FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

***********

CHAPTER 13

************

Kaldor

"Kaldor!"

I stopped and looked over my shoulder at Callidus, my lifelong friend, comrade and brother in arms. I had just made him swear to break an oath, it was mean of me to do that, but I needed to know that if I failed then citizens of Zangar would be safe.

I expected him to argue with my decision to face Zaraki alone. It was understandable. Zaraki Kamir was the one who defeated three grandmaster benders, the one who killed our fathers. Only old drake Furzin had survived the battle. I had no right to deny Callidus his chance at vengeance, but I would not bend to his will or logic. This was Zaraki! This wasn't even about vengeance any more... this was a battle for Zangar's survival. I know that given enough time Callidus could rally our defences and protect Zangar. Even if I had to sacrifice my life I would give him that time!

"Don't die!"

I couldn't help but smile as we locked eyes. His eyes reflected everything he wanted to say. Everything I already knew. He knew what he had to do and would do everything that was within his power to protect our home. Even though I knew he wanted to fight by my side. His water techniques were not suited to fight Zaraki Kamir's blue flames.

Besides... if one of us was to die it would be better to be me. I may have been the leader of Zangar ever since Grand-master Furzin Killik passed, but I wouldn't have been able to do it without Callidus by my side. He was much more suited to the task than me.

I simply nodded, but we both knew it wouldn't be that easy. The truth of the matter was that there was a good chance I would die. But till my last breath I would fight, even if that meant I took that wolven bastard with me!

I walked towards the main gate, aware that Jovani was walking by my side. I smiled and felt my heart swell at the loyalty he was showing right now. He was walking into what was possibly certain death and there wasn't a waver in his resolve.

"You don't have to come with me." I said. "This is not your fight."

"I am sworn to protect the Anaris family." He said bluntly. "As the only remain member of the house left in Zangar where else would I be but by your side?"

I chuckled. "Even so..."

"I am going to fight by your side Master!" He said with a tone of determination that made me pause. "I have trained all my life to protect you and that is what I shall do. I shall be your shield."

Jovani...

"I'm glad to have you at my side... my friend." That earned a smile from him.

I slowly picked up the pace till I was running. The gates would not hold Zaraki back for long. As I passed through the first gate I could hear the faint sounds of battle. He had not yet broken through the gates which meant whoever he was fighting was still going. I don't know who it was but I hoped that they was on our side.

What if it was the demon? I hadn't considered that! I had no doubt that Callidus already had. If this turned into a three way battle then it could get messy. If the demon was powerful then perhaps it would be best to join forces with Zaraki in order to defeat it. Now that was a thought that disgusted me and made me want to laugh at having considered it even a vague possibility. But this was war! And strange things happened in the heat of battle.

As I reached the bottom of the slope to the flat paved area that lead to the outer gate I saw a group of warriors gawking at the battle that I could hear on the other side of the gates. They needed to get away from there!

Before I could utter a word a shadow suddenly leapt atop the wall and then into the air, the wall were the shadow had stood for brief moment erupted with blue flames. I watched in horror as three of the warriors were engulfed in the flames. Their cries of agony pierced the air, the remaining five warriors leapt from the wall, crashing to the ground before scrambling to get away as a giant, white furred, feral wolf leapt atop the wall. Icy blue flames burning around its neck. That was Zaraki Kamir!

I had heard stories... but had never seen it for myself. I had been told that Kamir could turn himself into a giant feral wolf, with pure white fur, clad the icy flames that he was so feared for. Flames that burned cold.

I could only watch as the monstrous beast let out a howl and leapt into the air after the shadow.. That's when I finally noticed that the shadow from before was actually someone dressed in a black cape; they had moved so fast I couldn't make them out before. Their head was hidden under a hood, but from the wings that held them in the air was that of a dragon; a Zangarian dragon.

Still in mid air the cloaked figure turned to face the wolf that had leapt after them, lifting the sword they held up defensively in front of them. As he raised his sword the wolf shot a blast of icy flames at the him. I felt the surge of nen the dragon released, but it did them no good. The fireball struck them in mid air, the force of the attack pushed them towards the ground and into a stone walled building. The stone wall gave way under the force of the body crashing into it, leaving a large gaping hole in the once solid structure. A moment later part of the roof collapsed.

I stared in worry for who ever had just been struck down by that attack. If the attack itself hadn't killed them, then crashing into the building most likely would have. If by some miracle they did survive they would be badly wounded. But there was no time to worry about them.

