Team Darkoss: Rise of a Dark Lord
Chapter 3: Invasion

“Gallahon, you’re bleeding bad.” pointed out Aquanna. She was concerned and wanted to stop the bleeding.

“It’s nothing. Just a minor flesh wound.”

“Don’t say that Gallahon. Let me patch that up.” Aquanna was no doctor but she wanted to help Gallahon’s bleeding. Nina carried around an extra cloth and gave it to Aquanna. Aquanna took the cloth and dipped it in the water to clean the wound. When the wound was nice and cleaned up, she wrapped the cloth around Gallahon’s arm where the cut was. Trenton and Nina could see the shores of Lake Island in the distance.

“LAND!” Nina shouted.

“Hey Nina. That was like right in my ear.” said Trenton.

“Sorry.” The boat had made a stop when it touched the sands of the shore. All four of them stepped out. Gallahon’s arm may have stopped bleeding but it still hurt just a little, but the pain was not intense. They were about to be greeted. Women on horseback, wearing blue clothes and bits of armor wielding spears had come. They circled around the newcomers.

“State your business here citizens.” said one of them. Their heads were covered by hoods and had masks covering their mouths but not the eyes. Aquanna spoke out as if she knew who these women were. They were the guards of the queen of Lake Island.

“Stand down.” she said. “By the right of the princess, I demand to see the queen. These three are with me.”

“Princess Aquanna. You have returned home.” Gallahon, Trenton and Nina looked at each other in awe. “Forgive me mi lady, for I did not recognize. Your mother will be most pleased to see you. I will take you all to see her. This way.” The four of them followed the guards to see the queen. Gallahon came up to Aquanna.

“Princess…? You’re a princess? After all these years, you didn’t tell us…? Why?” Aquanna kissed Gallahon’s cheek.

“Because I enjoy going on adventures with you all. And I figured if I didn’t tell you all, you wouldn’t treat me like I was royalty.”

“But you are Aquanna. Don’t be ashamed of that.”

“I’m not ashamed Gallahon. It’s just….” She paused.

“Just what…?” Aquanna said nothing.

Back on Windfall, Dralord was busy preparing his army for battle. An invasion on Lake Island is forming. An army of Draconian soldiers were lined up as Airloc, Dralord and Alvatourix were inspecting them. They had to make sure their soldiers were prepared and ready for battle. The Draconian soldiers were toughened up, armored and given their weapons for combat. Airloc, Dralord and Alvatourix stood above the crowd of the soldiers.

“Draconians!” Airloc shouted. “You all are about to invade Lake Island! An island ruled by the queen, Myst Waters! She thinks that her army is stronger than any other! But we will show her that no army can stop this brute force of Draconian might!” The crowd cheered. “We will tear down the walls of her kingdom! We will destroy her kingdom and her people! To battle!” Airloc’s speech had rallied up the Draconian soldiers. Airloc turned to Dralord.

“Dralord. Your job is to bring me Gallahon. Dead or alive, it does not matter. Just bring him to me. And kill the others. And kill the queen while you’re at it. Send her the message.” Dralord took a slight bow and then lead the Draconian soldiers to the shores of Windfall where they would sail to Lake Island.

The Lake Island royal guards almost approached the gates to their city. Gallahon and the others passed an odd looking building. A darkened building with a strange door and statues in front of the building as if they were there to greet those who entered the building. As for the statues, they were stone carvings of skeletal beings were black robes.

“Aquanna.” said Gallahon. “What is that building?” Aquanna looked to see what Gallahon was looking at. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Oh, that is the temple of the dead. It’s where my people bury their dead. Inside that temple.”

“Open the gates!” shouted one of the guards from above. The iron made gates opened to the City of Lake Island. The city was quite a sight to behold. The streets may have been made of stone but all of the buildings were quite a sight. Medieval style housing and buildings. Stone pillars were placed alongside the streets. In the middle of the road, a large fountain was placed. Statues of animals were placed everywhere. The people of the city bowed down at the sight of princess Aquanna as they were passing. Water falls were at every corner of the city. At the end of the north road was a stair case with water falls on each side of it. The stairs lead to the upper part of the city.

More roads and stores were to be found on the upper floor of the city. Finally, after three floors of the city were passed, they made it up to the forth stair case which lead to the queen’s palace. The palace itself was a beautiful sight. Beautify designed with gold and white. Two gardens were on each side. In the middle stood the queen’s tree. The front door to the palace was massive and heavy. The door was at least the size of three people stacked up. The doors have opened and they walked into the great hall of the palace.

It was a beautiful sight inside the great hall. Stained glass windows and an impressive chandelier hanging in the middle of the ceiling. There at the end of the great hall, sat the queen on her golden throne.

“Mother.” Aquanna addressed the queen as she went over and gave her a big hug.

“Aquanna.” said the queen. “It is so good to see you. After all these years, you came home. I’ve missed you so much Aquanna.”

“It’s good to see you too. I’ve missed you mother. These are my friends.” Aquanna introduced her friends to her mother.

“Gallahon Darkoss. Nina Darkoss. And Trenton Elvinwood.” The queen shook their hands and introduced herself to Aquanna’s friends.

“I am Myst Waters. Please, make yourselves at home. You all must be tired. You can leave us.” she told the guards. The guards took Myst’s demands and went back to their duties. “My palace is your home. You all can stay here as long as you need to. I wish to speak to my daughter.”

“Thank you mi lady.” Gallahon, Nina and Trenton took a bow before Myst and left the great hall. Myst began to make her way out of the great hall with Aquanna at her side. Myst and Aquanna walked side by side through another hall that had nice view of the gardens.

