Chapter 7

Richard

The dragon pulled on my arm as she guided me through the maze of hallways, never breaking her sprint and turning corners with complete certainty. The clamor of battle were lost behind us, only a vague sense of danger prickled at the back of my mind courtesy of the king himself. My legs burned with exertion, my breath coming in tired pants until at last my legs gave in and I collapsed to the ground. Pain erupted from the recently healed wounds and forced a hiss out of me. The dragon noble stopped, impatience flashing in her eyes as she knelt next to me. Golden light irradiated from her hands; a soft warmth invaded my limbs, beating back the exhaustion. It became easier to breathe the longer the light coated my body, her smooth voice replaced the thrumming of blood in my ears.

"I'm afraid we don't have time to keep this up your grace, there could still be assassins waiting to ambush us," the dragon said before she stood up. With the gentle light of her magic gone, the darkness of the hallways gave her form a dangerous edge.

The king answered for me, worry clear in his mind and voice, "You think Waken and Dax have failed."

"No. I'm sure those two could hold up an army if it came to it," she said with a hint of amusement in her voice, helping me up with a clawed hand, "But there's more than one way to enter the palace and I'm not willing to wager your life, and my honor, in our enemy's incompetence."

"We're not trying to escape either," the king pointed out, bringing a smile into the scaly face.

"You're right, your grace. It wouldn't befit a king to escape because some outlaws decided to throw away their lives." The dragon's tail hit the ground with a loud thud, her brows furrowing with annoyance. "They're closing in, no time to talk."

The noble grabbed my arm once more and pulled me down the hallways, her pace relentless and unforgiving. Were it not for the king's help, I would have collapsed. A handful of agonizing minutes later, she guided me into a small room and closed the door with a bang. My hands met my knees as my body struggled to regulate my breath, the constant running pushing my lungs to their limits. A strange chant came from my side and a quick look revealed the dragon scratching something on the wooden door while lines of red spread all over its surface, forming rigid forms. A shiver ran down my spine. I was alone in a room with a mage. The eerie red of her lines evoking all those stories my parents told me about mages.

"It's okay, it's only a barrier. Think of it as a big metal door. It'll keep them out," the king voice rang through my mind, soothing and composed in spite of all that had transpired.

"And it'll keep us in, I don't see how that help us, Your Highness," I shot back with bitterness, my nerves more than a bit frayed after the night we had just gone through.

"Will it? I wonder about that." The king took control of our body then, our eyes scanning the room. A few chairs and sofas were spread all over the room with ornate metal tables laying by their side, a large rug covered the center of the room, it's red color faded by years of service. Paintings hung on the cream walls while a chandelier identical to the one in my old room lit the room with a clear light. It seemed like a simple enough waiting room for me and I was just about to voice my displeasure once more when relief came from the king.

The new emotion left me speechless. We were safe for the moment, that much I could understand, but we were also trapped. If the assassins came through that door it would be over, there were no windows to escape through, no other doors to make a quick getaway. Surely, in such a situation, one would be panicking or at least thinking of a way out. Yet the king expressed relief so profound the assassins blades wouldn't reach him.

The king didn't give me much time to wonder his motives before he drew closer to the center of the rug. With a wave of our hand, a light blue glow spread through the rug, followed by a deep rumble. The floor opened before us like a wooden mouth, revealing a narrow staircase flanked by sky blue flames. The king flashed the dragon a proud smile.

"So, shall we Evanise?" the king said, offering her a hand in invitation.

"After you, your Grace." She shook her head slightly, pointedly keeping her eyes away from the hole in the floor. The smile fell from the king's face, his thoughts turning heavy once more in our shared mindscape.

"Very well then, don't fall behind." With those words said, the king entered the new passage. A few steps down the way, another rumble reached our ears followed by the disappearance of the room's white light, casting the hallway in a ghostly blue shade. The king remained calm the whole way down, a soft tune on his lips while unease stewed in my stomach. Going underground with a battle raging above us wasn't a plan I cherished, the thought of being buried alive an ever present threat.