The giant feral wolf landed gracefully on the ground, he was huge! His shoulders must have come up to my head height. Kamir had not even looked my direction. He hadn't even acknowledged my presence. Instead he just stared at the crumbling building where his latest victim lay.

Suddenly he began to change. Shrinking in on himself, the sickening sound of cracking bones filled the air, his fur changed from white to a dark brown. After a few seconds the change was done, a large muscular wolf knelt crouched on the ground, the fur on his head and neck still burning fiercely with those ominous blue flames that made him so feared.

My nen surged as I took a step forward, Zaraki finally turning to regard me. He eyed me calmly, as if I was not much of a threat before speaking.

"So you must be Kaldor, yes?" He chuckled. "I'd remember that armour anywhere. The same armour your father wore when I killed him." He chuckled once more.

I felt my blood boil as he referred to my father, any fear I had been feeling erased by my growing rage. My armour was styled the same way my fathers had been, it was the traditional design of the house of Zangar.

I readied myself to attack, drawing on my nen, and I could sense Jovani next to me do the same. The familiar buzz of his nen next to me. We hadn't spoken about how to fight, but we didn't need to. We had been training together for nearly two decades. I knew he would follow my lead. I raised my paw to summon flames to attack but stopped as another surge of nen from nearby emerged. It was powerful. Both Zaraki and I turned to look in the direction it was coming from, and to my surprise it was coming from the collapsed building where the fallen dragon had landed.

I leapt back as flames from a nearby brazier shot towards me. The flames shot past me and were stopped only by the stone wall on the other side of the court yard, leaving a fiery trail along the snow cover ground in front of us. The wall of flames formed a barrier between myself and Zaraki. There was no mistaking that that was sign for Jovani and myself to stay out of the fight.

I levelled my gaze at Kamir, the giant wolf looked down at the wall of flames between us before locking eyes with me. He just stood there and stared at me with those unsettling eyes. The whites of his eyes were actually black, his iris's white with black slitted pupils.

He turned his attention back to the collapsed building and so did I. There was no way any normal drake could have not only survived that fall and still be able to fight! Maybe it really was the demon!

Demon or not that last attack had been a warning. A warning to stay away. I understood the sentiment, it was the same feeling I had felt when telling Callidus to remain in the village. This was not my fight.

The message enraged me. What right did they have to tell me to stay out of this fight!? If I had to I would fight them both at the same time! I would avenge my fathers death! I would avenge Callidus's father. I would avenge every Zangarian that had ever fallen at his paw! I would defend my home!

A black scaled paw emerged and grabbed the side of the broken wall. I watched as who ever it was pulled themselves free of the rubble. Their nen surging, emitting powerful waves across the courtyard. They were strong! The nen felt dangerous... I had never felt anything like it. It was at least as powerful as my own nen but it left a bad taste in my maw. It tasted like blood and death. The darkness within the building lit up with a white shining light, it took me a moment to realise that the light was coming from their sword... a stream of light flickered along the length of the blade! No... it was their nen! Their nen was actually visible...

As they pulled themselves out of the ruined building I could finally see them, their hood and cloak in tatters, no longer obscuring their identity. I couldn't believe it! It was impossible... there was just no way... it just couldn't be...

...

...

...

...

"Mala... kye?!" I stuttered aloud,

It was Malakye! That muzzle! That distinctive red head fur! It was Malakye! He was alive? How?!

I was so overwhelmed... my head was spinning. I no longer cared that my fathers killer was within reach any more. My eyes stung with tears, my heart pounded hard in my chest and my lungs strained as I held my breath.

I gasped for breath, finally remembering to breath since laying my eyes on my son for the first time in over two winters! Wait... there was something... something different... something not quite right. It was his eyes! They were no longer the kind eyes that I remembered. His eyes that had once been a beautiful emerald green were now an ominous red!

As he pulled himself from the building Malakye stared right at me, his expression betraying no emotion, sending a chill up and down my spine. His nen rippled through the air. His presence was incredible! The strength of his nen rivalled my own, perhaps... perhaps even exceeded my own! He turned his attention away from me and back to Kamir. his muzzle curling in vicious snarl, the wolf let our a guttural growl. They were going to fight! I can't let Malakye fight him!

I took a step forward but the flaming barrier in front of me surged with life as Malakye flexed his nen once more. I looked at my son and saw him glare at me and give a simple shake of his head. He was ordering me to stay out of it!

