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Chapter 7

Richard

I stared at my arm under the soft light, the bronze skin was covered by a light layer of brown fur. Besides a pale tone, it looked healthy and seamless. There were no scars, no lines, no strange shapes like the ones I saw whenever I closed my eyes. The memories of that green brand simmered in my mind, twisting my stomach in knots. I grumbled and sunk my hand in the glowing waters of the circular pool; the cold little did little to cool my anger but the tingling running up my arm distracted me long enough to quiet my thoughts. The sound of heavy steps brought me out of my thoughts, my body tensed as the fear of another attack ran through my mind. I shot up to my feet, the sudden change in altitude made the world spin around me and made me lean against one of the thick columns that supported the room. A few seconds later, a familiar bull crossed through the archway. His pace was hesitant and unsure, the click of his hooves on the ground echoing in the round chamber. Waken eyes settled on me after a quick search and with a few large strides closed the distance between us.

“Your majesty, it’s good to see you’re doing well,” the bull said with his usual rumble, the edges of his lips betraying his happiness. He gave me a stiff bow, a few stiffled grunts coming from the bull as he stood back up.

“The king is not here at the moment Waken, hasn’t been for a while,” I admitted, watching as the bull’s shoulders dropped slightly, “But it’s good to see you too. I mean it and I’m sure he would too.”

The bull gave me a reluctant nod, a scowl appearing on his face only for a moment before he gave one of his relaxed smiles. A warmth spread through my chest, bashful and happy, lifting some of the weight that this night had forced on my shoulders. I chuckled, amused by how true those words had turned out to be after a night of almost dying.

“Your highness?” the bull asked, worry flashing on those honest golden eyes.

“Richard. Please, call me Richard, Waken,” I said, taking the biggest risk I had since my attempted escape. A name was a powerful thing, or so my mom had said, and yet, I had told him mine without torture or threats; not even a deal. The bull stared at me for a few moment, his tail flicking madly behind him until he nodded, a saddened smile appearing on his lips.

“So Darrien is sleeping right now your hig- Richard?”

“I think so, I can’t feel him up there. Maybe he’s sleeping, maybe he’s resting, maybe he’s thinking, a lot happened tonight after all.” He kept his left arm close to his side, the black fur of his arm bare for the world to see and almost hiding the trembling of his hand.

“Yeah, he can be like that at times, carrying the weight of the kingdom on his shoulders,” the bull’s tone was nostalgic and heavy, like a bitter truth written in an old book.

“Are you okay?” Waken asked, his eyes focused on the fur covering my arms. My hands clenched, my mouth went dry and words eluded my mind.

A few seconds passed before I could reply, my voice breaking as I spoke, “I, I think so. The dragon, Evanise, she healed us, healed me before we got here. The fur didn’t come out until, until I touched the pool. It’s been growing ever since, a little bit at a time.”

“She’s still mad at you for trying to escape. She would be scolding you something fierce if it wasn’t for...that,” the bull said offhandedly, his eyes fixed on the glowing pool.

“And you aren’t?”

“Heh, no, I am too but I’ve been with Darrien long enough that I’ve gotten used to these things. This isn’t even close to the worst we’ve gone through.”

“He sounds like quite a handful, even in his memories he’s always pushing forward, completely certain that’s he’s right,” I couldn’t help the venom that dripped from my voice and regretted it as soon as it came out, fearing I had broken the only friendship I had in this place. I turned my face away, glancing into the magical waters of the pool in shame. I could feel his eyes on my back. I could picture the anger in his eyes and the tension in his body. But I couldn’t stop my next words from coming out, “Why do you follow him?”

“Because he cares, he really cares. About the kingdom, the people, their future,” the bull’s tone was solid and powerful, a statement of a universal truth in his own world. Very much like him. “Not every ruler cares for their kingdom, even less care for their people. Power drives their minds: acquiring it, retaining it, losing it, trading it. There’s no end to their machinations and no low they won’t fall to.”

“And your king is different? How? Does he no go to war for power or are the battles in the north just a show? Does he not fight assassins and cultists or was that all a dream? Does he not try to keep his lords in check? Or takes taxes from his people or make laws? Aren’t you one of the brains behind it all?”

“Because we won’t get eternity, neither through words or deed. There won’t be songs, or legends, or celebrations. There won’t be stories of us and we will be forgotten sooner rather than later. We are just buying time for others, hoping they’ll grow well and keep clear heads.”

“What do you mean? Who are you buying time for? What does that have to do with this?” I faced the bull with anger burning in my throat and clenched fist, ready for a fight with words and more, but his resigned expression doused my anger. He stepped closer towards the pool, golden light gathering in the waters near his hooves.

