Chapter 60 – What fear?
The Master reacted before anyone else. He looked skyward and let out a hiss, his pristine fangs lengthening as his face transformed from serene casualness to that of the demonic beast that hid within. The other two vampires also hissed in unison as they followed his gaze as they appeared.
Nine beings circled above, their beautiful wings clearly visible. Only one of them remained stationary, that of Skuldor; he hovered above them, his eyes closed, and his arms spread out wide. The slow beats of his wings kept him perfectly stationary as the truly mesmerising words crashed down on the area.
SJ's linguistic skill allowed her to understand the poetry of the words as they hit them. SJ felt a lift of pure joy, the fear held over her breaking instantly. While Fas and Liam both appeared to relax, the tension left their bodies. The vampires, though, were anything but. Talons appeared from their usual manicured fingernails, their true forms appearing as the musical tones of the chant encased them.
The other valkyrie now acted. The three vampires were now clearly identifiable beneath them. They carried long spears like those SJ had seen in Killic when they helped defend the town, and SJ recognised Kara, her beauty even surpassing that of the surrounding others; they all glowed with an angelic light as they swooped towards their targets.
SJ had completely forgotten about the open communication link she had with Skuldor.
Claita was the first struck by two of the valkyrie, unable to move as two long spears penetrated her, embedding into the platform below. It was only moments later that the second of the Master's followers was also pinned. The other four valkyrie came for the Master, who wasn't as frozen as the other two had been, and as the first attacked him, he struck out with his talons, shattering the wooden shaft of the spear. The valkyrie who had attacked first was thrown off by the impact of the blow on his weapon. Two others managed to strike the master, their spears hitting him but almost bouncing off his skin, only scoring his surface and leaving rips in his pristine clothing.
The Master's body appeared to swell as he grew in height. The fear was again creeping into SJ's bones. Skuldor continued to chant, his melodic tones a beautiful mix of ethereal commentary.
Fear fought tranquillity.
SJ was motionless, her body unable to decide what she could do. The crash from one feeling to the next was almost instantaneous.
Kara struck; she didn't carry a spear; instead, it resembled a trident. Three slightly varied prong lengths protruded from a pure silver spear. There was no wood in its construction. She cried a haunting cry, like that of a thousand lost souls, as she struck. The Master raised his hand to strike the blow aside, but Kara's weapon wasn't like the others. The prongs of her augmented spear penetrated his hand.
He roared in pain, his jaw opening to a horrific sight, showing exceedingly predatory teeth, opening further than should have been physically possible. Kara's momentum sent her forward as she crashed into the Master, sending him staggering backward. His hand now forced against his chest, where the spear's prongs now dug into his very body.
Skuldor was slowly lowering from above. His angelic form was a picture of serenity. This was a gravonic cleric in all his glory. The feeling of serenity grew as he closed the gap. The Master hissed, striking at the silvery weapon Kara held. Her plate armour was being raked by his free hand, the talons rending deep grooves in its surface. Kara wore full plate; her face contorted as she grimaced, forcing her full strength at the beast in front of her. Her fellow valkyries had recovered from their parried strikes. The two with remaining spears again thrust at the unfooted Master. This time, their spears penetrated. One struck his left arm, which was already pinned to his chest by Kara. The other struck deeply into his right side.
The demonic sounds erupting from this undead powerhouse and his minions were horrendous; their screams of fury silenced the entire city.
The three friends stood helpless, unable to act to support the valkyrie. SJ took in everything around her in her adapted vision. One of the valkyrie received a slash across his chest, a grunt escaping his lips as Claita's claws raked his chest plate, blood seeping through the tears in his armour.
Skuldor touched down. His hands still spread wide as his chanting continued. This close to them, the power of his words forced back the sense of fear entirely. SJ felt her body relaxing further. The pure terror was forced away once and for all. Skuldor kept chanting as he walked towards the Master, never taking his eyes off him. The Master tried to turn his head away from the approaching cleric as he reached out with one hand. A brilliant white light was visible on his palm.
As though placing his hand on the forehead of a sick patient, Skuldor touched the Master's head.
Pure energy flowed from every inch of Skuldor, as pulse after pulse of white energy erupted from his palm, forcing an entry into the inner mind of the beast before him. The scream of pure pain, a sound SJ would never forget, as Skuldor continued his chant. The Master staggered. Skuldor didn't allow his touch to fail as he followed the Master as he fell to one knee.
"Nooo," he screamed, the first verbal word the Master had said since the valkyrie appeared.
As the Master weakened under the relentless attack from Skuldor, Claita and the other vampire was also weakened. Claita was the first to fall. Her legs gave way as she crumpled onto the platform. Her voice no longer carried the same weight of hostility it had. Her cries lessened with every passing second. Then the other followed suit. Their bodies were losing their associated power.
The second vampire lashed out at one of his attackers in a final attempt at defiance. The valkyrie cried in pain as he was struck across his face, losing his grip on his spear. The valkyrie who had lost his spear on the first strike of the Master quickly moved to replace him, grabbing the still embedded weapon and pinning the struggling monster.
What happened next, SJ had only ever witnessed in films from Earth.
Claita exploded. Not in a shower of gore, but dust, her body vanishing, and clothing all that remained.
“That’s a first,” Dave said quietly.
The Master screamed in fury. Then SJ heard them; the screams weren't just in the park, they were around the city. Those linked to the Master were all suffering the same fate.
A form appeared at the edge of the treeline, and her alabaster skin glowed in the night. Navina stood motionless, her face a mask of confusion and uncertainty. She was not being affected. Removal of the Chief was one thing, but in no vision that Navina may have ever had would the removal of the vampires from Asterfal ever play a part.
