HammerFall

Chapter 0044: Hand of Doom :





Jasper looked up from his practice with the fallen branch at hearing the noise of the intruder. His eyes locked with those of his older brother. He had thought that his brother had left for good; without him ever getting the chance to see him. But he knew from the horrible stories the appearance of his brother. That long silver hair cascading over such strong shoulders, and emotionless sapphire eyes.



The six year old Stormblade charged his older brother to find his toy sword slashed in half with a quick movement of Mikael's blade. "Pathetic. Not even worthy of the name, Stormblade. You should kill yourself and end our family's embarassment to have you as one of our house."



Anger raged on the pouting lips of Jasper. He couldn't believe he had heard right. He couldn't believe such words from someone whom had betrayed everything that was Stormblade and HammerFall. He wanted to lash out and attack his big brother; but he was to scared to even move. His legs refused to budge; even if he had wanted.



Then he was gone from his childhood. Jasper found himself being drawn back to the present as he felt warm tears falling on his shoulders. It was Johan. "I'll be fine, Johan. You don't have to worry about me."



"You weren't answering me. You'd stopped breathing. I thought maybe you'd died." Johan remarked wipping away his tears.



"It was you, wasn't it?" He half smiled. "The boy that wanted to talk to me in when I was young."



Johan blushed. "Yes. I've always....." he paused for a few minutes, "loved you. But the other kids said you were cursed. But I didn't want to believe them. I know you're not cursed Jasper. Don't let anyone make you think you are. You are Jasper Stormblade, a strong Knight of HammerFall."



Jasper snorted, "Strong Knight? When I let so much go wrong, Johan." He turned to look into those serious eyes of Johan, and found it hard not to smile at the warmth he felt emenating from the Lersson youth.



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Marduk rested uneasily upon the bleached white, dragon bones that made the massive throne of his father. He had not been coronated to the position of king; but she still held domain over his own land so long as he held Emperor Gorgoroth's favor. He had not heard back from Sabbath and such a fact worried him. He had hoped that his wizard had not come to some grisly end without informing him.



Marduk stood up from his chair as his wall lined with guards remained stoic and obediant to the new ruler, Prince Marduk. He strode to the edge of the throne room until he came out onto the balcony that overlooked the bleak, desolate red sands that was his princedom. Little life was visible among the streets. He frowned in thought as a raven landed upon one of the sharp spikes on the black railing. Marduk smiled. Finally word had come from one of Sabbath's messengers. Surely it would bring him some good news. He had, had little since the death of the Kings of Black East. No longer was there any council. Most of the kingdoms were now directly in the Emperor's control since; only his father had wanted heirs to his kingdoms. The other kings had all been to jealous and had their children, bastard and legit slain at birth.



He did not bother to go into his chambers. He spoke to the raven on the balcony.



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"The Hand of Doom is said to be a powerful gauntlet, my lords." Sabbath told them. "It can only be wielded by a man with a heart black as ice. Or so the legends say."



Koba looked to Tokuro and then back to the wizard, "Where is this Hand of Doom?"



Sabbath sighed, "The answer to that is most vague, my lords. After all I gained this information from a mad prophet. He said to seek the Mirror of the Sky and that it was sealed by a door that had no handles or keys to open it. Yet the Sun will guide the way. Whatever that means."



Koba snorted, "Seems worthless. Maybe we should slit this wizard's throat after all."



Sabbath trembled at the sight of Koba's hand on the Emerald Sword. He had no desire to be slain by a sword. He always thought his end would come from sorcery and not iron.



Tokuro held up his hand. "No. I think I understand this riddle. We shall make for the great sea in the West. That is the Mirror of the Sky, an ocean. The rest of the riddle we can decipher once we have reached the first destination."



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Bisucaya entered into Stephen's chamber. He sighed at seeing the monarch in such a hidden depression. He easily could read the mind of Stephen. Some unknown sorrow seemed to be making a wraith of the King. The ruler of HammerFall rarely ate and only concerned himself with reports on Iced Earth Horde.



"It's not good. Perhaps we can talk about it, King Elmgrim." Bisucaya told the king.



"Talk about what?" Stephen inquired playing stupid.



"The sorrow that is eating away at you, my King. I can see it clearly in your eyes. I swear to keep this matter secret; since it is a private matter. I can put a silence spell around this room, if you desire so that no others may hear." Ngwey told him.



Stephen only nodded his head. Ngwey raised up his arms and spoke a single word in draconic. The spell had been cast.



"It is quite safe to talk now."



Stephen cleared his throat, "It's Rosenbrim. I'm worried about him. My wizard....no my lover was taken by the Hordes of Iced Earth. He's their prisoner. I feel like I'm dying without his presence. We've never been separated this long. And I'm worried about him."



"I understand now." He smiled slightly at the monarch of HammerFall. "Perhaps I can help. Have you ever dreamwalked before? I can take you with me and we can find him."



"What good will that do?!! I want him here beside me! In the flesh! Not some illusionary dream!" Stephen shouted upset and then collected himself as he remembered the dignity he should always uphold as King.



Bisucaya only smiled at his passion, "If your Wizard is sleeping then it will be the same as seeing him in the flesh. You two can be together if you are both in the world of dreams."



Ngwey's smile widened as he saw the skepticism on the king's face, "Trust me."