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Demon’s Mood Chapter 11, Chronicle I By William Black Morion’s private chambers were airy and full of the morning’s light. Large leaded glass windows spanned all sides of the main room allowing sunlight to stream through in endless cascades. Dust mots danced through the bright beams in boundless patterns. Morion loved to watch them. They were so carefree, just like the fairy folk outside in her gardens. She wished to God that she could be just as they were. But she had duties to perform and responsibilities to uphold. The safety of her people and realm were at stake. She sat watching the dust speckles in silence until the Court Wizard interrupted her thoughts. "My Lady, it is almost time for the interview. The First knight, Wind Walker, Sir Robert, and Lady Morgana await your permission to come in." "Invite them in, by all means! But where is Sir William?" Morion stood to face her Wizard. "We have sent guards to fetch him. He should be along shortly". The Wizard kept his face passive, but knew that William was not in the palace. The First knight had gone to William’s room and found it empty. The bed was made as if no one had slept there the night before. As the councillors entered the room, Morion whispered to her wizard, "Don’t lie to me, Sir William is not here and you know it." She gave the wizard a stern look of disapproval. He looked abashed and took his seat with the others. Morion smiled at them and walked to the head of the large oak table where they were seated. "Well my friends, it appears the object of our curiosity has decided to be on his way. So, for now, we must get on with our daily activities. Please do not mentioned anything of the Druid’s disappearance to anyone outside this room." Then in a lighter tone she added, "There must be other forests and damsels in distress for him to save." Everyone chuckled except Morgana. Her face grew red as she looked at Morion and protested, "My Lady, Will would never leave like this. He would let you know." "You mean, he would make sure to say good by to you!" Sir Robert commented with some jealousy. "Well, I say good riddance." "Tsk, tsk. Who said anything about me saying goodbye or leaving without letting you all know?" William appeared as if by magic from a stream of light near the front entrance to the chamber. "Oh ye of little faith! How long am I to put up with you," he commented good-naturedly. But something in his voice made Morgana start. Morion motioned him to a large high-backed chair, but did not question him as to his sojourning. She watched him as she would a very capable adversary. "So, you want me to sit here? And when I do, shall you bind my hands and feet with ropes or chains so I cannot escape?" Will’s voice was calm and full of humour, but there was a hint of anger that only Morgana picked up on. "Morion, I came to you as a friend, and you have placed guards on alert all around me. Why?" "You have many powerful enemies. We did what we felt necessary to protect the peace of the palace and the peace of our realm. And to protect you. I make no apologies for the actions taken. Nor did I bring you here so you could ask me questions. I want to learn more about you, your quest, and the enemies that so want your hide." Morion’s patience was on edge. "Then ask your questions. I will answer as honestly as I can." Will sincerely meant what he said, but something was stirring in the back of his mind. A desire he could barely keep under control. "If I may," the Wizard stood up and addressed Will, "we all have been curious as to the battle you fought with the two human assailants and the demonic creature. Where was the battle fought? And why were you alone?" "The battle took place near Brookshire forest north of the Jewel Lake. As to why I was alone, that’s easy, I normally work alone." With this he glanced at Morgana. "But I didn’t realise it was a trap. The destruction of the forest had been going on subtly for some time. I thought it was the natural process of life and decay until some Gnomes told me of Dumah’s emissaries laying waste to a section of the forest. I knew then the infection was supernatural in nature. I couldn’t let the destruction continue. I rushed to the site of the most recent devastation and tried to bring healing to it. That’s where I was ambushed." It was Wind Walker’s turn to query the Druid, "It is said by some that the demonic creature was the son of Dumah. Is this true? I also would be interested in knowing the magick you used to defeat it." "Any who causes unjust death to another is a child of Dumah. The creature I fought was no more a son of Dumah than some knights present in this realm." Will did not glance at Sir Robert, but felt him flinch. Morion broke in, "Why is Dumah’s hatred of you so great? What have you done for the love of the earth that others have not? Many bring healing to spoiled areas of the world, but you seem of special interest to the Angel of Death. I need to know why!" Will considered how to answer her, then said, "I have sought to heal the earth both in my capacity as a Druid and as a Christian. I have practised natural magick to meet this end. Thus, I am not only a threat in the natural realm, but the supernatural as well. I have entered Dumah’s backyard and he resents it." Then William paused to gather his thoughts, "And he hates me because of you, dear Lady." Morion looked confused. Sir Robert stood and objected, "What the hell do you mean. Morion has no such enemy! Unless