Every fibre in my being told me to ignore my sons request, to involve myself in this fight to protect my own flesh and blood while exacting my vengeance. But for the same reason that Callidus didn't object, I couldn't object either. And if I was being honest... I'm not sure if that was Malakye. It looked like him but his eyes... that fearful nen... What had happened to him? Where had he been all this time?

At a second glance I could tell there was more to this than a simple fight between warrior K'tan. The way they glared at one another. The way that Kamir had barely acknowledged my presence despite my obvious intention to attack him earlier. There was a grudge here. And one that demanded blood!

It took every ounce of will power I had, but I moved away. Giving the pair the room they needed to settle what ever it was this fight was about. But! If it came to the point that I felt that Malakye was going to lose I would step in. I was not going to lose my only son to the same wolf that I lost my father to!

The pair stood still, their eyes locked as they readied themselves. Exchanging a silent conversation with their eyes. Their respective nens clashed, as if the battle had already started. Kamir's nen was fierce and dense. Prickling my scales as I had been doused in freezing cold water. Malakye's on the other paw was intense, radiating off him in waves in comparison to the constant ebbing of Kamir's. There was also that darkness to his nen as well. A darkness which I had never felt before. In made the back of my neck prickle with every wave of nen that washed over me.

I stared at my son, casting only the occasional glance at his opponent. I could still scarcely believe my eyes, but there he was! He really was here! He was alive! But why were his eyes glowing red like that? What had happened to him to cause that?

I didn't get to dwell on my questions for long. As the familiar cracking sound of bone pierced the silence. Zaraki was once more transforming into the giant, white furred feral wolf. Surprisingly Malakye remained still. This was the moment to attack! These few seconds while he was changing he was vulnerable!

But Malakye waited. Once the change was complete Kamir began to pace back and forth, both of them staring at one another. The tension was so great I felt my throat tighten uncomfortably. There was some unknown signal, because simultaneously they both lunged headlong towards the other.

I held my breath as they came into contact. Kamir snarled and attempted to clamp his large powerful jaws around Malakye's neck, while Malakye brought his sword to bear. I watched as the sword, still glowing as his nen flowed through it, arced through the air.

Kamir displayed incredible agility as he leapt out of the path of the blade and yet still lunged at Malakye with his snapping jaws. As their momentum carried them past on another I was relieved to see that Malakye had avoided the deadly jaws of the wolf. But a second later they had both turned and were on the attack again.

This time it was Malakye who leapt away, rolling to the side as the wolf threw himself at my son. Malakye rolled to his foot-paws and swung his sword out to the side and for the first time I managed to get a decent look at it. Along its length, glowing with white light, like the stream of nen surrounding it, were a series of runes etched into the blade in equal intervals.

But what caught my attention the most was that the blade was black, completely and utterly black! There were only two known metals that were strong enough to make weapons out of and were that colour. One was galacian steel*, but that served only to neutralise nen by absorbing it. It wouldn't channel it like that!

That meant that the steel that the blade was made from was gallium! The rarest and most sought after steel to create weapons from! The only being in existence to be known to be able to create such weapons was the deity of crafting; Gallium*! The black steel of Gallium! Named after the Guardian Deity* himself, the steel was highly sought after as it allowed the bearer to channel their nen through it as if it was an extension of their own body.

Only a few known gallium steel weapons were known to have survived to this day and age. Many lost into the mists of time, many more destroyed as smiths as they attempted to reforge the steel.

Where did Malakye get a weapon like that?

Malakye dashed towards his opponent, leaping into the air as he neared and attempted to slice the wolf in half. But Kamir easily avoided the attack. He leapt backwards covering at least four yards in a single bound, I had no idea the wolf was that fast! After leaping away from Malakye's last attack, before he had even come to a stop, he opened his maw and sent a torrent of blue flames straight at Malakye.

"MALAKYE!!" I screamed. My heart felt as if it stopped as fear gripped it. .

Malakye's nen surged through his sword as he raised it above his head. The blade arced downwards through the air as the flames reached him. I watched in awe as the torrent of flames spit, and flowed either side of Malakye as he literally cut through the attack. I remembered to breath. I felt exhausted from the sheer intensity of this fight.

The deflected flames showered the ground and began to freeze. Creating patches of frozen flames along the ground. Kamir's affinity was unusual and deadly. If you were struck by his flames you would feel like you were being burned, while in fact you were actually freezing. The freezing flames made it near impossible for water benders to defend themselves using tradition techniques, even fire benders could not manipulate his flames. I had planned on attempting to overwhelm his flames with my own, but Malakye hadn't done that! What had Malakye done to defect those flames!?

