AN: Know what I'm starting to hate about RRL? The fact that you can leave a poor review, and not have to explain why it's there. Which brings us to the fact that many seemed to be inclined to drop the rating score down to what it is, to the point I now have to beg for reviews. So here I am, asking for honest reviews once more, but with the hope of someone kind enough to bring it above a 3/5. Or as I like to call it, a "Meh" rating.
Anyways, thank you all for reading along thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please let me know down below. I do enjoy chatting and answering questions with you guys.
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Nearly a full sennight came and went, by the time Child, one mage, and Alpha with half his pack returned with the promise of the "Magister's" sisters' deaths. Of course, I sent a few to scout out the areas and "clean up" any remains. This was just in case they had missed some stragglers, and I would not enjoy having something cropping up later with a notion of vengeance.
However, during the past sennight, the people down in the city below the castle seemed to be up in arms about something. When inquired as to what their problem was, an Undying said, "They are being swayed into thinking the queen, and everyone here, have allied with demons."
"Well, they're not completely wrong," mumbled LD, who was currently losing to a green and red scaled Draconian in a game of King's Cross. An odd array of cards was being played out between them, as I watched in amused wonderment as the game progressed.
"Any ideas how they found out so quickly?" I rumbled slowly, tearing my eyes away from the game to glance at the guard in question.
It shrugged its metallic shoulders, while another piped in, "A coachman probably saw one of them, or a random noble, or messenger. I mean, it's not like you're trying to hide them, My Lord," and it was true. I did not bother to hide the Draconians from anyone within the castle, but I was from the populace below. This caused my person to sigh, as I sat down in a wicker chair. My body had become human at this point, and was seen tapping a forefinger upon the edge of the armrest.
We were in one of the many office-like rooms used to writing, receiving, and drawing up reports for this and that. There was a carpeted floor beneath our feet, along with what looked like a green, phosphorus paint upon the walls and ceiling. The room in question wasn't very large, as it would only take a few long strides to reach one end from the other. However, it did have a large window upon the wall opposite the door, which had a view of the garden where children's laughter could be heard.
A few of the children could be heard within the halls themselves, as there were no rules barring them from doing so. Instead, they were told not to bother the guards and workers, unless it was important. Of course, many were still shy and fearful around those who were still human, but only because of their past experiences.
"Any idea who is leading the rabble?" I wondered aloud, staring up at the ceiling. Little images began to form within my mind, and were being projected upon the ceiling. These were of the kobold children, chewing on my fingers in an adorable manner, but vanished when I heard one of the Undying reply.
"One of the humans claiming to be a messenger of a god," it replied with a shrug, then stopped just as another Undying burst through the door.
She, as she was quite endowed, shouted, "There's a riot in the streets! They're marching this way, claiming to want to purge the demons from the castle!"
"Ah," I stood up slowly, and stretched my human body. Once done, I turned to see everyone staring towards my person as though waiting for orders. "Well? Rouse the guard. Have everyone equipped for battle." Inwardly I sighed at their stupidity, as it should be common sense to arm everyone and mount them onto the walls.
"Someone find Nox," I growled, as we exited the room to find chaos within the halls. Maids and servants were seen running to and fro with bundles of items in their arms. A few children were crying under a window sill, which caused me to become my kobold self, and my body stalked towards them. They then ran to my person, upon seeing myself among the chaos, clinging and shaking at the chaos before them.
Nox appeared by my side in a few heartbeats, to which I pushed the scared children into his arms. "Find the other children," I growled, "and secure them within my cathedral. Have a few Undying follow you, and make certain they stay safe while we do our best to calm the situation." He tried to argue, of course, but I pushed him away. His priority was towards the children, as he was their leader.
Two and four-armed Undying were seen running towards the throne room at this point. When I inquired as to why they were running there, one of them explained saying there was an attempt on the queen's life. The would-be assassin was shouting something about a god coming to destroy them all, as he tried to stab the young queen. However, the blade of the assassin broke from a barrier that was placed around her. This led to its capture, whereupon it continued to spout obscenities of everyone's demise, then it simply collapsed and turned to dust.
This little revelation caused my person to pause and blink a few times. "How could someone turn to dust within mere moments of being caught?"
"Well, sir, if you follow one of the many gods, or even a primary, then it is possible to have a body become dust or ash, if you do not wish for another faction to extract information that may deter them from their goals." I blinked once more, as my own mouth clamped shut, wondering why I spoke it aloud, but grateful for the response.