of course, you have turned his wrath against her!" "Sit down, Robert." Morion said peevishly. "Will, tell me why." "Lady Morion," William looked at her with concern, "you have created and maintained numerous gardens and woods. This alone would not make you a target of Dumah or his minions. However, you have something he wants dearly. You have the Dark Crystal and wield its power with justice and purity. But the Crystal itself is neutral. Its power can be used by the righteous or unrighteous with equal effect. This is one power he seeks for his own. And to top it off, I have pledged my honour to you. Of all men, I alone have the best chance of defeating him. I alone must try. After I have sated your curiosities about me, I will be on my way to challenge Dumah in his own territory. You might say I am taking the battle home to him." Will grinned, but there was no joy in his smile. The Wizard looked at Morion, stood up, and made his apologies, "Dear Lady, I must see to the Crystal. If what Sir William has said is true, then the Crystal is in great danger. I will make sure the guard is doubled and magick surrounds its hiding place. By your leave." He waited for Morion’s nod, then turned on his heels and walked briskly out a side door. The others still had further questions, and they seemed endless to Will. He sat with his hands clasped under his chin. Morgana knew that he was growing weary of the interview, but said nothing, not wishing to inquire further resentment from Robert. Finally, William bowed his head as if tired. "Sir William," began the First knight noting the apparent fatigue of his friend, "we have no further questions for you. However, getting back to the topic of you facing the Death Angel alone, we cannot allow it. I’ll select some of my finest men, and with them, accompany you myself." Wind Walker nodded in agreement. "I too shall ride with you," Morgana added her support. She admitted to herself that she did not want to loose him. "Wait a bloody minute! You are not going with this Druid!" Sir Robert was on his feet at once, and addressed them all. "We still know very little about this fellow, and I will not have MY Lady going off gallivanting around with this lecherous knight!" "Fools!" Morion was the first to hear the words coming from William. He raised his head and faced them, letting his arms come to rest on the table before him. "Pitiful little fools," his voice was calm and distant. "Hmmm, I’ve always wanted to say that," he said with a slight chuckle. Then standing, he addressed the confused group. "So you would come with me to meet Dumah, would you?" His eyebrows arched, "Well, my friends, you don’t have to go far!" With that William’s eyes changed from deep brown to crimson red. All the doors to the chamber latched at once. The First knight was on his feet in a flash of movement, his sword ready to strike. But William laughed and stretched out his arms, sending a torrent of energy striking at the stunned warrior. The blast hammered into the knight, knocking him across the hard, stone floor to crash against the far wall. Wind Walker retaliated with a ball of flame, but William turned it aside with ease sending it back onto the hapless mystic. Wind Walker blocked, but William countered, sending wind smashing against the mystic. The force blew Wind Walker across the room. Sir Robert had no magick with which to fight. But to his credit he let out a warrior’s cry and leaped at the renegade Druid. Will stepped aside quickly to avoid the warrior’s sword, and brought his own steal whipping around to smack his adversary on the back of the head. Sir Robert dropped motionless to the ground. Morion raised her arms and sent showers of glowing darts at the Druid turned demon. At this, William looked with fury on the beautiful Lady of the realm. "For you I have come, for you I will destroy!" The knight’s voice was low, but it was not Will’s. "Behold!" With a flourish of hand movements, he cast a transport spell. Above the great oak table appeared a shimmering light. Within the light was the Dark Crystal; the object all the knights and ladies of the realm were sworn to protect. The crystal took on solid substance as it came to rest gently on the table. "Will, look at me!" William had forgotten about Morgana, but a sadistic pleasure entered his heart as he turned to face his former love. "Look at me!" She commanded again. William looked around at the three knights sprawled on the floor. To make sure they would cause him no more trouble, he sent balls of energy hurtling at them. Their bodies shuddered at the impact. But ‘no’, he would not kill them, just put them out of commission for a moment; until he got what he wanted. He turned to look at Morgana, expecting another sorcerer’s dual. This time he would kill her. He felt the energy building within is soul. The magick flowed freely in his being. It possessed him. "So, what shall we do, Morgana? Make war, not love?" His laugh was dark and ominous as he raised his arms to strike, bolts of lightning lanced out from his outstretched fingers. Before the fire reached her, Morgana stretched out her arm. She held something clear in her hand. The lightning seemed attracted to whatever it was. It circled the object as if caught in a vortex. Enraged, William doubled the attack, his eyes burning with demon fire. The lightning increased in strength causing Morgana to wince in pain, but still she held out her hand. The object within absorbed the power Will directed at her. William’s