“To many-towered Camelot”
― Alfred Lord Tennyson, The Lady of Shalott
This has got to be the most reckless, foolish, and ill thought of action in the history of the Romantians. Sandra thought for the hundredth time after it was decided by the Bishop General to proceed straight into the Dark Forest. Even though they had thirteen hundred soldiers and warriors including Sandra’s Arcadians. Traveling through the Dark Forest for three days and nights was stupidity beyond belief. On the first day alone, they lost twenty people to carnivorous plants, a giant snake, quicksand, a three headed hydra, and a thirty-foot long earthworm.
The night was even worse, that was when the real predators came out. A pack of werewolves had attacked, Sandra lost three of her best to the beasts. Then there were the giant black vampire bats, about the size of wolves themselves. Each time Sandra demanded that they leave the Dark Forest before they all got killed. Bishop General Zachery would not hear it, for some reason he wanted to get to the center of the Dark Forest at all possible speed. So, they continued deeper into the forest. Having learned hard lessons through loss, the army was more alert. This resulted in losing less of their people, but still they endured losses. They arrived at the ruins on the fourth day, and Sandra knew right away that the Romantians were hiding something from her. To make matters more interesting, there were the signs of battle all over the ruins. Corpses littered the ground, from the decay of some of the bodies. Sandra surmises undead along with dead goblins.
These guys must have run afoul of our she-devil, Sandra thought with amusement. Apparently, the she-devil is not a fan of the undead. They must have challenged her, and from the looks of things. The she-devil and her minions destroyed them utterly. More importantly, something was bothering Sandra.
“These ruins were built by your people in the center of the Dark Forest centuries before.”
It came out more of an accusation than a statement, Xander simply said.
“These ruins were built to contain a great evil.”
Xander did not sound guilty at keeping secrets, then one of his commanders who had entered through the doors of a tomb came out and spoke.
“Bishop General, the tomb is empty.”
The blood from Xander’s face drained, and Sandra seeing this demanded.
“Empty? What or who should I ask was in that tomb?”
But Xander ignored Sandra’s questions, instead, he was conversing with himself.
“Is that why the she-devil came here, to free them? Is she after that?”
Before Sandra could demand what the hell he was muttering about, Xander said out loud.
“We make for Camelot! Prepare to leave at once!”
Sandra was incredulous with this order, as the Bishop General turned his back on the War Leader. Sandra grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around to face her. Xander had a look of indignation on his face, but before he could say anything, Sandra spoke first.
“Now you listen, unless you want me to take my people back the way we came. You are going to give me answers now. We are not your dogs, and do not give me that crap about need to know. What was in that tomb, why did the she-devil come here, and why did your church build a temple in the middle of the Dark Forest?”
At first, Xander looked as if he would refuse to answer. But when he saw the determination in Sandra’s green eyes, he sighed and spoke.
“The temple was built to contain two great evil she-demons. Thirty-six hundred years ago, the two she-demons sought to destroy Camelot and gather the kingdom’s magical particles in a bid to secure power in the Nether Realm. They wanted the mantle of Olana, since no one devil, or demon can control such power. The Holy Knight Sir Judah Kefir fought the she-demons and sealed them in marble stone using a magical gold spear crafted by the Archangel of Truth Hasting. The tomb and temple were built to imprison the she-demons for all time. The she-demons believed between the two of them, they could divide the mantle and control the power of the Devil Queen.”
Sandra looked at the Bishop General, wondering how much he had said was a lie. She was sure there was some truths in his statement. But the best way to lie is to sow some truths into the fabric of a lie. The mention of Olana the Devil Queen could be another way to sow a truth into his lies. Olana favored the Arcadians; under her care the Arcadians grew in power and greatness. When Olana was slain by the god Romanto, the fortunes of the Arcadians fell with their mistress.
“So, the she-devil learned about the she-demons’ imprisonment that is why she came to Avalon. She freed them and now they’re leading her to Camelot to destroy the city and gain the power to take the mantle of Olana. The she-devil wants to be the new Devil Queen.”
Xander nodded at Sandra, he was glad she came to the conclusion he wanted her to.
“Yes, the kingdom of Camelot and the world is in danger. We must make haste to Camelot.”
Sandra shook her head.
“Even if we ride hard for Camelot, it will take weeks to reach the kingdom. The she-devil has wings, she can fly and it will take two days, three at most for her to reach Camelot.”
As Sandra made out this observation, a shadow came over the group. Sandra and everyone else looked up to see three Romantian airships overhead.
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“The Thunder of Romanto, The Shield of Light, and The Order of Dawn are here to pick us up.”
Xander said smugly, and when Sandra gave him an irritated look, he added still smiling.
“It shall take us two days, three at most to reach Camelot by airship. Get your people ready War Leader, we head for Camelot.”
………………………………..
Tabitha stood at the window gazing at the city of Camelot, it looked beautiful at night with its streetlights illuminated by mage fire. When she entered the city hours before, Tabitha expected to walk on if not dirt or muddy streets, maybe cobbled stones. Instead, she and the others in their human form walked on paved roads with sidewalks. It was a surprise to see that the buildings and streets of Camelot were almost as advance as New York City in the 1940s. With the help of Lydia, Nanina, Balca, and the charms of Malice and Zula. They got the best hotel rooms for reasonable prices, and yes hotel rooms not inns.
The hotel rooms were just as advance as any room back on earth. With a functioning bathroom and running water, Tabitha had taken a hot bath for the first time in weeks. Although, the temperature of the hot water would have burned and redden the skin of any human. She found it relaxing, it was like heaven for her. Tabitha was sharing the room with Kasca, Lydia, and Nanina, while Malice and Zula shared their room with Talin and Balca. They were next door; Tabitha did not want the party to be too far apart. thought about the day, after flying beyond the boundaries of the Dark Forest. They landed at the edge of a lake near the Kings Road leading to Camelot an hour before dawn.