"Let us head to the walls," I growled slowly, "I desire to see why this rabble wants to 'purge' the castle of its residences."
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
*****
The city was angry, more so than ever I had seen before. Not since the demons attacked our borders all those years ago, has the city not been so riled up. They demanded blood, and were marching towards the castle to extract it from those that resided within its walls.
At the head of us were a contingent of priests from the many temples. They claimed the new queen had taken in demons, and had become one herself. Of course, we did not believe it at first. That is, until one of them brought out a crystal that projected several images of the queen's new look. Instead of having skin the colour of ripened peaches, and hair of molten gold, her skin was like that of fine snow, her hair had become silver, and her eyes were of bright crimson.
The crystal then flashed images of armoured beasts with four arms and metallic skin. What was worse, were the shadowy images of something monstrous, hidden behind dark and crimson shadows. However, these were overshadowed by the fact that these images had flickered to the Demons, and were seen eating from the same table, and speaking with the young queen's advisors. This is what caused the riots to commence, and the demands of death and blood of those that resided within the castle.
Of course, with every riot comes the looting and burning of shops and homes. We did do our best to put a stop to it, but this only incited more violence, and our small group became ever larger. Halfway towards the castle gates, however, those who were living within the slums had joined us. Although they were welcomed by the priests, because they were easily swayed by their words, everyone else saw them as nothing more than thieves, rapists, and murderers. We could do nothing about them, as they began to integrate themselves among our number. A few did try to steal and touch that which does not belong to them, but were subsequently beaten for their actions.
It wouldn't be until late evening when we finally approached one of the castle's many iron gates. Above the gate, and along the walls, however, were demons with skin of iron, and most had four arms. This shocked us, and many were enraged by these 'demons'. To which the head priest began to shout, "Do you not see them, people of New Wair? The demons had infiltrated our fair city, and taken over the castle!"
He would shout more, except the heavy gate began to rumble and rise up from the earth it penetrated. From behind the gate, we could see heavy, wooden doors being pulled open by something hidden within the shadows. From within the shadows, stepped forth a human male in a faded, blue robe. Within his hands was a staff, of which he leaned heavily upon it whilst walking out to stand in front of us all.
"Kill the demon," came the shrilled cry of an old priest, and others began to chant and cast their magicks of fire, lightning, and holy light upon the old man. For some odd reason, I saw the old man smile just as the first of the spells struck his body. Many of us cried out in shock at the actions of the priests, and my voice was among them. However, once the energies dissipated, and the dust settle, we stared with wide eyes and slack jaws at the scene before us.
We thought the old man was dead, but he was still standing. A shimmering, golden barrier had protected him, and many claimed to see him grinning in an evil manner. What is more, the old man began to cast his own spell, pointing a hand, palm up, towards one of the priests.
Crimson and violet lightning leapt from the man's palm and fingers, striking a priest who fell to the ground, shrieking in pain and agony. We, all of us, stepped back as the priest's flesh began to blacken and char as the scream continued until there was nothing, but ash. One among our number swore the old man said, "Still too much power," afterwards. His words would confuse us at a later time, but for now, we were terrified by the death he had caused.
"Kill it," cried out the other priests, and many complied with that desire. Especially after a priest in a gold and red robe shouted, "Whoever brings me his head will be gifted with their weight in gold." Many leapt to obey, as greed clouded their hearts, but before most could make it even halfway towards the old man, they were struck down by a torrent of black arrows.
Wherever an arrow struck, the area around the arrows would blacken and decay rapidly. This would leave the victims screaming in pain and agony for a short time, before they were silenced as whatever poisons within the arrows ate away at their very core. Barrier magicks were soon cast upon the priests, and a few others who had decided to attack the old man. These people would then be killed by the odd coloured lightnings the old man had cast. It seems, no matter how strong they believed their barriers to be, his own magicks were stronger.
"Run!" Someone near me had cried out, turning to leave the slaughter. My own body turned to go as well, but became rooted as something grasped my feet and legs. I stared down in horror, as vines of stone and iron began to wrap themselves around my lower limbs. Frantically looking about my person confirmed my worst fears, as nearly all of us were trapped by whatever had caused the vines to entrap us.
"Ah, much better," rumbled a deep and foreboding voice.
Slowly, we turned our heads towards the source of the voice, and wished we hadn't. For before us was naught, but a creature derived from our worst nightmares, and beneath its great, skeletal feet were the bodies of the priests that incited the riot. "<