Chương 2: The General gives the message
Soon after, the rumor spread to all the villages. Everyone went to the castle to see if it was true. Everyone who came was captivated by the restored castle and by this master of shadows.
The economy of the surrounding villages improved considerably. Within a few weeks, after blocking the access to the existing Kingdom guards and thus preventing the tax collectors from coming to collect the people's goods, the people were able to eat their fill again. A very prosperous time followed. The village around the castle was alive again.
The sounds of merchants and children playing outside filled the streets as they once had, before the rise of King Arak'thor. Many wanted to live near the mysterious dandy and the population was growing. His worshipers kept coming, no matter if the castle was covered by a black veil of unknown origin. They had enough to eat again and could hope for a future for their children.
The soldiers in the patrol were pushed away and the tax collectors were attacked before they could reach the citizen. The region gained her independence very fast, the men engaged in the regular army who were native from the deserted mountains and gave their loyalty to this new master.
The Shadows master increased his popularity every day, everybody was talking about him.
Melinda did not leave the dandy, she was the first of his worshipers and she stayed by his side to admire him. Only a month had passed when he asked her to manage the inn near the castle. She was delighted to be given responsibility. All the women were crazy about him. For the first time, a rich man gave a woman a business to run. This was revolutionary and the place of women in society became strong and more important.
The master of the shadows went every night to the inn to drink with the inhabitants. Every evening he was drunk and Melinda carried him upstairs to the room to rest before returning to the castle in the middle of the night.
The village was a very joyful place until the first squadron sent by Arak'thor came for the conflict, everybody was waiting with excitement to see what the magic man would do.
He went down to the castle alone, he faced the general in front of him and said calmly.
"Go, and tell your King he has no power there anymore."
The general laughed at him.
"Who do you think you are? You have money and manipulated the people there. Young man, we came to arrest you. Please, don't embarrass yourself, and come with us willingly."
The Shadows master smiled and simply answered.
"No."
The soldiers went in formation around him, pointing at him with their spears. They were surprised as the population started to scream with excitement. Men were shouting.
"It will start soon! Hurry!"
Women were carrying their children in their arms to have a better view. That was not the expected effect. The general was slightly scared as he thought they had all lost their mind. He gave the order for the assault.
Then, the night came brutally in the middle of the day. The Shadows master raised his arms.
"You will soon understand why, my people don't fear the darkness and your people will be afraid to sleep."
The night became thick and a black figure started to move. The general could not see everything, the darkness was too thick and the light was not passing anymore. In the middle of the scream from his men, he was hearing the laughs of the villagers. His blood froze, and he felt a hand on his shoulder. The Black Master was standing in front of him.
"I will let you live to tell your King what happened there."
Then he placed his fingers on his chin and turned the head of the general. The bodies of his men were completely ravaged as if they were attacked by a savaged beast.
Then, the darkness rolled around them like a snake and raised them. In a roar, the cadavers came back to life with all their missing parts. The general felt wet in his pants, the Shadows master laughed softly. He whispered.
"Now you can run."
The general didn't wait, he ran without waiting for any second more. He didn't stop for a few days and rushed into the palace to give his report to his King. The King was terrified and became paler and paler to listen to him. Then, he asked for guards to come and take the general to jail. The general didn't understand why, and he begged the King.
"I will not tell anything to anybody if this is what you want my King! Please! Let me free!"
But the King was voiceless, he had tears of fear in his eyes. The guards came with spears, they were shaking as they were conducting the general to his cell.
Then, when he was inside, the general saw a bucket of water, he realized he didn't drink for a few days, and even if he didn't feel thirsty he probably should drink a bit.
When he came closer. He saw.
He saw that half of his cheeks were missing, and he saw his eyes were white. He saw black blood falling from his neck, like the veil of the Shadows master. The general saw two holes, similar to the canine teeth of an animal. The general understood. If he could run for so long if he was not thirsty if his King cried seeing him. All of this was because he was already dead, only moving by the will of the Shadows master.
He heard laughter in his cell just after and a voice resonated in his head.
"You served me well. Thank you. I free you now."
The general felt. The guards found him one hour later.
The general was dead.
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