lighted one candle and dropped it outside blasting the flanking tower. Afterwards, he dropped another one that completely destroyed the ancient pillar of Brandenburg.
The explosions disturbed the peace in the castle. The tranquil and stillness that was prominent in Brandenburg was replaced with screams and people running. Chambermaids, stewards and priests started to run for their lives as the frenzy of fiery outbursts continued blasting the century old walls of the castle. Three times, then four… Jacomus fired up the grounds hastily with regret. He made sure no one noticed him as he drop the explosives. Decided to proceed to the other flanking tower, Jacomus swiftly sprinted through the corridors. As he go along, he come across Lord Harlan and Lord Callaghan at the top of the flight of stairs who seemed to be having a heated altercation. He stayed hidden close by, eavesdropping with the lords' conversation.
Then, in a blink of an eye, General Rowan, together with a couple of knights, appeared and drew his sword decapitating Lord Harlan. Jacomus gasped in great horror. Time seemed to stop as Lord Harlan's headless body dropped dead. Jac's eyes followed the head of Lord Harlan which rolled down the stairs reaching the foot of a man wearing a brown cassock. Staying hidden, Jacomus gaped at Umbriel who fell on his back in shock as he drop his jaw at the sight of the decapitated head of Lord.
"Lo... lord.. Lord har..Harlan!" Umbriel stuttered and screamed dreadfully at the sight of Harlan's bloody head. He crawled backwards in the presence of trepidation and danger.
"Kill that priest!", Rowan ordered as he squinted his eyes at Umbriel who seemed like not only seen him killed the lord, but also heard their conversation.
MEANWHILE in the Underground Cellar
Restless and helpless, Haelan stood as she covered her ears from the groundbreaking explosions that shook the cellar. "What's going on??", she hoped that she won't be buried alive underground from the extremely powerful blasts.
The resting urns fell off as the blasts continued. Every blast was followed with breaking porcelain vases and jars. Desperately, Haelan tried to escape the containment walls by running to it with her shoulder. She slammed the spell encased prison with her hard fists fueled with growing anguish and dwindling optimism.
Four explosives disturbed the thick dusts on the walls, crumbling down and filling the room making it harder to breathe. Coughing as she drop on her knees, Haelan covered her nose and shut her eyes from the dusts and the disintegrating particles of the earth suspended in the air. Later, an orange light from the exit door came upon. Haelan heard a familiar voice that made her heart rejoice.
"Haelan! Are you here?", the voice of a man was heard as he descend from the stairs.