Days flew by fast, as Ian trained the mindler god in archery. Whilst in their training, Ian realised just how determined Carlisle was when it comes in shooting arrows. He became intrigued and the height of his seriousness grew.
Ian was pleased - at his confidence, and that gave him morale in training him. He saw that Carlisle wanted to be stronger, tougher - and as their training went on, his aim was slowly being achieved.
It rained heavily one night, and as Ian was passing by the battlements he saw Carlisle at the upper front, training on his own with the bow and arrows, the heavy rain was not a bother to him, and neither was it for his trainer who was watching him, with a slight smile on his face. And shortly after he walked away.
The next day, Carlisle was earlier than usual. At the break of dawn they started their training.
Ian watched Carlisle's movements carefully. He had ordered the third battalions to set up a trap set for Carlisle. Now the mindler god was surrounded with fire breathing things that are willing to roast him alive, if he fails to shoot them dead with his arrows. Some has said that the third battalion's training was too extreme - but that was exactly the reason why they were powerful and fearless.
Carlisle reached back at his quiver, only to realize that he has only one arrow left. And there was still one of those things infront of him. He attached the arrow on the bow string.
If he misses this shot - he will be badly hurt.
Then with his eyes closed he said, the phrase that Ian has taught him. "Gaze upon what is" then he raised his bow - listening carefully at it's movements. Then with certainty he shot the arrow.
He then opened his eyes, but only to see that he didn't miss - that thing was dead. He made a perfect clean shot.
"I did it!" he leaped with joy. And then turned to Ian who was few feet away. "Did you see that! I didn't miss, I killed it!" he said with excitement, "Yes!"
Ian was full of smiles as he watched the mindler god jubilate over his victory.
"You are ready." he whispered.
*********************
A knock was heard at the front door. Aurora covered her dough with a clean white cloth before she approached the door - her friends were early, she thought as she opened the door.
A familiar dashing face, was what she saw.
"I knocked." Zander said and Aurora grinned widely.
"Good morning" she greeted, as he came inside and she closed the door behind her.
"What is that smell?" Zander asked, just anyone can smell the sweet aroma.
"I'm baking bread" she answered.
"I love that" Zander said as they walked into the kitchen.
After some few minutes, they were seated on the only cushioned divan at Aurora's house. She watched him carefully as he ate the bread sauce she had prepared.
"Is there enough butter?" she suddenly asked.
"Mmm hmm" Zander hummed as he ate.
"Milk?" she asked again.
"Hmm,"
"What about salt."
Zander paused and looked at her. "Well, someone is really concerned about my comments today " he said.
"You are my first and only customer, I'm doing my best" she said as she stood and carried the now empty plate away.
Zander smiled - then his eyes fall on a certain book by his side. It was quite a small book just like her, he thought with a smile as he picked it up.
He flipped through the pages - it looked more like a list keeping book. Then when he turned unto the next page - he saw written words. He couldn't believe what he was seeing, he was familiar with those words. They were Axis Mundi's locution - it's was a long phrase that was connected to the gods and goddesses of Axis Mundi.
Aurora returned back to the divan.
"Did you write this?" Zander asked her.
"Yes." Aurora answered.
This was clearly impossible - the great impaler thought.
When Aurora saw the look on his face, she said "I heard it in a dream"
"A dream?" Zander repeated.
"Yes. I heard this black clothed people saying it, I usually have dreams about those people. I have no idea who they are, I don't remember any of the faces that I see, but weirdly I remembered this words" she explained.
Zander looked down at the book, and smiled slightly - his alkarite was indeed full of surprises.
"Can I hear it?" Zander asked. Aurora was not very good at reading - Annika was still teaching her, it was with Annika's help that she was able to write down those words.
But she has read those words over and over again, so now she has practically mastered it.
"Of course." she said with a smile as she took the book. Then she began to read.
