The Apogian War

Chapter 15

'Clannnn,,,, kkkkk,,,, boommm', the crushing sound of Gabiru's cart on yet another tree, "ahh, ahh, ahh" he gave a loud shout, as he landed head first on the tree, but to his greatest misery,

lo and behold as he turned back to where his cart stood, he first felt the blazing heat, before he saw the flaring face and red eyes of the master of the fire demons 'Ifrit'

Gabiru tried to shout but no sound came out, he tried to scream but no voice seemed to come out, he just stood there staring at the mysterious being with its flaring body and heat speechless,

Ifrit eyes lit up as he placed his blazing hands on Gabiru's head , Gabiru Gobta of the Garena factory was never to be heard from again.

Darkovan awoke that night with a shout, like he was the one, which Ifrit fire had consumed, he felt it.

"Lord Darkovan, Lord Darkovan" Clover and Peseidon shouted running into his room looking worried and tired, "what has happened" Peseidon asked.

"I had a dream Darkovan said and the hunchback man Gabiru got burnt, by some kind of fire demon more stronger and,,,"

Darkovan said, but was cut short of his explanation when Clover said, lord Darkovan, ye know it was just a dream and nothing more, i doubt the fire demons will attack again after that"

Darkovan knew he was referring to how he destroyed the fire demons in just one word, "but he still has the sinister with him" Darkovan thought.

C

Five hours later, in the domain of Hardias, Darkovan walked through the narrow AaàÀqpath that led towards the entrance of the earth castle, he looked back and saw Clover and Peseidon looking at the wonderous statue of Hardias and his son's,

The statue was made totally of finely cut earth, shaped exactly into the images of lord Hardias and his son's,

The streets leading to the castle was filled with all kinds of people, going about their usual businesses, some of which were supplying many kinds of materials produced and mined from the earth, but there were mainly materials of not much value but more of importance.

The paths were mainly dusty with soot and dirt, the people of the domain lived mainly in houses, said to have stood for over thousands of years,

The houses were made with strong earth contents that did not care to falter or c***k, niether are they weared down by rainfall or snowfalls, but in all these pleasantries of the Hardias domain there was always a speck of unpleasantness.

The hordes of the mines, they were small they were big, they were fat they were slim nobody really knew thier true nature, but one thing was sure they raid the mines of all the valuables and left only the materials of importance,

They stood firm day and night, winter and summer, even in dry times, drought spring, wind storms, snow storms the houses of the Hardias domain stood firm and solid.

"Hordes are real, they leave amongst us" a man dressed up in rags, face drenched to the pitch stood amongst the crowd shouting to any one who would pay him attention,

Darkovan slowed his pace slightly as he passed the man listening to all he could hear,

when suddenly a very short boy not more than five Darkovan years, stood in his front and said with a sure boldness,

" Never listen to Crazy Carl, if you don't want to go crazy like him, he says his been to the mines, but all my life I've seen him on these paths, he says his seen a horde, but he's been blind all his life,

As the boy said this Darkovan glanced at Crazy Carl to as if confirm the little boys words, and of a true Crazy Carl was blind, as the boy continued he's voice rang as a bell which sound was never to be forgotten as he said

"Believe not the crazy Carl, for he is crazy and so would he remain", immediately Peseidon and Clover's attention moved away from Crazy Carl like he was never there, but Darkovan knew something wasn't right.

Darkovan looked around to catch a glimpse of the boys face, but he was gone, as mysteriously as he had come.

Clover wandered off from Darkovan and Peseidon as he saw the three most beautiful dancers, he had ever seen before, they moved with such elegance and style, he was forced to admire their perfect beauty,

The three dancers stood at a little podium, performing for a large audience at the corner of the crowd, the female dancers moved with the same pace and speed, that some people from other domains would have thought them witches,

But he knew better that these ladies became his heart desire, he watched them dumbstruck on their flawless beauty,

He then turned to his side as he saw a couple of other audience watching them who were evidently locals "they probably know more than I do about these damsels" he thought almost felling jealous.

Darkovan had not noticed the disappearance of Clover, until when Peseidon said "isn't that fried pula, I think I will go get one" he said but there was no response, normally Clover would have already ran for it 3ven before Peseidon could mention it,

He and Peseidon both looked back in unison and said "where's Clover" they both glanced around to see if they would catch a glimpse of him amongst the buyers who lined up at the front of the table of the Pula seller but he wasn't there,

"Maybe he wondered off to get a Pula of his" Peseidon offered as he started to see worry and distress crowd up in Darkovan's face "please worry not my lord, am sure he would be back with us in no time "Peseidon added

"You are quite right Peseidon, I know Clover too well, than to worry about losing him from sight for a little while" Darkovan said but Peseidon could still see the shade of worry within him.

Darkovan and Peseidon walked through the entrance of the town of the Hardias domain called Serra, the second most popular place in all of the Hardias domain, it was mostly known for its high success in the processing of the mines raw materials, it was also called the city of trade by the Hardias locals,

"I hope Clover finds us" Darkovan said to Peseidon as they entered a very large pub called 'the big Serra' the pub was filled mostly with travellers and traders of different kind,

To the extent that a lot of trading was going on inside th pub, the smell of strong drinks filled the air of the whole pub, "the lord of light be with us Peseidon thought as he walked in.

"Who are they" Clover asked a very young girl by his side watching them,

"Ohh you must be new around these parts" the girl said "yes I am not" Clover replied so humbly, he thought "is this me, for of a truth, these damsels are my heart desires"

The young girl then said "the first one at the side is called Jezebel she said pointing at one of the damsels, and the second there is called Dellila',

"And the third?" Clover blurted out unable to hide his curiosity any longer,

"That's Esther the youngest of the three sisters' "so their sisters" Clover said smiling at himsel

f

"They are the star performers for the kings archive, in the next three days"

With that been said Clover let out a large grin and shouted "I love youuuuu!!!!"

Everyone watching the damsels turned to where he stood looking at him in somewhat 'enthusiasm' he thought.