The Legend of Alexandros: Belen (18 page)

“Elora hates me now. I do not know how to make things well with her…I went back on my promise to her…”

“She does not hate you, Belen…she is just a bit disappointed.”

Never had anyone been disappointed in Alexandros; he was the best at everything he did, and with those words he felt as if he had let down his parents.

“I shall never disappoint anyone ever again…” Alexandros promised.

The ground began to tremble and the trees shook. Wolf-like beasts circled them; foam dripped down their mouths as they snarled. They clawed at the ground and growled at Alexandros and Alistair. The moonlight gleamed in the monsters’ eyes.

“Why are you in my forest?” a growling voice asked. Standing nine feet tall with thick shaggy grayish black fur, the monster clawed at the ground. “I am Maddoc, leader of the lycans. You are not welcome in my forest, humans.”

“Maddoc you say?” Alexandros replied, recalling the stories his father Mabruk told him when he was a young boy. Never before had Alexandros truly believed in the stories of werewolves, but now Alexandros had an immense feeling confidence that they were all true “We are here to offer a compromise,” he said. “Leave the villagers at peace.”

“And why should we do such a foolish thing like that, human?” Maddoc replied.

“Because you have unfinished business…the goblins have returned….”

“And that is how I learned to fly,” Winston said proudly as he told his story to Gertrude. Gertrude sat on her table with her legs folded; she listened fondly as Winston told her many more of his proud stories. While Elora, Bixbin, and Valchor remained outside, Raphael stayed inside and rested up against the wall away from everyone.

“Your stories are fantastic; it is such a pleasure to speak with someone who is not as crazy as fox.” Gertrude said giggling insanely.

“How am I to prove I will be a great ruler by spending the time either sleeping by the side of the road or spending the time with an old woman who may be the actual meaning of the word insane.” Valchor as he paced outside the front entrance of Gertrude’s home. “Her home smells like a barn; she speaks to herself, and I would hate to think there is anyone else like her in this village.”

Gertrude stepped out of her home hearing all he had said. In her hands she held a rusty old dinner plate with a freshly cooked fish. She had been preparing it for herself but decided to share with the group. She stepped towards him and tossed the plate with the fish in Valchor’s face.

“I may be crazy,” she said. “And I may be many other things, young man, but you still need to show respect to others. With your cruel heart and vanity, your reign shall surely be laughable; a reign no one will ever look back on to recall; a reign that will hold no meaning to your people.” Tears filled her eyes. “You are far worse than those beasts who invaded our village…at least they do not hide the fact they are monsters.” Gertrude wobbled back into her home.

Never in his life had anyone spoken to him that way. Valchor remained outside, standing in shame…

“What is your name, human?” Maddoc asked with his deep growling voice, his breath smelled of raw meat and flesh.

“I am Belen Alexandros…son of Mabruk.”

“Son of Mabruk, you say? What is the son of Mabruk doing so far away from home?”

“The goblins have risen once more; they have killed my father and many others. The wizard Barbarious has killed the centaur ruler Tobias. Leave these people at peace and join me in the battle to truly end the goblin race.”

“No.” Maddoc answered.

“No?” Alexandros asked confused and in shock. “Have you not heard what I have said? They are rising up and building a far greater army than before and are succeeding.”

“That is my answer; I wish not to be a part of this. I told your father many years ago I want no part of helping any humans ever again, but I shall grant you one bit of advice: goblins are cowardly sub-creatures, but never underestimate them. Many do and that is why those who do soon come to regret it. As for the villagers, take them. We have so long been trying to drive them out of our lands, and they refuse to go, but…they have one day to leave, if not gone by tomorrow my kind shall over take the village. No mercy shall be granted.”

Maddoc threw his head up and let out a most fearful howl. The lycans slowly retreated back into the woods. “You now have safe passage throughout the day,” said Maddoc. “Do not throw away this small truce. Another shall not be given.” Then he walked away into the night.

As dawn came, Alexandros and Alistair made their way out of the woods and back to Ovunas. Upon arrival, Alexandros gathered the villagers.

“Everyone listen,” he said. “The lycans are allowing you to leave. No harm shall befall you as long as you leave during the day with us. Gather your things but travel light, you have only one chance.”

“This is our land,” cried the villagers. “We should not be the ones to go. Those beasts are the ones that need to leave.”

“Do not be fools,” said Elora. “This is your only chance at freedom.”

Only six villagers, including Gertrude, agreed to leave. They were packed before the noon sun.

Alexandros led his group, Gertrude, and the five other villagers out of Ovunas. Once they were as far away as possible the villagers who left with Alexandros and the others all took off on their own way, including Gertrude. She took Alexandros’ hand, her eyes filling with tears, and gave him an embrace, for no words could ever say how grateful she truly was. As she turned to leave Valchor stopped her. Valchor pulled the green ruby from his royal headband and gently placed it in the palm of her hand.

“I never want to be a monster…” he said.

“You are no monster…just a spoiled prince,” Gertrude said with a smile and joy in her voice. “But there is hope for you yet. As long as you change your ways now before they are set and cannot be changed, you shall be an amazing king.”

She said her goodbyes to everyone, but it was difficult to say farewell to Winston. She cherished his stories and him as well. Never before had she met a Dragon and would never have dreamed that a Dragon could be so friendly and loving. She wobbled down the road going off on her own path, for now she was free…

“That was a most generous thing you did for her,” said Alexandors to Valchor. “…she will not soon forget it.”