A vicious snarl cut through the air as Kamir went on the attack. Malakye avoided the massive body of the wolf as he hurled himself at him. The wolf unleashed a barrage of three moderately sized blue flamed fireballs at Malakye. Malakye dodged the first, then the second, and with surprising agility spun round past the third before lunging at the wolf with his sword ready to strike. However Zaraki was already hurling himself towards him; his fangs bared.

I could do nothing but watch helplessly as the two threw them selves at each other. I watched as Malakye crashed off to the side, tackled and forced aside by the much larger wolf. He bounced as he hit the ground before he rolled to a stop after a few yards. A large gash across the right side of his torso leaked blood. He had been hurt, but thankfully the wound looked to be shallow.

After a few moments he shakily pushed himself up. A little worse for wear but from the look in his eyes he was far from finished.

I spared a glance for his opponent, surprised when I saw the crimson red hue of blood staining his other wise perfect white coat, no... there were two wounds on his back and side; blood pouring from them. Malakye had somehow struck him three times! In addition to his back and side Kamir also had blood pouring from a wound on he front right leg, but the lef showed no signs of hindrance or pain. The wound was superficial.

"Is that all you've got Kamir?!" Malakye taunted the wolf, his tone radiating confidence and power. "I've met bitches tougher than you!"

The comment earned him a growl, but taunts like that wouldn't unsettle a warrior of Kamir's standing.

"You're trying my patience... boy!" A growling, gutteral voice boomed from the feral wolf. "I'm going to do what your grandfather should have done the minute you emerged from your bitch mothers cunt!"

There was no more words exchanged. Once again the pair of them lunged for the other, black steel and sharp fangs cut through the air again and again, but the pair of them managed to avoid the others attacks. As Malakye swung his blade at Kamir's muzzle the wolf leapt back with a somersault, firing off another blue fireball at Malakye as he spun in the air.

Malakye had no chance to dodge it! He raised his arm up defensively and I sensed it as he gathered his nen as a shield. The attack struck, knocking him from his foot-paw and he went tumbling across the ground before rolling into a crouch; panting heavily.

He had blocked a direct attack from Kamir's blue flames once again! How was he doing that?! But this time it had taken a lot out of him. He may have stopped himself from suffering the touch of the freezing flames, but he had still taken a hit that would have most warriors sprawled across the ground. But here he was already pushing himself back up onto his foot-paws, his sword clutched firmly in his right paw, the will to fight still strongly present in his eyes.

Malakye began to yell... no he was growling! He was gathering his nen into his blade, which now glimmered brightly with white wisps of nen that flowed through it. Kamir tensed as he waited for Malakye to attack.

The amount of nen he had gathered was incredible! If I used that much nen I would cause a raging inferno! Malakye continued to gather his nen, the sword gathering and absorbing the nen as fast as he could produce it!

However Kamir didn't stand by and wait for him to finish. The wolf began to gather his own nen, this blue flames gathering in his maw. I took several steps back. I didn't know what was about to happen but it was going to be big! Asurmen protect my son! I don't want to lose him again!

They unleashed their attacks.

Malakye swung his blade in an wide upward arc, projecting his nen in one go towards Kamir, while Kamir fired a giant blue fireball, easily ten foot in diameter, at Malakye. The attacks hurtled towards one another, collided, and for a moment the was a moment of peaceful serenity as they pushed against one another harmlessly before erupting with an ear shattering roar.

The shock wave from the attack knocked be off my foot-paws and I crashed hard on my back, as it had to Jovani next to me. The air around me swirled viciously, making it hard to breath, before it finally it subsided and I was able to push myself up and view the results of the clash.

The ground where the two attacks had met was nothing but a frozen figure of twisted ice standing at least twelve feet tall. Their attacks had cancelled each other out! His flames freezing as the two attacks mixed, creating this twisted sculpture of ice.

My mind boggled as I tried to work out what was happening. Malakye didn't attack with flames, and yet his nen had this effect? He was a fire bender! My mind didn't dwell on the question for long as I immediately scoured the battlefield for signs of either of them.

Malakye and Kamir had suffered the effects of the attacks as I had. Kamir was slowly picking himself up from the ground while Malakye... my heart felt like it froze in my chest. He had been sent crashing back into the same building he had emerged from before! Only this time the wall hadn't given way under him! A large bloody stain on the stones above were Malakye now lay slumped, motionless and helpless, told the story of what had happened.

