HammerFall

Chapter 0050: Come Hell or High Water :


For a veteran of the last war it had been no real challenge to infiltrate Shadow Keep. Stephen silently made his way through the keep; disguised as a mercenary soldier. So far none had questioned his cover. But now he was coming to murky waters. The area of the Keep he would need to enter would not be one that any common soldier could causally enter. He would need a good excuse for going into the dungeons. He was sure that they would be well guarded to insure that prisoners stayed within their cells.

A guard dressed in dark leather held his spear point towards the throat of Stephen, "What business have you down here?"

Stephen remarked, "The Captain ordered me down here to check on the prisoners."

"Do you have any kind of proof?" The guard thrusted his spear closer to Stephen; the guard's eyes clouded with suspicion.

He grabbed hold of the spear and soon manuevered it so that he thrusted the guard's own spear through his neck. With a quick movement that silenced any scream he had slashed the head off the neck. Blood splattered against him. The body landed with a loud thud. Stephen felt his heart racing and charged down the steps. The enemy's spear and his own sword slashing through each group of guards he came across. He knew that he had to be quick. He finally reached the bottom of the stairs and dungeon. It was here that he found Rosenbrim looking ragged and forelorn inside his cell.

Stephen smashed open the door. He knew that he didn't have much time. He rushed in. He pulled the exhausted, and bone skinny Rosenbrim's arm over his shoulder and started to race back up the stair well. He stepped over dead corpses from the guards he killed as he heard the sound of men coming towards Shadow Keep's dungeon.

Once they had reached the top of the dungeon stairwell he felt Rosenbrim push him away. Stephen wanted to cry at how horrible his lover looked. Magnus looked like he had suffered greatly at the hands of the Horde of Iced Earth.

His voice was rasped as he reassured Stephen, "I'm fine. I can still work magic...even without Elgard's Eye."

He raised up his hand and spoke a solitary word that sent the charging guardsman flying into the bonewhite stone walls of Shadow Keep. Stephen smiled as he felt Rosenbrim take hold of his hand. The two charged down the corridor with the weary Rosenbrim blasting away guards; knocking them out with his wind sorcery.

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The sea dragon laid dead before Tokuro. He held the glove in his hands. It was the Hand of Doom. One of the Seven Keys forged by the Guardians. He smiled darkly. He felt the pure contained within the guantlet. He almost didn't want to give it away to Koba. The voice of Zigyaku whsipered into his mind that he had a powerful sword and would have no need for this Hand of Doom. And that voice was joined in unison by Udo, his dagger. He set the gauntlet back in it's black chest. He would offer it up to Koba after all. He had all the powers he desired. He had no use for the pathetic glove.

He shut the down the lid with a loud snap and walked back towards teh pool of water in the massive ice castle. His warm body somewhat melting the floor with the touch of his boots.

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Sabbath sat with the dagger of Koba close to his neck. He watched with alert eyes as Tokuro surfaced up after days of being beneath the waves. He had thought the worst. That the Hand of Doom was lost to them and Tokuro with them. But here was the warrior holding a black chest. He wondered if inside was the Hand of Doom.

He smiled when he felt the dagger no longer against his throat. His hands felt around his neck; where the dagger had pressed so closely against his skin, and yet had not punctured it.

Marduk's wizard found a new threat to himself. He felt a hand clench down over his chin. Those lips were pressed so firmly down upon his own that he found himself unable to breathe. His body fell over backwards as he felt Tokuro's tongue slide into his mouth. Their bodies were pressed tight against each other. Sabbath felt his body shudder as he knew what was coming next. His mouth was covered so it was hard to summon forth a spell. His legs were forced apart as he tried to hold them together. Koba had such strong hands it was hard to resist them.

He felt Koba's hands undo his pants; his limp shaft exposed to the cool ocean air. Sabbath didn't even try to struggle now. He knew it was pointless. He had been raped enough times in his life that he knew it was best to go with it; rather then get anything more damaged then it already would be. Koba's tongue licked over Sabbath's limp shaft as though it were some kind of stick candy.

The wizard moaned in pleasure into the mouth of the Dark Guardian. He gasped as the tongue of Tokuro entered his mouth at the same time that Koba's mouth sealed over his hardening member.

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Winds raged over them as Ryan Schaller calmly stood overlooking the carnage. The Border Knights were nothing compared to his Hordes of Iced Earth. There were none that could oppose their might now. He smiled as he saw them. Brilliant shimmering scales in the sky swathed in crimson flame. The Dragons of the West had at least moved against the powers of the East.

A half smirk crossed the face of the half demon lord known as Ryan Schaller. His right hand rested upon the pommel of his blade. Aes'Danaan stood at his side; but he did not look over at the mage warrior.

Ryan took a single step forward as he ordered in a voice that shook the very air with it's authority, "Leave this to me."

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Mikael found the new body weak. He would have to find another one soon if he was to be taken seriously. He was still unaccustomed to having no depth perception. He dispised this weakling body that Anaal had choosen for him. He smiled at the thought. Mikael knew that it was the new general of Iced Earth that had betrayed him. It would be most fitting he thought, to have his vengeance by taking Aes'Danaan's body. After he beat it up a little with his powerful sorceries. The trick would be getting the Eye away from him; so that he could do just that. He smiled as he plotted.

He turned to Anaal and ordered, "Send the horde into the West. All your men. You are to go with them."

"But Lord Mikael...our pla...."

Mikael snapped, "Silence! Do as I order you. Have faith in me, Nathrak." He turned away from the sorcerer warrior and mounted back up onto his horse. He rode towards the southwest. Where he was headed only Mikael Stormblade and the presence of Kotipelli inside of him knew. Only those two knew what vile scheme that had been hatched within the soul that was the Warlock of HammerFall.

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Rosenbrim laid exhausted and barely breathing in Stephen's arms. "You have to hold on, Magnus. I'll get us back home."

Stephen gently placed his wizard upon the horse. He then mounted up himself and rode back. It would not be easy. Soon all the Horde of Iced Earth would be after them. He had escaped with a very valueable prisoner. Rosenbrim was the strongest mage in all of the Western Kingdoms. Without him Stephen had felt vulnerable in many ways. Now that he had him back he would pay hell for it; if need be. He would not lose his Rosenbrim again. He charged the horse onward.

Rosenbrim smiled slightly as his head turned back to face his King, "Stephen...."

It was all he could manage. The wear and tear on his body, and the usage of so much magic had greatly weakened the mage. Stephen could tell. He'd have to be an idiot not to be able to tell.

Stephen said softly, "Please...you don't have to say anything. Just be silent and ride with me. We're going home."

Rosenbrim wistfully said one last word before slumping against the horse adn falling into slumber, "Home."