The hallway came to an end some time later, presenting a large circular room to our eyes. Happiness crossed the king's mind as our eyes gazed at the large columns surrounding a small pool at the center of the room. He walked forward with confidence, a thrumming power shaking our body as we walked into the room. There was a sense of familiarity to it all, a deep nostalgia that came from the king and that picked up my interest. Our hand extended towards the water, the cool liquid parting around our hand and sending a bolt of electricity through it. The world grew dimmer around us, sound and color draining until I could only feel one thing: a vast consciousness.

Refreshing cool tendrils spread throughout my body, consuming my mind until I couldn't tell where it began and I ended. But instead of fear, my heart was filled with comfort and peace. The king's presence became dimmer and dimmer at the edges of my mind, a pulse of reassurance came from him moments before he disappeared and I was left alone in this sea of thoughts. Time lost meaning as I hung in the embrace of the consciousness. My memories, my thoughts, my very being opened to this strange influence. It fogged up my mind until I could not longer think. And then, it was gone, leaving me in a crushing emptiness. My mind couldn't think, my body couldn't feel and even my soul stopped.

The next thing I know, light is assaulting my eye. A blurred mix of colors and shapes speeding before me. My mind began moving once again, thoughts forming one after the other in a frenzied train of emotions. Surprise. Fear. Curiosity. Anger. They clashed and mixed together as my brain struggled to make sense of everything. A few moments of uncertainty passed before the shapes came into focus. A large room, similar to the one I had been trapped in the past few days, stood before me, its furniture worn but proud. A thin shape rested on the bed, thick sheets draped over a gray furred form. Sightless eyes looked at me, white and unfocused; a pungent smell invaded my nose, rotten and nauseating, and turned my stomach into knots. Ragged breaths came from the old wolf while clawed hands extended to grasp empty air. I turned my face away, unable to look at the dying wolf.

A flurry of steps came from the side before the door burst open with a bang. A wild eyed wolf, his fine clothes haphazardly put on while his silver fur stood up in worry. The lupine dashed into the room, tripping with his own feet in his haste. A grunt left the thin male at the impact but he didn't stay on his knees long and half-crawled, half-ran the rest of the way towards the bed. Silver furred hands took hold of gray ones as tears ran down the younger wolf's muzzle.

"Father! Father, I'm here!" cried the wolf, concern and pain dripping from his words. The old wolf's ears flicked at the sound, a shadow of recognition crossed the man's eyes and wrinkled lips shifted into a tired smile.

"You finally made it, Darrien," the gray wolf said with a raspy voice, a high wheezing coming after every word, "For a moment I thought you wouldn't reach me before--"

A string of coughs interrupted the lupine, the sound ominous and grave. The old wolf body writhed on the bed while his son could do nothing but watch in abject horror. Heavy steps turned my attention towards the door moments before a broad shouldered bull entered into the room. Conflicted golden eyes fell upon the pair of wolves, the bovine's muzzle parted slightly but no words came out. The large bovine turned his gaze away and silently closed the door behind him, his tail whipping the air behind him. It was clear he felt as much as intruder as I did. A few seconds later, the coughing stopped and a heavy silence fell upon the room. The wizened man struggled to fight, words turning into whizzes as soon as he opened his muzzle.

"It's okay father, you, you don't have to speak right now. We can wait until you're feeling better," the son said with a fake cheerful tone, his ears folded close to his skull.

"The oath...broken...the sorceress...," the old wolf started with a broken voice, the rotten smell growing stronger, "the sorceress...betrayed...careful...curse...never thought... she... never..."

"Father, father is okay, you can tell me this later! Get some rest, please."

"Retribution...come...careful...needed... anymore... it's your... your choice... my son... my light... I... love... you... it's your... choice..."