I heard the wolf chuckle menacingly and begin walking over to his fallen opponent. Malakye was helpless! I won't let that son-of-a-bitch harm my son!

I scrambled to my foot-paws, my nen surging, my eyes stinging with tears as I feared I wouldn't be able to get to him in time. I skid to a stop in surprise as Malakye's nen surged to life and he began to move.

Kamir also stopped his approach and watched as Malakye climbed back to his foot-paws, using the wall as support. His sword... where was his sword? My eyes darted across the battle field. It lay on the ground ten yards away from where he was now! There was no way he could get it before Kamir could get to him.

I readied myself to join the battle, gathering my nen in preparation of an all out attack and I could feel Jovani do the same a short distance behind me. Kamir turned to regard me, no doubt having sensed my nen. As I prepared to attack Malakye's nen changed. It now reeked of death, even more so than before! I could feel my scales prickle almost painfully with each pulse of power that radiated from him. It made something deep inside of me quiver in fear. A primal instinct that told me to run. I ignored it, but I couldn't move. I was frozen to the spot as the feeling of fear washed over me. His eyes... they weren't just red anymore... they were glowing red; the whites of his eyes now black!. He began to laugh. A sinister laugh... one that made an icy chill run up and down my spine.

With no warning at all Malakye lunged for Kamir, swiping at the wolf with nothing but his claws. The wolf backed away to avoid the attack before lunging forward himself, the pair now locked in a vicious combat of fangs and claws.

Malakye was terrifying! He assaulted the wolf with no fear, with nothing more that his bare claws as weapons. He bloodied the wolfs pelt with wounds, while avoiding his deadly jaws as they snapped at him. The exchange was brutal, fast and bloody. I couldn't keep track of their movements as they fought, never more than a few feet between them. It was over in less than a minute. Kamir's white pelt was now more crimson than white from the various wounds that covered his body, but he managed to finally land a blow on Malakye. Using his body to ram Malakye into a wall before he staggered away breathless.

Malakye slumped to the ground, sitting upright against the wall. His head rolled as he was disorientated from the blow. But as he opened his eyes they were no longer glowing. They were still red, but no longer glowing ominously and the blackness that had consumed the whites of his eyes had receded. He pushed himself up shakily, his legs looking like they might collapse from under him at any second, and began to stagger towards his sword.

Kamir did nothing but watch as Malakye staggered towards his weapon. As Malakye picked up the blade a sickening snap rang out. I turned to stare at Kamir as he began to change, more sickening snaps rang out as his bones snapped and reformed.

In a matter of moments he had changed from a feral wolf to a two legged wolf, but this one stood nearly nine foot tall, its neck and head engulfed in flames like a lions mane. The same flame flickered in his paws. His pelt still stained red with his own blood, but all of his wounds were gone. So this was the power of a wolven K'tan? The transformations disturbing and equally terrifying. Unlike the previous transformation into the feral wolf form, the strength of Kamir's nen hadn't changed.

"No more messing around!" Kamir snarled. "That beast is strong... but you're no match for me!"

What the hell was he talking about!?

I didn't get to think about it for long as he threw himself towards Malakye. I stood and stared at the battle, but it was over in an instant. Malakye was too weak to fight back properly. Before I could react Kamir had disarmed Malakye, his sword clattered as it fell and skid along the ground, and had then thrown Malakye across the courtyard. Malakye was little more than a rag doll as he flew through the air towards me. As he rolled across the ground I began to run towards him.

"Stop!" I heard him groan. He was in considerable pain, I could hear it in his voice. I slowed to a stop, now only a couple of yards away from him as he forced himself up to his knees.

He could barely hold his body up as he sat there and stared at me, one eye closed as small but constant stream of blood poured from a gash over his right eye. His body was littered with cuts and grazes, there was so much blood!

"Enough Kamir!" I yelled turning to the nine foot demon wolf, who had not made any move to attack. "I don't know what you're doing here but I won't let you harm my son!"

"I am avenging my son!" Kamir roared. "Even since that night...it would have been better if he had died!" Kamir sounded surprisingly emotional. "Your son crippled him! Scarred him! He survived... but is no longer capable of being the warrior he once was! I had thought your son had died in the explosions... but imagine my surprised when he attacked my pack!"

Malakye attacked them. But why had Kamir been here in the first place? He wouldn't simply attack with a single squad of wolves... even he was not powerful enough to try and overwhelm our defences by himself. He would do a lot of damage, but all it would take was a single arrow or spear to end his attack.