A tear fell from Valchor’s eye. “I know but…I truly loved that ruby.”

Nightfall

The remaining villagers of Ovunas continued their nightly routine of boarding up their doors and windows. By sundown the village was completely deserted. The lycans howled at the moonlight as they charged into the village. Led by Maddoc, the lycans tore through the homes ripping villagers out of their houses. The villagers ran for their lives, but it was hopeless. The lycans gave no mercy.

“You were given your chance!” Maddoc howled.

He destroyed the watchtower, not leaving any portion of it standing. By morning the lycans had taken over…the land was theirs once more.

On the very road that led to Ovunas and Heshuezo, the goblins who had taken over the Amazon’s village had returned and were traveling down the road with the Amazon Princess Aloysia and six other Amazons, which they held prisoner.

The countryside lay barren and dead; once the land was full of trees and wildlife, but since the goblins took over it had become a wasteland. The goblin king led his monstrous people back toward their homeland. The Amazons were shackled together, dragging their feet exhausted from the long journey.

While walking down away from Ovunas, far in the distance were small men that looked horribly familiar to Alexandros. Flashes of the day he lost his village flooded his head and it was then that he instantly knew who they were. Tears fell from Elora’s eyes as she too knew began to remember. Alexandros stood frozen in anger; his breathing became heavy. His blood boiled with rage; his skin was as hot as the sun itself as he watched the goblins and their king march from the far end of the valley road. He clenched his fists.

“Kill them all!” he cried.

Alexandros drew his grandfather’s sword and charged as fast as a hurricane. He stomped through the horde catching them off guard. The goblins snarled at Alexandros as he took off, directly aiming for the king himself. Bixbin bashed goblins into the ground with his mighty hammer; Valchor with his sleek swords pierced and beheaded goblins around him. Raphael with his bare hands snapped necks and tossed the bodies to the side of the road. Blood splattered all over the road, seeping into the ground and creating small pools. The goblin king cowardly tried to ride off, but Alexandros launched his grandfather’s sword into the king’s back, sending the foul beast flying off his horse and crashing to the rocky ground. The goblin king then tried to crawl away. Alexandros placed his left foot onto the goblin’s neck and pressed down as he pulled out the sword.

“Please! Please! Do not kill me!” he gurgled as blood poured from his mouth. “I have done nothing to you, human.”

“You cowardly beast!. You destroyed all I ever held dear to me, and you dare forget who I am?” Just know this, when I slaughter you, it will be for the honor of the Alexandros family!”

The goblin king rolled over onto his back and began to laugh loudly.

“Kill him, Belen!” Raphael shouted as he tossed the body of a goblin to the side of the road.

“I find nothing amusing,” said Alexandros. “You are going to die right now and so will your wizard once I find him.”

“Today will not be the day of my death, boy,” said the goblin king.

“Really? Well lets us see about that.” Alexandros raised his sword with both hands.

“Kill me now and you shall never find Mabruk’s baby,” the goblin squealed.

An unearthly silence filled the air; Alexandros dropped his sword to the ground and lifted the goblin king up into the air by his throat.

“Where have you hidden the child…?” Alexandros crushed hard on the goblin’s throat and broke the creature’s arm. Agonizing screams ran loudly through the air. “Speak!”

Nothing but screams escaped from the king’s mouth. Alexandros broke the other arm, but the goblin king only screamed out in pain. Alexandros tossed him onto his back on the ground.

“One last chance…tell me now,” Alexandros whispered into the goblin’s one ear, but the creature turned its head.

“Very well,” Alexandros said and gouged out the king’s one good eye.

The creature thrashed around in pain howling and screaming. “Siruac! Siruac! The baby was brought there to Barbarious! Barbarious ordered the unborn baby of Mabruk’s wife to be brought to him.”

“Why?”

“We were never told the reason; we did only what we were ordered. The baby was brought to Barbarious after the village was destroyed!” the creature cried.

Alexandros picked up his sword from the ground; he rose up standing over the Goblin King and swiftly hacked off the goblin’s head.

“Behead them all…!”

Alexandros walked off the road into the barren land and gathered a tall spear-like piece of wood. He picked up the decapitated king’s head and impaled it onto the spear. He jammed the wood into the center of the road then gathered the other heads of the goblin horde to hang off the dead tree branches. Upon staring at the remains for several moments, he slowly turned to the others. They saw how anger began to grow in the young warrior. He took in a giant breath of air, and, as the warm air blew through his hair, he said, “Free their prisoners…we are going to Siruac.”

CHAPTER XVIII

LUCINDA

A
MONG THE SEA…THE
Mermaid. Goddess of the oceans, she swims with grace and the greatest of ease. Her beauty is truly indescribable, yet she hides from the world. She is seen by so few, many people claim she is only a myth…then again she will at times make her presence known.

“I
feel as if this was not a good idea, Belen…” whispered Elora.

The old, poorly constructed wooden boat rocked as they sailed the sea back toward the kingdom of Siruac. The goblin boats gave little comfort and did not have a sufficient room for everyone. Four small boats had been left on the shore of Heshuezo by the goblins. Alexandros, Elora, and Alistair led the way on the first boat, and the second followed with Raphael, Valchor, and Bixbin while Winston flew overhead.