“Aquanna my dear, it had been far too long. I’ve heard that you and your friends did Windfall a service in slaying King Erloc.”

“Yes. We had returned King Psygon to his throne.”

“Had…?” questioned Myst. “He’s dead?”

“No mother. Windfall is under a new threat now and King Psygon is dethroned again. So until we find the six crusaders, I must return to Windfall to help my friends.” Myst sighed. She paused and turned to Aquanna. She reached for her hands and held them softly.

“Aquanna my dear. I was hoping that you would stay and be this islands princess. I will not be around for long. And when that time comes, you will have to take up my throne.”

“Mother. I am sure that Maria is still alive. And besides, I am sure that my sister will be more suitable to take the throne then I.”

“Yes but I fear that Maria is too bold to rule. I need someone with a righteous mind to rule my kingdom.”

“Just give my sister a chance. I’m sure she can do it. And besides, my friends need me. They cannot fight this new dark lord on their own.” Myst looked into Aquanna’s eyes.

“You might be right. I shouldn’t be selfish. I’ll give your sister a chance...” Aquanna was pleased to hear her say that.

“But before you go, I want you to have something. We also got to get you out of those robes.” Aquanna followed Myst further down the hall.

Gallahon, Nina and Trenton decided to take a look around the city. There were all kinds of shops, libraries and taverns, the city was full of them. Gallahon and Nina thought it would be a good idea to check out what they could find at the library. Maybe they could find information about the six crusaders. Trenton decided to check out the local blacksmith in town. Trenton was amazed, he could not believe his elf eyes. All of the fine iron and steel work put into the armors and weapons. Trenton thought long and hard about buying a set of armor, whether he really needed it or not.

Meanwhile, Gallahon and Nina searched the library for information about the six crusaders. Nina got a hold of a stack of books and papers as Gallahon was studying them. Record after record they have stumbled onto something.

“Nina, I found something.” Nina came over to Gallahon. He found records not of the six crusaders, but of their leader. Not much was written about him but they were particular about one of his records.

THE LIFE AND TIME OF CREED BLADESTORM

Creed Bladestorm was born here on Lake Island in the year 1625. Back then, it was simply known as Lakeborn. Creed Bladestorm’s father was a blacksmith and later became a military soldier. During the first great war of windfall which occurred in 1628, three years after Creed was born. Windfall and Lakeborn was a part of a great continent back then; The great continent of Dragnar. The first Great War had ended in the result of Dragnar sinking, making the four major countries into islands. In the year 1642 was when the second Great War had begun and Creed, following his father’s footsteps, joined the war at the age of 17. Three years after he joined the war, Creed formed the six crusaders at the age of 20. Pledging loyalty to King Psygon as his protector and bodyguard, the six crusaders had been born.

“There’s nothing else about Creed.” pointed out Gallahon.

“We have to find him. Hopefully he’s still alive.” Gallahon and Nina walked out of the library. For they have found all they could find. They’ve met Trenton outside wearing a set of gold plated armor and a red robe instead of white. As for the armor, it was elvish armor which means it was crafted by an elf blacksmith.

“What you guys think?” asked Trenton.

“You look…. Shiny.” replied Nina.

“Trenton, have you seen Creed Bladestorm or any of the crusaders around here?”

“No. And who’s Creed Bladestorm?”

“He’s the leader. The one who formed the six crusaders.” Trenton thought to himself only for a moment.

“Myst might know where they are.” They were off to see Myst to see if she knows of the six crusaders whereabouts. They’ve walked up the steps to the palace only to see Myst standing beside her tree in front of the palace.

“Ah, Aquanna’s friends.”

“Mi. lady.” Gallahon said. “We need your help.”

“In finding the six crusaders? My daughter said that was the reason you came here, is that true?”

“Yes.”

“Well I wish I can help. They were here, but I’ve sent them to investigate the temple of the dead and they haven’t come back. My people complained that they were hearing strange noises coming from the temple. They said that it’s haunted, cursed by the dead. The crusaders insisted of investigating the temple in hopes to put an end to the haunting screams from inside.” she said as she pointed towards the temple which she can see it over the wall surrounding the city.

“If they’re still inside the temple, we’ll find them.” Gallahon told Myst. Aquanna stepped out of the palace wearing a beautifully made dress, all purple and white. An off the shoulder look which gave the dress a lovely touch. Gallahon paused, as if he could not believe how beautiful Aquanna looked in that dress. She was pure eye candy for him.

“Aquanna. You look beautiful.” Aquanna blushed, but only for a moment. As she went to kiss him, they were interrupted by a shout.

“INCOMING!” A boulder came flying across the sky, crashing into the castle. As the boulder fell to the ground, Gallahon grabbed Aquanna and dove out of the way to avoid being crushed by the boulder.

“We’re under attack!” pointed out Myst. Trenton could see who was coming towards the city gates with his elf eyes. It was Dralord and his army of Draconian soldiers. There were hundreds of them. It was an unexpected enemy attack.

“Barricade the city walls! They must not get through!” commanded Myst. A great number of Myst’s soldiers rushed towards the city gates to help the guards that were already stationed there.

“Aquanna, you must get inside.”

“No mother. I can fight them. Let me….”

“NO! Do not disobey me daughter. You will be safer inside. GO NOW!” Aquanna did as instructed and fled into the palace.

“We’ve dealt with these creatures before.” said Gallahon. “They’re very strong, but not too bright, so they're easy to trick. Just a friendly tip for you and your soldier’s mi lady.”

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