A golden light covered from the king's hand, scarlet lines cut through the king's arm and took the shape of a behemoth's head, regal but imposing. From the lines, thin ropes of scarlet rose and slithered across the arms until they sunk in the silver furred arm, The brand vanished from the elder's arm and glowed hot red in his son's arms before they retreated under the skin. The golden light faded, the old wolf's hand grew slack and his eyes lost the focus they had gained. Only the soft wheezing that came with his every breath assured me he was still alive. The younger male sunk his head in his father's chest, his shoulders shook with his heartbroken cries that dug daggers deep into my heart.

Powerful legs carried the bull across the room in a few strides, kneeling by the younger wolf's side. Gentle arms hugged the lupine to him, his voice rumbling close to those folded ears, too low for me to hear. Whatever it was, it only made the silver wolf cry harder as he clung to the still body. The scene shifted, the colors blurring once more before they revealed a small pool, filled with an iridescent liquid. Two dark shapes danced in its depth, the sight filling me with a sudden euphoria and nostalgia. An eerie chant reached my ears as ropes of red crawled around the pool's edge. An earthy scent assaulted my senses, potent and thick, bringing me to my knees. My chest burned with a mix of emotions that didn't feel like my own and my throat refused to utter a single sound. I felt the air leave my body at the next moment. Two familiar figures stepped out of the water, their forms surrounded by a soft blue glow. The red ropes shot towards them, hugging them with a fiery glow. Strange symbols dashed across their skin, dangerous and ancient.

A horrible chill blew from behind me, an eerie green glow bathing the room as cold slimy fingers wrapped around my arm in a stiff hold. Pain shoot through my arm as a sickening green brand shone for all to see, revealing a slender form cloaked in shadows. I trashed against the hold, legs and arm hitting the shadowy figure with all I had. A lucky hit sent it sprawling back, emerald fire dancing across its crimson skin. It was then when those hateful blue eyes shattered my world.

Waken

The scent of blood, death and waste was heavy in the air. The cries from my men muffled by the blood flowing through my ears. A high-pitched whistle reached my ears and my muscles moved on their own. My arm lifted my shield high while my hooves dug deep into the ground. My body shook when the hammer hit the metal and my shield let out a dull ring. A shout of defiance rose from my throat as I used his momentum to turn my hips faster and sink my mace deep into his gut, sparks flying from his armor. The monstrous bear stumbled back with a growl, blood thirsty eyes filled with anger. A backswing of his mace kept me at bay and another swing deflected my next attack, leaving my hand tingling. I snorted in frustration and dashed forward with my shield held high; his hammer came crashing down, my mace rose up ready to end the nightmare. Once, twice, three times The clang of steel on steel rang through the air; sparks danced over his warhammer's shaft, the hard metal barely bent with the hit while my shield arm trembled from all the hits it had taken. My mace cut through the air, anger fueling the strike, and stroke true on the bear's shoulder. Blood poured from his wound in small streams but I didn't have a chance to swing again; my instincts screamed danger at me and I jumped backward, just in time to see the hammer's head grazed the tip of my muzzle, promising death.

I gritted my teeth and glared at the bear, a growl of my own in my throat. Red eyes, filled with hate, met my own, a sadistic glint reflecting in those orbs. The bear shot me a wicked grin, dropping his hammer to the ground as he let out a mocking laugh.

"What's wrong? Tired already? Is that really all you got cow?! I thought you were the best warrior of the demon king," Gorrick said with venom in his voice, "Didn't you say that you'd kill me? That you'd make me pay for your precious king? Or was that all just some empty words from a broken knight?!"

"Shut up! Don't you sully him with your words!"

"My words? Ha ha, you think my words would sully the demon? After all you've done, after all the lives you've stolen. You think I didn't make him pay when we had him." He rose his hammer high in the air, the blood of my knights and his own men dripping down its blunt end- "He cried for you, you know? For days, every time I broke his body for all the souls he condemned, every time our lady scratched his souls for his secrets, he cried out for you. He almost seemed human then."