"Greatness, united, strong. At the eventide our great Mundi stands, like a breaking dawn we approach fast never to back down. We see and look beyond, and in all things we are true. We gaze upon what is." she finished.
"These are very beautiful words" Aurora said.
"They really are" Zander said - but they are equally lies. The great impaler knows Axis Mundi too well, the whole realm was built on lies.
*************************
"When are you planning to leave?" Kal asked the lord impaler, who was sharpening small blades.
"Tomorrow" he answered.
"Father, will be furious" Kal said eyeing him closely.
"I'm aware." Zander said.
"His anger means nothing" Raphael added. Kal and Raphael both knew that Zander has agreed to help the mindler god take his realm back. And they were not at all opposing that.
"We have only one problem" Zander informed.
"What?"
"The barrier" he announced. It's been five days since Thorne ordered his witcher to cast an invisible barrier over and all around the realm. The king knew that his bastard son was planning to invade Ramsgate - he had no proof, but he knew Zander well.
So the barrier practically hinders any portal access. And without any portal how can they get to Ramsgate on time - traveling on horse surely wasn't an option, because Adrelhael and his men will be alerted by the king. So by the time that Zander arrives they will be awaiting them - and that was quite a dumb move.
"It has to be annihilated" Zander added, as he shoved the sheathed blades inside his boots.
"That can be arranged" Kal said as he looked at Raphael and they both smiled.
"Ah, I love breaking rules" Raphael stated.
"What a commanding general you are" Kal sarcastically said.
The annihilation of the barrier was not all that simple. The witcher created a blood trap with foreign symbols at the west wing of the palace - the blood trap keeps the barrier up and running. But it can be altered by resetting those foreign symbols. And Kal was very good with foreign symbols.
The plan was simple - Raf and Kal will annihilate the barrier, and once it is down, Kal will open up a faze portal at the turret for the lord impaler.
*********************
"This is really the most boring job in Axis Mundi" one of the stationed guards at the west wing admitted.
"It really is" the other one added. There was six guards stationed at the west wing to guard the blood trap.
"It has been long since I fucked" another guard stated. Others agreed with him, as agruements rose amist them.
Raphael and Kal stood behind a covered wall, as they peeked at the guards.
"They are so noisy" Kal whispered.
"I am disappointed at the Red Draconians" Raphael said almost in a whisper. "Here they are on the topic of tupping"
"They take after their commander" Kal said looking at him in a sarcastic manner.
"Fair enough" Raphael said, before he materialized three star shaped blades. Then he flew one of the blade at the direction of the lit torch.
The fire extinguished.
The guards jolted, "What was that?" one asked. Then a whoosh was heard and the second touch fire was put off.
The guards started to panic, as they all drew out their swords.
Then Raphael flew the last blade, and it doused the last torch...and darkness crept in.
"Who goes there?" one of the guard asked when he heard footsteps.
But he got no reply.
Grunts, and beating sounds was heard in the darkness. After some few seconds, one of the torches was lit, revealing the two princes that stood, whilst the guards lay on the ground defeated.
"I am having second thoughts about you actually training this guards" Kal said as he used his leg to kick one over.
"Well, I did my best" Raf said as they went further in.
They stood in front of a small fountain of blood, that was placed on top of a pedestal. Kal ran his fingers along the symbols caved in the surface of the pedestal.
Then he dipped his fingers into the fountain of blood. And with bloody fingers he drew a certain symbol on top of the carved one. When he was done, the blood that ran down from the fountain suddenly froze.
"Creepy." Raphael stated.
Kal inhaled deeply, the barrier was down he could feel it. Then his eyes glowed, as he made a certain hand gesture.
"It's done" He whispered.
Author's Note.
Hello dear readers. I hope that you are all enjoying the novel so far, and I also hope that your expectations are met. And I promise to work harder.
Dear readers, I would like you all to comment on the characters in the novel. I'm working on something, and I'll love your different opinions on the characters. Thank you.