Tabitha took her original human form when she was living back on earth, with midnight black hair, light skin complexion, heterochromatic eyes of amber and grey, but her height was different. Instead of 5-feet 5-inches, she made herself a few inches taller at 5-feet 9-inches. After spending all this time as a 15-foot giant, Tabitha no longer felt comfortable being as small as she is now. Being in her human form made her feel uncomfortable, Zula said it was all about getting use to different forms over time. Malice and Zula made themselves look like blonde women of noble birth, even though they wore dresses and robes of simple make and cloth. Both mother and daughter looked so similar to each other that they passed themselves off as…mother and daughter. Talin and Balca in their human forms looked average, neither beautiful nor ugly. They just looked like regular people from the countryside. Although Tabitha gave Balca short brown hair that made her look like a tomboy. Kasca in her human form was tall, with shocking red hair, a much darker shade of amber eyes, and almost 6-feet tall and had the look of a barbarian warrior from the Western Plains.
On the other hand, Lydia’s and Nanina’s human forms resembles Tabitha who found that a little strange. They had the same color hair, the same skin complexion, similar height, and they even had Tabitha’s eye coloring. Lydia had ember eyes while Nanina had grey eyes, both the same shades as Tabitha’s heterochromatic eyes. Why did the twins look so similar to Tabitha, she wondered maybe it was their way of saying thank you for setting them free. The twins had gone out to learn the lay of the land, Tabitha was not worried about them. From the fight in the Dark Forest, she knew they were more than capable. Mortals would be the ones in trouble, not the Cambions. After drying off and putting on an evening gown and a robe over herself, Tabitha waited for the twins to return. Kasca was there by the window watching the streets. Even at night, the streets of Camelot were still busy.
“So, what do you think of the city?”
Tabitha asked. Kasca shrugged and spoke.
“I have not visited mortal realms much, and their cities. What I have seen thus far of Camelot does impress me. Yet, I feel Camelot for all its grandeur is still lacking…”
Kasca shrugged again, stating she had no idea what Camelot was lacking. Tabitha nodded in understanding and noticing that in her human form. Kasca lost that hissing speech of hers. Tabitha said.
“I know what you mean, Camelot has much and more. But it still is not what I was use to back when I was a human on earth. Yet, who knows what Camelot will grow into in the future. We just might be surprised.”
“It is as you say my Lady. Mortals have a habit of progressing farther and further than expected.”
Before Tabitha could comment on Kasca’s words, the door to their hotel room opened and Lydia and Nanina entered.
“People we are screwed.”
Nanina declared jumping on to the bed and landing back first with her arms crossed, she did not look pleased.
“What happened? What did you find out?”
The twins told Tabitha the new difficulty in getting to the hidden cave underneath a hill two miles from Camelot. After hearing what the twins had to say, Tabitha cursed and then said.
“We need to get the others and plan. The situation is troublesome, but if we all put our heads together. I have no doubt we can come up with a solution.”
Through the link Tabitha shared with the others, she sent a telepathic message for them to gather in her room. Once everyone was together Tabitha said.
“Alright Lydia and Nanina, tell everyone what you told us.”
Lydia began.
“Much has changed since we were last here three or four thousand years ago. The hill is still there but…”
“…but there is now a hunting cabin for use by the royal family.”
Nanina cut in with frustration.
“So, what’s the problem?”
Talin asked not seeing the whole picture.
“The problem is that there is a garrison next to the hunting cabin. The royal guards are stationed there, patrolling the grounds day and night in shifts. The hill with the hidden cave is right in front for all to see.”
Nanina clarified.
“Well bollox! What do we do now?”
Talin was not too happy about the new wrinkle in their plan to get to this abandon fortress.
“The way I see it, we have two choices.”
Tabitha stated.
“We can forget about the realm gate and return to the Nether Realm on our own. Or we could come up with a plan and try for the realm gate beneath the hill. While trying to avoid Camelot’s finest.”
Nanina quickly rejected the first option.
“Number one won’t do. I’m sure you know this Tabitha, but I’ll say it any way. I understand that all of you came to the Nether Realm through a realm gate inside the Palace of Lust. Because of this, when you return to the Nether Realm. You will return to the Palace of Lust, basic of Nether Realm rules.”
“Which ever location you enter the mortal realm from the Nether Realm, you will return to that exact place in the Nether Realm.”
Tabitha finished for Nanina. Wherever a demon enters the mortal realm from the Nether Realm, that demon will return to the exact location from the mortal realm back to the Nether Realm. This was not only the basic nature of the Nether Realm, it is the reality of the Nether Realm.
“So, our first choice is a no go. Then we have to plan a way into the secret cave underneath the hill in front of the royal family’s hunting lodge and the garrison stationed there that patrols the grounds.”
Zula had put a finger on both the problem and what they needed to do about it.
“Okay people let’s get planning. We need to put our heads together and find a way into that cave without the royal guards noticing.”
So, Tabitha and the girls put their heads together. Coming up with a plan that would lead them into the hidden cave, and to the abandon fortress in the Nether Realm. The plan was far from perfect, it had a lot of kinks. But it was the best plan out of the worst choices, and they needed to hurry. Who knows if Eldest managed to send someone after them to Avalon? Or if the rest of the Romantians knew that they were here and knew that the she-devil had information about their secret dealings with demons? All Tabitha knew is that the next few days would be trying. Tabitha sighed; things are about to get a lot more interesting.