"I thought he was dead as well!" I said, not realising the words were out of my muzzle before I had already said them.

"Really now?" He chuckled. "Well that is interesting. I guess Callen is still up to his old tricks."

Callen?

"But I don't care about your family reunion!" He snorted.

I felt Malakye being to gather his nen, slowly building it up. I don't know what he was doing but he was obviously too weak to fight, he couldn't even stand. There was little doubt that Kamir could also sense what Malakye was doing. If I had to I will protect Malakye from this beast. He will not be taking another member of my family away from me!

"What is he doing?" Kamir snorted once more. I was surprised at how talkative the wolf was being. He was confident he could beat us. I wasn't surprised. But hopefully his over confidence would give me an opening. "If I have to I will kill you first. But one way or another I will be claiming your sons life!"

"Then you'd better kill me!" I snarled, my own nen surging through me as my body tensed to fight. "Because the only way you're getting to Malakye is over my dead body!"

Kamir snorted and tensed his body to charge, but at that same moment Malakye suddenly discharged the nen he had been gathering. He slammed his paws to the ground and his nen poured out of him and along the ground towards Kamir like a river. Kamir noticed this immediately and just stood there. He tensed as the river of nen washed around his foot-paws and continued to spread outwards around him. But other than the impressive pool of nen that was already stating to dissipate nothing happened.

"Father!" Malakye called out.

And suddenly I knew what this was. He had used his remaining strength to catch him in a trap. A moment later I snapped my fingers and fired a bolt of flame into the river of nen and watched as it ignited, a wave of flames following the river towards the wolf caught with it. I could see the glint of fear as Kamir realised what was happening. I smiled as I watched the wave of flames rush towards him. The split second before the flames reached him I felt his nen surge and then watched as he leapt through the air and onto the parapet along the cliff face. He had dodged it!

I stopped myself from cursing out loud and prepared to attack. Only Jovani was ahead of me. He was already atop the parapet and lunging towards Kamir with a sword raised. Jovani was fast! His nen surging through his body to enhance his speed. His affinity for lightning made his reactions incredibly fast. Kamir dodged the strike, but Jovani hadn't intended to strike him. He was creating an opening.

But once again I was too slow. Malakye's nen surged once more and suddenly a rush of nen hurtled past me and towards Kamir! I finally realised what Malakye had been doing. That rush of air as his nen passed me made everything clear. He was wind bending! The attack struck Kamir, the wolf had to have seen it coming but couldn't avoid it due as his attention had been on Jovani.

Kamir was struck by the buffeting winds, and although he had braced himself it staggered him backwards. his leg caught on the low wall the ran along the edge of the parapet and he fell. I couldn't believe what I had just seen. Jovani ran to the spot Kamir had fallen from and looked down. I knew that on the other side there was a sheer drop off the cliff face. Jovani turned and motioned that it was all clear and I breathed a sigh of relief and turned to face my son. He had fallen unconscious and was bleeding on the cold ground. I gathered him into my arms and attempted to rouse him but I got no response. He felt so cold... but he was still breathing. He needed medical attention! I heard Jovani approaching in a run.

"Give me your cloak!" I barked.

Jovani didn't hesitate and a moment later I was wrapping Malakye in it to try and keep him warm. I needed to get him to Callidus! I looked towards the inner gate, no one to be seen. Callidus must be watching from a distance. He wouldn't risk the warriors lives carelessly. The inner gate was the only way into Zangar from here.

"Jovani get Callidus!" I ordered.

"Here Master?"

"No... I need to get Malakye somewhere warm!" I said as I hoisted Malakye up with me as I stood. He was heavy, but I would manage. "I'm taking him home!"

"Yes Master!" Jovani said as he took off towards the gate.

"JOVANI!" I yelled after him. He stopped and turned. "Don't tell anyone what happened! Just get Callidus!

I'm honestly not sure why I gave him that order at that time. But I was silently relieved when he nodded in understanding and continued to run to find Callidus. Why did I tell him not to mention Malakye? I was certain beyond any doubt that this was Malakye. My son returned from the dead! But there were too many questions. Where had he been all this time? Why did his eyes glow red? As soon as word got out about his miraculous reappearance questions would be asked. Questions I didn't have the answer to. Questions I didn't want to try and answer until I had the truth. But the only way I was going to get the answers I wanted was from Malakye himself!