Cyrus stepped out alone into the small clearing in front of the courtyard doors. The same four warriors stood guard, three of which bristled at the sight of him. Cyrus looked at the one he had spoken to earlier, and the man gave him a stoic nod.
"Stand down!" the broad shouldered native ordered in his thick accent. "This the man from before."
"But Sheckem gave us orders," the youngest of the warriors said, tightening his grip on his spear.
"No. Sheckem gave permission."
"Why he not tell us this?"
The older man gave him a stern glare. "He left decision to me. Let him pass."
The three warriors paused, looking amongst each other, then reluctantly nodded and stepped aside.
The leader motioned for Cyrus to continue. Looking back at the forest behind him, Cyrus saw Terra, Keira, and Ra'Nu step out into the sun. Together they approached the ancient temple, only to be held up by the other three Avenoxi guards.
"You said let outsiders in, not Ra'Nu!" The young warrior protested.
Cyrus cringed. The warrior was caught in his own lie.
"I said Sheckem left decision to me," the warrior countered. "Let them pass."
The younger warrior stiffened. "Maybe Sheckem should not left decision to you."
"Maybe not," the leader said, leaning down and sticking his head within inches of the young warrior's face. "You want to test it?"
The young warrior stepped back. A tense silence followed before the man finally said, "No."
"Good," the leader said, then he turned to face Cyrus and the others. "You go in."
"Thank you," Cyrus replied. His nerves on high alert, he slowly led the group past the four giant warriors.
And there's many more inside, plus Dameon's men. T'Saunté had better get here soon.
Cyrus felt like he was walking on a sheet of thin glass spanning a great canyon. They had played things well so far, but the simple truth was if Ra'Nu couldn't get close to her father . . . they would be killed.
The friendly warrior pushed the old giant doors open a crack and extended an arm to the courtyard. Cyrus gave him one last thankful nod, and pushed on.
The dull roar of men talking and laughing stopped immediately when Cyrus and the others stepped onto the soil of the courtyard. Standing guard around the inner temple were ten Avenoxi warriors, twice the size of normal men. Dameon's soldiers, still sitting around the campfire, drew their swords at the sight of him.
"General Dameon, we have intruders!" the guard yelled down the inner temple corridors.
Cyrus knew these men couldn't be persuaded to stand down nicely. Narrowing his eyes, he spoke in a threatening tone. "The other Avenoxi couldn't even scratch us," Cyrus began. "If you don't want to die today, I suggest you learn from their failure."
Dameon's men stopped in their tracks, exchanging nervous glances. But the ten Avenoxi behind them responded with a tribal battle cry. Raising their spears, the massive warriors charged.
That didn't work as well as I'd hoped . . .
Cyrus couldn't tell if their stampede was causing the ground to shake, or if it was his heart hammering in his chest. He had hoped to hold them at a standoff until the Sheckem came out, but their loyalty to his orders was too strong.
I'm going to have to use my power, Cyrus thought, jaw clenched. It's our only chance of stopping them. Even if Terra can't bring me back . . .
Cyrus dropped into a fighting crouch, taking in a deep breath. The warriors drew nearer, pounding at the earth.
Suddenly a mighty roar trumpeted above their heads. Cyrus glanced up to see a stream of fire erupting from T'Saunté's jaws, forming a wall of flames between him and nine of the warriors.
They made it!
Raiden rode atop the blue dragon, unleashing a volley of purple energy arrows at the massive warriors. T'Saunté soared over the temple walls, and Raiden jumped from the dragon's back, landing atop the ramparts and claiming the high ground.
"Never fear! Your savior is here!" Lucky's unmistakable voice called from the direction of Raiden.
One of the warriors was still on Cyrus's side of the flames. He turned around and looked at Cyrus with rage-filled eyes.
Raising the spear above his head, the warrior swung with a powerful descending slash. Cyrus knew he could never block such a strike. Rolling to the left, he dodged the spear and came up with a swipe of his own. The warrior easily sidestepped the blow and planted a roundhouse kick in Cyrus's shoulder. A muffled crack sounded as Cyrus flew through the air and landed in a crumpled heap.
The warrior charged after him with the ferocity of a wild animal. Leading with the end of his spear, he thrust the blade straight down toward Cyrus's heart. Cyrus rolled to his right, the spear smashing into the ground where he had been only a fraction of a second earlier.
Ignoring the pain in his shoulder, Cyrus leapt to his feet and slashed with his sword. The Avenoxi warrior tried to dodge, but the blade sliced a thin trace across his left calf. The man grimaced, but gave no other indication that he'd been struck. Breathing heavily, Cyrus saw his foe snarl with rage.
"You will pay for that," he growled.
Cyrus took in his surroundings, then grinned. "I don't think so."
Without warning, T'Saunté blindsided the warrior with one massive shoulder, hurtling him fifteen feet into the air. The native smashed into the temple wall, sending a series of cracks across the ancient fortitude like a spiderweb.
"Thank you, T'Saunté," he said with a smile.
The dragon nodded and turned to face the rest of the courtyard. The fire was slowly dissipating, but Raiden had forced the soldiers to take cover from his projectiles.
"What is going on here?" The Sheckem's voice suddenly boomed over the courtyard. He, General Dameon and the mysterious hooded man stood at the top of the stone steps just outside the inner temple entrance.
__________
Terra breathed a sigh of relief when the Sheckem stormed into the courtyard. Their first challenge was dealt with. Now they had to get Ra'Nu close to him.
T'Saunté, Terra projected to her friend. I want you to protect Ra'Nu, the blond girl with us. Provide her some cover so she can get in close to the Sheckem.
