A Dark Knight’s Tale

Chapter 11

Chris loved the wind in his brown hair, standing on the deck of the airship Sandstorm. Even though the sun was at its highest of the day the wind blowing in his face cooled him as he gathered his thoughts on what he wanted to do when he reached civilization again.

“I got to fight Que.” He said in his thoughts. “If they killing people our entire country could be destroyed by their damned war!”

He leaned on the siding barrier and looked down onto the desert below. Looking onto the creatures trying to survive on the barren wasteland. Then he heard the intercom turn on.

“Chris please report to the operations room immediately!” It said.

“Oh man!” Chris said as he jogged to the control room that was next to the operations room.

When he arrived to the operations room he saw a concerned look on Veil and Yer’s faces.

“What’s wrong?” Chris said.

“Chris…” Yer said. “Take your katana; we have a pack of desert hawks on route to the ship.” He said as he gave Chris’s katana to Chris. “They will intercept us in seven minutes.”

“Are you sure Yer?” Chris asked.

“The crows nest reported it.” Yer said. “He can’t be wrong.”

“Alright Yer, what do we have as long ranged weapons?”

“Twenty crossbows, ten longbows, and a ballistae.”

“Okay set up the ballistae and have the bows ready as a backup plan.” Chris said attaching the katana to his belt. “I’ll take care of the hawks.”

“I trust you Chris I’ll get the weapons set up.” Yer said as Chris left.

Six minutes later a large ballistae was set up and held down onto the side of the deck of the airship. Chris was pulling back the launcher on the ballistae. You could plainly see the flock of desert hawks in the distance.

“Um Chris…” Yer said walking to Chris with a concerned look on his face. He was carrying a double edged axe. “What exactly are you going to do?”

“Yer, I’m a Dark Knight.” Chris said sarcastically. “I know magic beyond your dreams!”

“You didn’t answer my question Chris.”

“Sorry Yer, I’ll cast an explosion charm on the bolt.” Chris said as he picked one of the large bolt arrows from a nearby barrel. “When I fire it to the center of their flock, it should kill all desert hawks.”

“Okay it sounds like a good plan.” Yer said. “We have the crossbows and bows ready as well if we need a backup plan.”

“I’ll get all of the desert hawks, I’m sure.” Chris said as he drew his knife. “So you might not need that axe.”

Yer looked on the iron axe mounted on his shoulder. “It’s always good to have a backup plan.”

“Well here they come.” Chris said as he pointed to the incoming desert hawks. You could plainly see their feather covered heads and wings. The neck was as long as a snake. The large wings seemed to be very strong. They had muscle covered chests with only one talon covered leg to support it.

Chris took the bolt he had and placed it on the deck. He took his knife and whispered something into the blade and it suddenly glowed purple. He made small cuts in the wood of the bolt that then burned into the wood when he finished the word.

“Explodia Resia.” It read.

Chris quickly placed the bolt on the ballistae and sat on the chair attached to it. He looked quickly but carefully into the crosshairs and aimed to the center of the desert hawk flock.

“See you in the Shadow Realm!” Chris yelled as he released the large bolt.

It spiraled as it flew and it hit one of the larger hawks. As it started to descend the bolt exploded in a large fireball. The crew of Sandstorm cheered in their victory. Veil and Yer ran up to Chris with excited looks on their faces.

“Good job Chris!” Yer said looking onto Chris… but Chris did not look happy. “Chris, what’s wrong, the desert hawks are dead cheer?”

“Not all of them are dead Yer…” Chris said pointing out to the extinguished fireball you could still see one large flying figure in the distance. “That must have been their flock leader because normal desert hawks aren’t that strong.”

“Oh crap.” Yer said as he gripped his axe. “Bowmen, get ready!”

“The ballista is a good weapon but it is not that accurate.” Chris said. “Trying to shoot it using it will be no good.”

“Alright stand back Chris, my men will get it.” Yer said confidently. “Bowmen! Open fire!”

All thirty of the men who had bows fired arrows upon the single surviving desert hawk. Many of the arrows hit it, but the hawk would not die.

“Stop your men Yer, it’s not working!” Chris yelled as he drew his katana. “I’ll take care of it!”

As Yer ordered his men to stop firing Chris used his katana to cut his index finger slightly. As it bled he wiped his finger along the blade and as he reached the tip, the blade burst into a green glowing fire. And the large desert hawk landed on top of the airship deck ballista. Yer and Veil ran up alongside Chris. Veil carried a spear and Yer carried his axe.

“Veil… Yer, what are you doing?” Chris said, but did not take his eyes off of the hawk.

“Chris I’m not letting you die.” Veil said as she threw her spear at the arrow covered hawk. The spear stuck in its wing and let out a horrific screech.

“Die!” Screamed Yer as he charged at the hawk and sunk his axe deep into its other wing.

Then Chris, with his flaming sword, beheaded the desert hawk in one blow but did not spill one drop of blood. The flames had sealed the neck and head wounds at the same time. The blades flames then extinguished.

“So.” Chris said wiping sweat from his face with a smile. “Who wants hawk for dinner?”