By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Four
"Did i hear you right?" one of the soldiers asked in modest disbelief. Lord Arachnid hopped up to his feet - his face inches away from the speaking soldier. He wanted to speak - but there was a power in the vagrant's eyes that clouded his mind.
"You did - what of it?" Lord Arachnid replied coldly. The other heroes watched as the two stared each other down. At any moment they expected thier friend to strike the insolant vagrant aside.
"We - we should go." the soldier stuttered. Lord Arachnid quietly laughed and lightly patted the soldier on the cheek.
"Wisdom - has a young face today." he commented. The soldier slowly backed away towards his allies.
"What is it?" another asked.
"He's one of them - one of those wizards." he answered. the soldiers slowly looked over at the calm looking vagrant. Surely he was mistaken - how could such a common looking vagrant be a wizard?
"I don't know what kind of trick you played on Tulan - but it won't work on me!" one of the other soldiers stated. He began to walk towards the vagrant. Lord Arachnid slowly lifted a finger and pointed it at the man. The man froze dead in his tracks. The others watched as an ethereal mist seeped out from the paralzyed soldier and flowed ver and into the vagrant. When the vagrant snapped his fingers - the man fell to the ground. He had aged sixty years - in as many seconds.
"A drain life spell. A black mage." one of the others commented.
"So perceptive. Your master must have hired you on for your supreme mastery of grasping the blatently obvious." Lord Arachnid sarcastically remarked. The slandered soldier smirked and slowly drew his blade.
"Actually - he hired me for my ability. I am imune to the affects of death magic." he retorted.
"Really? Good for you. You imune to the life magics of the forests?" Lord Arachnid asked.
"He isn't - but I am." one of the others stated.
"Aren't we just a happy family? For you then - be afraid." Lord Arachnid stated. His eyes locked onto the other soldier's eyes. fear began to well in the man's eyes. He let out a terrified scream and fell to the ground. The other soldiers looked down at the horrified look on the man's face.
"Terror - some people just can't take it. As for you - Mr. Anti - Death Magic - I would like to introduce you to a friend of mine. I met him in my early travels. Come forth my brother - i summon thee!" Lord Arachnid called out. The sky above them began to warp and twist. When the spell ended - a giant spider was towering over them.
"That one - that one and that one." Lord Arachnid pointed to three of the five remaining soldiers. Before any of them could react - a rain of webs shot down from the spider and ensnared them. The two remaining - watched as their friends struggled like flies to free themselves.
"Take them home for dinner." he added. On that note - the spider and the ensnared victoms vanished. He then turned hios attention to the two that he had intentionally left behind.
"That just leaves - you - you - and me." he began. The two began to back away. Before they had a chance to run - webs shot outward from Lord Arachnid's hands and ensnared the two. He then walked over and sat down between the two.
"I want us to have a little chat. Will you be cooporative?" he asked without looking at either of them.
"Drop dead murderer!" one shouted.
"I won't tell you anything." the other added.
"I was rather hoping that you would say that - for now at least." He commented. The two watched as he hopped to his feet. he then placed his foot on one soldiers head and pushed his foot down so that the soldier was looking at his friend.
"The story is - I just need one to talk. Dinner time boys." he stated calmly. The soldier watched as dozens of spiders began to climb all over his friend. His friend began to scream as the spiders began to slowly eat him alive. He tried to turn away - but Lord Arachnid held him firmly in place.
"My pets - my brothers - they have such an appetite." Lord Arachnid stated calmly. He looked down and saw that the soldier had chosen to close his eyes to escape the torment. The wizard quietly laughed. With a wave of his hand - his friend and the spiders vanished.
"I am by no means a patient man. I have little tollerance for you - and your kind. But i am not immune to reason. Tell me what i desire to know - and the fate that your friend just suffered - will not be yours. Or you can be a hero and die for your master - whoever he is." he offered. Lord Arachnid hopped over and sat down where the immobilized soldier could see him.
"What do you want to know?" the man stuttered. Lord Arachnid quietly laughed and clapped his hands.
"You are a ray of hope for your kind. Who knows - there may even be hope for you yet." Lord Arachnid began with a wicked smiled.
To be continued...