mind raced to comprehend the meaning of Morgana’s defence. No one on earth was powerful enough to stand against his attacks. Death was within him, and death he would deliver. With all the hatred and fury he could muster, he sent Druid fire careening into her. The timbers supporting the ceiling began to smoulder; the heat was so intense. He could see the sweat on Morgana’s face and feel the pain penetrating her like millions of tiny knives. Still she held out her hand. "What damnable sorcerer did she command?" The Druid thought as he continued his attack. Morgana started to flatter, her hand and arm weakening under the Druid’s onslaught. In her heart she called to her beloved soulmate, not really expecting an answer. "William, help me." What happened next is what fairy tales are made of. The stone within Morgana’s hand started to pulsate with a life all its own. The cloudiness within swirling as if stirred to potency by the attack of the demon knight. William was too enraged to care. Death is what he wanted for those who opposed him and death was what he would give. With a growl of hatred he sent a final deadly surge of lightning at Morgana. The stone in her hand gathered the energy of the attack and exploded in scorching light. A torrent of energy, equivalent to all he had delivered, struck the Druid in the chest; the power of the explosion sending him smashing against the wall. William collapsed and lay motionless on the cold floor, small trickles of blood issued from his mouth, nose, and ears. His eyes stared blindly at Morgana. The stone was not finished; the pulsating light continued and seemed to be reflected in the dark eyes of the fallen Druid. Slowly his eyes closed, and he started to breath again, though with shallow roughness. The explosion seemed to have aroused the falling knights. All three seemed to awake at the same time, moans of pain issuing from their bruised bodies. Morion and Morgana helped them to their feet and back to the table. Guards broke through the locked doors and entered the chamber in streams. The Dark Crystal disappeared back into its hiding place. "What happened?" asked the First knight. "That damn Druid went berserk," said Sir Robert with a grimace. "I told you not to trust him. The poison in his blood has turned him into a demon. You all saw his eyes." With that Sir Robert stood, retrieved his sword and went to the fallen knight. "Better him than us." With this he raised his sword to strike the death blow. "NO!" Morgana was shouting with rage at Sir Robert. "I DON’T BELIEVE YOU, YOU FREAKING IMBECILE!" She held her rapier at Robert’s throat in defence of her fallen love, "YOU can be the most idiotic fool alive!" Her voice became a hiss. Sir Robert looked confused. So did the rest in the room. "Don’t you know who really defeated him?" Here she pointed to the fallen man at her feet. "Sir William did! That’s right, the Druid knight defeated this fellow here!" Morion appeared as confused as the others. But before demanding an explanation from Morgana, she commanded the guards to take the fallen knight away. "Give him all the medical attention he needs, but keep him under heavy sedation in the west wing. I don’t want him going anywhere." "Now Morgana, explain." Morion’s voice was low and deadly serious. "My Lady, look at this." Morgana placed a small clear stone on the table before them. "This is Will’s soul stone. It contains all that is most noble and loving of the man. William knew about the battle where he would be poisoned. He was willing to let the dark thing into him, as the only means to achieve a greater victory over Dumah. I disagreed with him and we argued. I told him that it was foolish to invite such an attack. But he felt differently. He had battled the dark thing many times, but each time the battles ended in stalemates. He felt weakened by each attack. He even asked me to help him during one of his visits, but I refused. So he felt it necessary to act alone; to allow the dark thing into him. He knew what would happen and took the only precaution he could. He gave his beloved Catherine the stone for safekeeping. She was his soulmate." At this Morgana lowered her eyes and started to cry. Pain like she never felt before filled her heart. "Was his soulmate?" Morion looked questioningly at Morgana. "What happened to her?" Morgana wiped away the tears from her eyes. "Catherine is dead to the knight I am afraid. No, not dead... I don’t know how to explain this." "Well, you sure as hell better try!" Robert took Morgana roughly by the arm. "Let her go!" Morion was on her feet, her face inches away from Robert’s. The knight let go of Morgana’s arm with a shove. "I want an explanation, MY Lady." The emphasis on "my" was filled with possessive anger. Morgana looked at her knight, and with a sudden surge of irritation she said, "Catherine and I are one and the same. Yes, I am Catherine. I love Will and wanted to be with him. But I thought he would only accept me if I was prim-and-proper. I was afraid he would not accept me as I really am. I was wrong, but it is hard to conquer the fear of rejection." "And HE was there when you weren’t. He loved me even though he knew I loved you! He showed me a love I have not seen before. Now I fear he is lost to me. I felt his anger and hatred. I felt the hurt he feels, the hurt caused by my rejection." At this Robert stormed from the room. Morgana’s tears were not for him however. Her thoughts were with William. William Black © Continues... Chronicle I, Main page |