His words buzzed in my ears while the guilt ate my stomach. My mind conjured the images easily. The lone wolf alone in some cell, the sadistic bear and some foul mage torturing him day and night. My king's voice rung at the back of my mind, calling out for me with a raspy voice just like I found him that day. The vacant eyes, the burned flesh, the whimpers of pain. My blood boiled with anger and my legs propelled me forward. The bear's grin widened, his mace glowed red as he let out a bone shaking roar. The impact pushed the air out of my lungs and flung me to the far side of the room, my vision flashed green for a moment and I heard glass shatter behind me. I blacked out for some time and woke up to a world of pain. A high pitched whistle rang in my ears, stripes of red filling my vision. The titanic figure of the bear drew closer, swinging his hammer with malicious glee.

I willed my body to get up, to end the beast in front of me but my groaning muscles wouldn't even budge. My fingers scratched the floor, trying and failing to find purchase with their reduced strength. The taste of iron filled my mouth, a thick liquid sliding down my muzzle. The bear was closer now, those red eyes screaming bloody murder. I knew it then. I had failed and this monster would be the death of me. His words echoed in my mind, his threat, his promises, all the horrible things he would do to my king, my Darrien.

"Damn it, damn it all!" I shouted in my mind, the crushing impotence consumed my very soul. After all these years, all these challenges we had gone through together, I'd fall when my king needed me most.

Gorrik stopped in front of me and crushed my head with his dirty boot. Gibberish came from his mouth, his thundering voice making my powerless body quiver. I saw the glint of his hammer rise, no doubt to strike me down once and for all. I couldn't bear the shame, the anger or the disappointment. I closed my eyes, waiting for it all to come to an end, this time for sure. Time slowed down as death galloped towards me; every heart beat lasted forever and my mind cleared for the first time in weeks.

"Are you giving up now?" asked a familiar voice inside my mind, "Is this the extent of your devotion? Your loyalty?"

"Father? Have you come for me?" I shouted in my mind, the blood in my mouth preventing me from speaking, "I lost. I can't move anymore. I can't beat him."

"That never stopped me, nor our family or our king. For more than five hundred years." the voice reproached me, its tone deep and stern.

"You had your king, Father. I lost mine."

"Have you? Then how are you speaking to me? Remember our oath Waken, remember."

A memory rose to the front of my mind: a pool of gold, a set of tired eyes, words sworn before an altar, secrets passed from an aging king. I gritted my teeth and focused deep into myself, towards the link I had thought lost. A spark of power poured from it, a drip in a river that once ran freely, but still I drank from it. A current of electricity coursed through my body, breathing new life into broken limbs. The hammer came towards me, a deadly flash of metal. My body shifted under the boot and my shield took the hit for my head. The impact sent me skidding over the ground until I crashed against the barrier. I took stock of where I was quickly: my back touching the barrier, a couple of meters between me and the bear, a glint of metal to my right. Gorrik's face morphed with anger, an earth shaking roar leaving his muzzle as he charged towards me. His hammer lifted high, aiming towards my head. I threw myself to the side at the last moment, a loud explosion came from my side followed by a heavy thud; pieces of green energy rained around me, the only remnants of the barrier. The titanic bear laid on his back a few paces from me. His roar of pain crushed the expectant silence his fall had brought; the bear clutched the gory mess of his paw high in the air. I wouldn't have another chance.

I dashed towards the glint of metal, my shield arm hanging uselessly at my side. My body screamed in protests when I grabbed my mace, the weapon was heavy like a barrel of lead. I turned back towards Gorrik, the titan had gotten back on his feet, gripping his hammer with his remaining paw. We charged at each other, weapons ready for the final clash. He swung high, aiming for my head but my mace stopped it before he built enough momentum. My hoof launched towards his knee and forced a grunt out of the bear. He pushed me back with his monstrous strength and swung again, this time aiming for my hanging arm. Stars flashed across my eyes as the hammer rattled my bones with the hit, my shield dented beyond repair. A bellow of pain left my muzzle, enough distraction for me to break his knee with my mace and bring an end to the demon with one final swing. I fell to my hands and knees, my body burning with exhaustion.

