Bryan Perro - The Mask wearer

Karmakas lowered his head and begged for his master’s mercy. “I am, ssss, sorry. I underestimated my, ssss, enemies. I thought that-”

“You thought!” Seth thundered, making the earth quake. “A plague on you! Either win this war or I’ll crush you, you stinking reptile! Now go and show me that you’re worthy of my godly power and of my trust!”

The whole castle shook and cracks appeared in the foundation. Then the walls of bones vanished into thin air, and Seth’s temple disappeared, replaced by Karmakas’s laboratory. The sorcerer fell to the ground, his head in his hands, trembling with anxiety and rage. After a few seconds, he tried to gather himself. He rushed to his book of magic and started to study some powerful spells. For a long time, he stayed locked in his laboratory.

While Amos and Junos were establishing a plan to take back the city, Medusa went in secret to visit Beorf. He was a pitiful sight. The young gorgon caressed his head tenderly.

“You’ll soon be free, Beorf,” she whispered in his ears. “I know that you can hear me. Your body is now of stone, but your soul is still here, hoping and waiting to be delivered. I’ve come to see you for the last time. You’re the first and only friend I’ve ever had. I’ll never see you again, but you’ll be in my heart forever. Keep the sight of my eyes in your memory. You’re the only person who’s admired them. Thank you for your friendship and your kindness. Thank you for believing in me. I’ll show you that I was worthy of your honesty and of your feelings. Good-bye, my friend.”

Medusa kissed Beorf on the cheek and left the cavern, totally distressed by this final visit.

The gorgon returned to the camp as the knights were preparing to enter the city. Night was about to fall and the army had to act swiftly. No one had noticed Medusa’s absence. She saw that the men of Berrion were not wearing their armor. In secret, they had made life-size figures from branches and mud, and had dispersed them around the city. These strange scarecrows were attired in the knights’ armor, helmets, and boots. From a distance, they looked like real humans. Only their stillness seemed a little odd, but one would have to watch them for a long while to understand the trickery.

Leading his warriors, Amos headed for the tunnel through which he had followed Beorf. The knights proceeded after him in tight order, with a torch ready to be lit tucked into their belts, a sword in one hand and a shiny shield in the other. Every shield had been modified. Thanks to leather strips, the knights were now able to carry them on their backs, a little like a tortoise shell. The entire army managed to go through the tunnel unnoticed and crawled over the ground to hide inside the city walls.

“I’ll go to the castle with Medusa now,” Amos said to Junos. “She’ll take me to the sorcerer. Wait till you hear from me. I’ll tell you when to attack.”

Solemnly, Junos shook his friend’s hand.

“At your disposal, Mask Wearer! Good luck, Amos! I think that Crivannia would be happy with her choice if she could see the way you’re leading this fight.”

“Thank you, Junos.” Amos smiled. “See you soon.”

Medusa entered the castle with Amos by her side. He was wearing a bag over his head, and his hands were tied behind his back. The young gorgon was pulling him behind her with a rope. She pretended to limp and was using the ivory trident as a cane. She easily passed in front of the gorgons keeping guard and went before Karmakas.

“I’ve captured the mask wearer, master,” she said. “I bring him to you in person.”

Abruptly, the sorcerer asked, “Why did you not turn him to stone, ssss, as I asked, ssss, you to do?”

“His powers are huge, Father, and he is resistant to my magic,” she answered, lowering her head.

Karmakas approached Amos and pulled the bag off his head. When he saw his face, he burst out laughing.

“This is who you, ssss, captured? This is a mere boy, ssss, who dares to stand up to me?” He shook his head. “Well, come here, ssss, and watch what is going, ssss, to happen to your army!”

Medusa stood aside while Karmakas pushed Amos toward a balcony at the top of the highest tower of the castle.

“Look at my power, ssss, and watch your men die!”

The sorcerer lifted his arms and muttered a magic formula. From the fields surrounding the city, a thick yellow and green smoke rose. All around, and for perhaps half a mile, an opaque cloud covered the land and part of the forest.

“Whoever breathes this, ssss, air will die poisoned, ssss. Your knights will not, ssss, resist for long.”

“My men are indestructible, Karmakas,” Amos answered calmly. “In fact, they’re still standing!”

The mask wearer focused hard, and by his sheer will made the wind rise. It slowly pushed away the thick cloud, and the sorcerer could see that, in the distance, all the knights still remained standing. They had not budged. The poison had had no effect on them.

“Who are you, ssss, young human?” the sorcerer asked, trying to keep his composure. “Who sent you, ssss, and how can you counter the effects of, ssss, my magic?”

“I am Amos Daragon, your worst nightmare!” Amos answered with a ferocious smile.

“Very well, ssss, we’ll see what your knights can do, ssss, against this!”

Karmakas asked Medusa to keep an eye on the prisoner and left the room. Then he ordered the gorgons to gather in front of the great city gates. Amos lost no time in creating a sphere and sent a message to Junos.

“I believe Karmakas is preparing an attack. Get ready!”

In the gray shadows of sunset, Junos could see the gorgons band together in front of the city gates. On his command, the knights moved forward noiselessly among the ruins of houses and streets filled with debris, and formed a semicircle around the snake-haired women. None were to escape. The men of Berrion were tired and tense, but they knew that if they won this battle, they would be able to sleep before heading home.

Karmakas forced his way through his gorgons. “Now, ssss, go and annihilate this, ssss, miserable army!” he ordered. “Open the portcullis!”

Before anyone had time to activate the mechanism to open the portcullis, Junos shouted, “The torches!”

Almost four hundred torches were lit at the same time. The gorgons cried out in surprise and Karmakas ordered them to attack the intruders. Walking backward, the knights advanced toward the female warriors. Shield-mirrors were attached to their backs, allowing them to raise their torches with their right hand to give light. In their left hands, the men of Berrion held small pocket mirrors that helped to guide them along. Junos was the only one unable to find his.

Dozens of gorgons saw their reflection and howled with pain. Their insides were torn apart before they turned to dust. Surrounded, the snake-haired women tried to flee and opened the portcullis. Fifty-some knights were waiting for them on the other side with gleaming shields. This final blow struck down a good number of gorgons. And around Karmakas, one gorgon after another fell. The knights kept closing in, ensuring that all the gorgons were doomed. Meanwhile, Karmakas transformed himself into a giant rattlesnake and slithered out. He made his way to the tower of the castle. Furious, he repeated incessantly, “I’m going to kill you, Mask Wearer! Death unto you!”

From the top of the tower, Amos and Medusa watched the collapse of the gorgons.

“Thank you, Medusa,” Amos said. “You have helped to save hundreds of human lives. Now this town can be reborn.”

“I must tell you something important, Amos,” she answered. “There is only one way to bring our friend back to life. You know what I mean as well as I do.”