The Master screamed again, his skin appearing to whither under Skuldor's touch, as the second vampire who had accompanied him exploded. Skuldor continued his actions, and the Master weakened further, his skin losing its lustre. He was slowly being turned into a husk, his skin retreating against his skeletal structure.
One of the valkyrie had spotted Navina, and SJ watched as he went to approach her.
"No," SJ shouted.
The valkyrie glanced at SJ, his face one of neutrality.
"She isn't linked to him," SJ called.
"She is vampiric," the valkyrie responded as he continued towards her.
Navina didn't hang around; within an instant, she vanished back into the trees. As two of the valkyrie now gave chase.
The Master was now helpless, mewing sounds coming from his husk that remained.
His mass had reduced so much that what had been a beautiful being now represented a dried fruit. His white skin stretched across his forehead; his previous athletic form reduced to that of a frail old man. SJ just stared as his eyes faded. White husks left behind, where intelligence and evil had sat for centuries.
Skuldor removed his hand from his forehead.
"Bind him," he said, his arm dropping weakly to his side. His face was coated in a clear sheen of sweat. The valkyrie acted immediately. Brilliant chains of what appeared to be pure energy appeared as the Master's body was wrapped in them. Not an inch of him remained uncovered as they bound around the remaining form.
"Is he not dead?" SJ asked.
"No, his power remains. He is only weakened, but I sensed his followers have all fallen; that is why I have stopped. Even I don't have the power to finish him."
"Is there nothing we can do?"
"No. Unfortunately, I think the only thing that would remove this scourge from this world is the breath of a great dragon. He has eternal bonds on him now, though, which will keep him in his weakened state."
"Just like Gallenshaw," a voice spoke from behind SJ. She hadn't even noticed the tower guards appear. It wasn't General Crawford who had spoken, though, who now stood with at least twenty of the guard, but the Chancellor.
He stood in front of them before calmly walking over. He wore casual clothes, not his usual ceremonial clothes. It was obvious he had come in a hurry. "Petunia, please heal your friends," the Chancellor said.
Petunia appeared from behind the guard, moving forward to heal the injured valkyrie. Kara now looked in a much worse state than she had when in combat, and Petunia got to work healing their various wounds they had sustained in the vampires' frantic attempts to escape.
"Skuldor, the city owes you thanks, that I'm not sure we can ever repay in full," the Chancellor said as he bowed at the ancient valkyrie. "And SJ," he continued, turning to look at her. "You have again proven your loyalty and commitment beyond most of the city's inhabitants. I thank you."
SJ's display triggered. She didn't read the notification.
"Thanks," Kara said, her voice regaining strength as her wounds were healed.
Liam had somehow appeared, now standing next to the Chancellor.
"It appears my thanks also spread to you once again, Carlito," the Chancellor said, turning to look at Fas.
If he was shocked by being addressed by the Chancellor, he didn't show it. He just nodded politely.
"I believe there is going to be a lot of discourse on the streets that will need to be resolved. Can I ask for your support in dealing with it?" the Chancellor directed at Fas.
This did make Fas react. "Me?"
The Chancellor laughed. "Come now, Carlito. I know enough about you and what you do for the orphans of this city to know that your reach runs further than most. I may not agree with your hobby, but I can't question your passion for doing good for those worse off than you."
“And there it is,” Dave said. “Two hundred plus years of anonymity, gone in three words.”
Fas just stared back in shock. His whole world had been revealed to him by the Chancellor, while he had always thought he had kept it a hidden secret.
SJ wondered if there was anything the Chancellor didn't actually know about the city. He never showed his true hand, and SJ would never play a game of cards with him.
"General, can we remove this piece of trash and take him to join the others?" the Chancellor asked.
"Sir," the General replied as he ordered several of the guards forward to pick up the chained, glowing husk of the Master.
"Damn," SJ suddenly shouted.
"What is it?" the Chancellor asked.
"I need Navina alive. Skuldor, please, can your team be recalled?" SJ pleaded, as she remembered that Navina had the incantation she needed to save the earrings.
Skuldor frowned as he finished drinking a bottle of blue liquid, which SJ knew was a mana potion.
"For what reason?"
"I can't say," SJ replied. "But I need her."
Skuldor looked at Kara and nodded. Kara called a stone to her hand before she made a call.
SJ breathed a sigh of relief. At least it appeared they hadn't caught up with her yet.
"I would like you all to attend the tower in the morning if I may request such a favour," the Chancellor said as he turned away.
Liam still faced SJ and Fas and nodded respectfully at them both before he turned to follow the Chancellor.
Petunia walked up to Skuldor and punched him in his arm.
"You allowed Kara to be injured, you great buffoon."
Skuldor feigned pain from her strike.
"I'm sure that my daughter is fine after your healing touch."
"That's not the point," Petunia fumed. "SJ, go and get some rest, and you too, Carlito. The Chancellor wants us all there in the morning. I will send a cart to collect you both," she said as she grabbed Skuldor by his arm and started to lead him away.
The Tower guards who had remained were busy clearing the scene, and as SJ watched, a couple of the mages appeared and washed down any evidence from the platform. SJ remained for a while watching until they all left. There wasn't a single blade of grass that looked out of place, and if she hadn't known better, it would appear that nothing had ever taken place here.
"Come, let's go," Fas said.
SJ turned to look at Fas. Her eyes filled with tears. “Thank you," she said as a tear fell. The emotional rollercoaster she had been going through was over. The Chief was dead, her henchmen would be rounded up, the Master was no more, and the city's streets would be free from corruption for the first time in centuries.
Fas placed his hand on SJ's shoulder and squeezed it gently. "You've done well," a genuine smile on his face.
"Beautiful," Dave sniffed tearfully.