The dragon did as he was instructed, advancing slowly toward the temple steps with Ra'Nu slinking behind him. Now everything hinged on Cyrus. He had to keep their attention for this to work.
The skirmish looked like it had been frozen in time. Warriors stood with their weapons at the ready, awaiting but a simple command to resume the battle. Smoke filled the air from the dying flames. Everyone's muscles were coiled in anticipation of what would come next.
"Sheckem," Cyrus said. His tone was confident and assertive. "It's nice to finally meet you."
"Who are you?" the Sheckem asked briskly. "What have you done to my courtyard?"
"My name is Cyrus. My friends and I have come to protect you and your people from Dameon. The man is a ruthless murderer."
The Sheckem looked at Dameon, then back to Cyrus. "He is not a murderer. He is a proud warrior that lives by the same code we do."
Cyrus shook his head. "I'm afraid he has been lying to you. I've seen Dameon's 'code' firsthand. He turns people into monsters for suicide missions. The same as he will do to the Avenoxi."
The Sheckem turned to Dameon. "What is this outsider talking about?"
Terra concentrated on his thoughts, trying to make him see the truth. But her powers were still drained from earlier. She barely had the energy to project her thoughts, let alone tamper with the Sheckem's emotions.
Dameon smiled arrogantly, showing no indication of fear or reluctance. "You've known me for years, Sheckem," he said simply. "Would you rather trust me, or an invader you just met?"
What does he mean that the Sheckem has known him for years? Didn't Ra'Nu say that Dameon had only recently arrived?
The Avenoxi leader looked at Dameon with a moment's hesitation. "Are these monsters the super soldiers you spoke of?"
"Of course not," Dameon replied. "My soldiers are honorable men, just like yours."
Just keep them talking, Terra thought to herself. Ra'Nu and T'Saunté were almost close enough to make the switch.
"But . . ." the Sheckem said, still unconvinced.
Dameon shook his head. "The fact that you're even considering this man's word over mine appalls me." His voice rose in frustration. "Have I ever lied to you, Sheckem?"
"Y-you're right," the Sheckem stuttered. Terra could feel a blanket of remorse from the Sheckem.
She's almost there . . .
Cyrus snorted. "Have him show you these 'super soldiers' right now and you'll—"
"Enough!" the Sheckem roared. "I will not have you destroy my temple and spread lies through my village. Warriors! Att—"
Suddenly the Sheckem took a step back, shaking his head. Terra looked at Ra'Nu; her body was crumpled behind the blue dragon.
She did it!
Relief and elation flooded through Terra. Either the warriors hadn't noticed Ra'Nu, or they didn't understand what was happening.
"Sheckem, you all right?" one of the Avenoxi asked.
Ra'Nu cleared the throat of her temporary body. Then she walked down the steps, putting a little distance between herself and Dameon. "I'm fine. This young man is right; Dameon has been lying to us. Now seize him and his men!"
The warriors hesitated. "Sheckem?"
"I said attack Dameon and his men!" Ra'Nu roared. "Now!"
The tense courtyard exploded into chaos. The Avenoxi warriors gave another terrifying battle cry and charged. Keira was already lashing her whip at one of Dameon's men. With a sigh of resignation, the Fire General walked away, as if this battle was beneath him. One of Dameon's officers, however, drew his battleaxe and ran toward Ra'Nu in her father's body. Cyrus saw what was happening and took off in a dead sprint to intercept him.
T'Saunté, keep the Sheckem safe! Terra projected, even as she ran toward the officer. She couldn't invade his mind, but she wasn't about to watch helplessly as her friend was cut down.
Ra'Nu tried to run to Cyrus, but the officer was too quick. From behind her, the warrior raised his axe for a fatal blow.
Cyrus was just out of range of the man's weapon, unable to block the strike. Terra cupped her hands over her mouth as the axe slashed toward the Sheckem's neck.
No! Terra screamed silently.
Cyrus tackled Ra'Nu, knocking her to the floor as the axe swiped narrowly above their heads. Reacting instantly, the officer followed with a vertical two-handed strike, attempting to cleave them both.
From his prone position, Cyrus raised his sword to block. Terra gasped as the two blades met. The officer's size and leverage should have been more than enough to smash through Cyrus's sword, but the fisherman had his left hand against the back of the blade, strengthening his steel with the power of the Akieres. The sword cracked, but held.
Cyrus deflected the swipe to the side, allowing Ra'Nu to scramble out of the man's reach. Hopping to his feet, Cyrus looked at the warrior and spoke in a low, threatening voice.
"It's over. Your allies are already dead."
Terra looked over the courtyard to see that he was right. Between Keira, Raiden, T'Saunté, and the Avenoxi, Dameon's men had been defeated.
The officer snorted, and spoke in a gravelly voice. "Save your breath. One of us dies now."
"Have it your—"
A sudden rush of wind caused everyone to look up. At first it seemed like a tornado was brewing, but as Terra squinted her eyes, she saw it. Darting across the sky was a black blur, flying at insane speeds. Terra felt a sick, twisting knot form in the pit of her stomach. She knew of only one creature that could fly that fast.
Lozarrik's dragon.
Suddenly facing down an army of giant warriors didn't sound threatening at all. Not compared to her eldest brother.
With a petrifying roar, the black dragon rocketed over the temple. Lozarrik jumped from his mount mid-flight, punctuated by the sonic boom his dragon had created. Fierce winds ripped and tore at their clothes. Shielding her face with her arm, Terra watched in horror as her eldest brother smashed down in the center of the courtyard. His landing tore a small crater around him and knocked Terra off balance. Crouched at the epicenter, Lozarrik slowly rose to his feet.