The Siege of Spirit

"MOVE!"

Alex yelled to the militiamen stabbing backwards with his sword. Gavin dashed out of the way sending a slash with his sword off at an advancing goblin. “They are too many”. "Just the time for Reynold to leave." Alex cussed. The goblin Alex was fighting was backing away trying to stop himself from being injured. It pulled its arms up to shield its face, exposing its soft belly. Alex stabbed the Goblin in the stomach. The goblin doubled over and hit the ground with a bloodcurdling crunch. Gavin turned around. That sound always sickened him.

"Alex duck!" he yelled over the advancing creatures as he shot a quick arrow. It rushed over Alex's head hitting a goblin behind him. Bjorn drew his great sword. Gavin let off shot after shot, perfectly aimed. He was shooting from a ledge above while Alex and Bjorn were fighting below.

"Alex? Is that it?" he yelled over to him. Their backs were together scanning the streets around them. For some reason the goblins had fled back into the trees. The city was filled with smokes and fire. There was a noise, like clapping hands.

"Good job." A voice said. A man emerged from shadows.

"Gavin!" Alex yelled. "Already there!" Gavin responded shooting an arrow at the man. He clicked his tongue and raised a hand. Gavin's arrow disappeared in mid-air.  "Now, now, be nice." The wizard said. Gavin stood in horror. He knew no one who could do that. His robes were all black. As he approached them, Alex called. "Gavin, I can't move." Alex spat a level of stress layering his voice. Gavin found that he couldn't either. He glanced down to the ground while Bjorn was standing. The wizard had forgotten that there was a third member. He pulled from him. They would all die if Bjorn couldn't do this. Bjorn pulled his sword up. The wizard's eyes glanced over to while Bjorn was standing and he sighed. A gush of dark fire shot in Bjorn's direction. Bjorn screamed with pain, and his body fell shaking. Gavin cringed even before Bjorn's dead body hit the ground. Chuckled as Bjorn's body struck the ground with a sickening crunch. The wizard approached Gavin. He ran his fingers lightly down him face. They were rough and unpleasant.

"Yes, you will be left." He muttered as he stared at him in shock. Tears were trying to well in his eyes. He held back, he wouldn't show weakness. He motioned hand and six large goblins came out of the forest.

"You will be spared my dear boy." He murmured in Gavin's ear. "But, I can't say as much for your fellow." He said glancing at Alex who was struggling to free himself from the spell.

"Gavin…" Alex said the nervousness in his voice was high. The wizard pulled Gavin away from the advancing goblins. He stood completely immobilized away from Alex. "No, please." He begged trying look up the cloak's hood to see a twisted face beneath. His eyes were soft, but had an evil side to them. He ignored his request. He looked back at the advancing goblins on Alex.

"Gavin!" he said. A sword shot through his stomach making him recoil. The goblin stabbed the sword in again causing Alex to shudder. Blood gushed from his mouth a cry of pure agony. A dagger sliced easily through one of his arms. His body fell to the ground his head smashing into a rock. "No!!" Gavin screamed breaking free of the spell. The wizard let go of him. He chuckled. He ran to Alex's side. "Alex” he screamed. His pulse was weak. He choked. He spat up blood. One of Alex's hands reached for his neck pulling off the scarf he always wore. "Take it." He managed to stutter out putting the scarf in Gavin's hand closing his hand with one easy movement. His arm fell back to his chest, and his eyes closed. "Alex?" he asked. He wasn't breathing. "Alex!" he yelled through tears. Alex and Bjorn dead. Him?

He looked up to see the Dark wizard still staring at him. "He was of no use to me of course, Gavin." He said pulling down his hood. He couldn't believe it. "Reynold!" He said stunned by his appearance. His face was contorted with evil magic. He smiled, reveling a scar under his lips. “Fear not." He said sending a wave of magic toward him.