I lift my head tiredly, the edges of my vision filled with assassins and knights staring at me, their movements frozen. A cry shattered the silence and all hell broke lose. Shouts and screams echo through the room as the assassins pushed against each other, trying to get away. I watched my knights give them no quarter, destroying their rear guard with vengeful attacks. Bolts of magic flew overhead, followed by the crunch of bone and steel. A wave of nausea rocked my body, making me retch as my darkness swallowed my vision: Blood pumped in my ears, beating like frenzied drums in a festival. An eternity passed with only the scorching pain in my muscles and the cold air brushing my fur filling my mind. I gritted my teeth and struggled to focus on my breathing. Years of experience guided me through the motions, though this backslash was one of the worst I've ever had. The needles of pain coming from my nerves betraying I wasn't going to be walking out of this one. A resigned smile twisted my bloodied lips, knowing my king would scold me when we met. The thought of the wolf split my heart in happiness and despair, the two fighting for my attention as forcefully as I had against Gorick. On one hand, the talk with my father and the return of my power were undeniable proof that Darrien still held a bond with the World, and maybe, just maybe, that would be enough to bring him back, to right my mistake. On the other hand however, the return of those things only highlighted the most important absence of them all. The cold emptiness that throbbed painfully in my chest, right where our bond once flourished. Our trump card and our lifeline. Our way to privately share our burdens. It had been one of the few concessions of the World; a gift and a curse in equal parts. I bellowed out my pain through the thick blood, the vibrations in my throat and chest reminding me I was still alive.

I let out a gasp of surprise when a gentle hand took hold of my hand, the soft feathers caressing my calloused skin. Tingles danced across my skin as a stream of cool energy traveled up my arm. My drained muscles relaxed under the constant flow of energy, bringing a relieved smile to my tired face. The energy reached my chest, soothing the pain and spreading all over my torso. First, the burning in my stomach calmed, then the aches of my muscles receded and a few moments later it became easier to breath. I snorted a few times, the scent of sandalwood feeling too powerful for my recovering nose, yet I was also relieved, for I only knew one person that would carry that scent into a battlefield. My suspicions were confirmed when my sight returned and Dax's concerned face came into focus. I gave him a drained smile and nod before my eyes focused past him, needing to asses the situation. Around me stood several of my knights, concern marked in their faces and hands lazily holding their weapons. Between their legs I could see the remains of the battle. Many corpses were strewn over the floor, lifeless and bloody. The armored legs I caught walking this way and that were enough to guess the battle was over, hopefully in our favor.

My eyes fell back on the mage, just in time to see his beak move quickly while his eyes glared at me with an edge of accusation. I tried to read his lips for any clues, but beaks were less than ideal for it and my hearing was stubbornly absent. Minutes passed with the crow talking fast, likely giving me a sermon if the set of his shoulders was anything to go by. Then he stopped, his green eyes filled with worry. His beak moved again but after a few moments, he pointed towards my ears. I huffed with resignation and shook my head, earning a look of disappointment from the old crow. Even with Dax's skill, it was several minutes before my hearing returned. The cries of my fellow knights were the first things that rattled my ears, a withering look from Dax more than enough to keep them all at bay. Heedless to my wound, I gave new orders to my subordinates, my parched throat leaving me with a raspy voice. Their departure was soon followed with an hour long lecture from the mage, squeaks of indignation sneaking between sentences. I was too tired by then to put up a fight. I laid down on the ground and let the mage continue his tirade.

The better part of an hour passed before I could move my arm again, to an extend, and stand on my own two hooves again. It didn't take a genius to figure out the old crow was none too pleased at that, but the drain of the battle was clear in the shaking of his arms. We didn't have much time to argue over it before Evanise rushed into the room, her eyes filled with ice cold determination. Without exchanging a word and with a quick glare of defiance, she pulled us away from our subordinates and guided us to a secluded corner but even then, she spoke only in whispers.

"I took the king to the Chamber and took care of the assassins on my way here but," her breath caught in her throat, a shadow of doubt crashing her confident eyes, "I don't think the king will last past this week."