“You saw it, didn’t you? When you touched the pool. We all have at some point.”

“We? You mean the king and his council?.” the bull shook his head, an amused smile on his lips. His hand pierced the waters, tinting the pool in a radiant yellow.

“No, not the council. I mean the Rulers and their Loyal Knights.”

“Rulers? Knights? The kings and queens?” Waken stood a little straighter, a somber shadow crossing his eyes before he looked towards me. He had an ancient air about him, like a ruin you see by the road. A relic of an ancient time.

“Yes, I mean the kings and queens, along with one knight from each generation.”

“Only one? Wouldn’t they need more people on their side?” a rueful smile appeared on his feature, his tail beating relentlessly against his greaves.

“The less people know, the better. That’s the way with ancient magic.”

“Then, why tell me? Wouldn’t it be better if I knew nothing? I mean, thanks for trusting me and all that, but I don’t want to die for a secret that’s not mine to keep,” I said with an irritated tone, my hands forming fists.

Waken regarded me for a few seconds, his golden eyes searching for something in me. His nostrils flared a few times before he approached me and set a heavy hand on my shoulder. A shiver ran down my spine, the heavy grip from the bull’s hand setting me ill at ease.

“I’m afraid that’s no longer the case Richard. I’m sorry, I’m truly sorry.” There was something about his tone, his words, that left me frozen, unable to form words. A part of my mind wanted to think it was magic, a spell of some sort meant to keep me in place for their evil deeds but the sadness and regrets in those golden orbs told another story.

We didn’t speak anymore until Dax dashed into the room, a small chest cradled under his arm. The crow’s robes were a mess, the shiny fabric covered in soot and dust. Bloodshot eyes stared at the two of us, worry etched in those orbs. The crow cleared his throat a few times, his usual chatter no where to be found.

“Your highness, Waken. I’m, I’m sorry for the delay, gathering the materials wasn’t as easy as I had hoped,” the crow started after a few minutes, his hand holding his cane in a tight grip.

“Can we begin the ritual at once?” Waken asked, his body tense and unyielding.

“Yes, we can. Though once more I must remind you the chances of this working are-”

“No worse than anything that we may try at this rate. I know, I wouldn’t do it if we had any other choice.”

A heavy air hung between the two, their bodies filled with tension while uncertainty flashed in their eyes, uncertainty about me if their discreet glances were anything to go by. Neither of them seemed willing to break the impromptu silent as if the gods themselves had ordered it so but I was never good at keeping my mouth shut.

“What ritual are you talking about? What does this have to do with me?” realization coursed through my mind as I saw the look in Waken’s face. His last words to me, the visions I had seen. It all clicked together. “It’s not about me, it’s about the king. His silence, you knew.”

The bovine knight sighed, confirming my suspicions. Golden eyes looked my way, conflict abounding in the golden field.

“Yes, I did, but only recently. I felt it during the battle, when I was about to die. You touched the pool then and brought back our connection, if only for a brief moment. It took me a few hours to understand what had happened, what it meant. Like I said, only Knights and Rulers know about this.” The bull took the chest from Dax, signaling him towards the door with an impatient move from his muzzle. The crow gave me one last look, his beak parting slightly before he left the room in a bundle of cloth. I glared at the knight, standing my ground with what courage remained in me.

“And what is this? What is this ritual you’re talking about?”

“Our only shot at recovering Darrien and the only way to keep you alive,” Waken replied with a tired voice, setting the chest in the ground. A deep rumble shook the chamber as a wall rose up from the ground, blocking the only exit.

“What do you mean by that? Wasn’t Dax working on a way to lift my ‘curse’?”

“He was but it’s too late. That fur, that’s only the beginning. This curse was never meant for you Richard, it was meant for Darrien, to kill him. Our efforts slowed it down, but now. Now Darrien’s power is fading and the moment he’s gone, you won’t last a day,” the knight said with a heavy tone. He took some vials out of the chest, glancing at them for only a minute before setting them aside.

“And you know this by this bond of yours? Sorry Waken, I’m not buying it.” The knights lifted his eyes to look at me, anger crossing his eyes for a moment before he let out a resigned snort.

“Look, I know this is a lot to ask—”

“On a hunch and some mystical bond you’re not explaining to me.”

“Yeah, on that, but these things seldom let you take your time with them. As it is, you’re getting more going in than any of us ever did.”

“And what exactly am I getting besides being dragged into a ritual?”

“The truth, the whole of it, and a chance at freedom. If everything goes well,” he said with doubt dripping from his voice.

“If?” I asked with a heart gripped by fear. The bull didn’t answer at once, taking out a pair of crystal globes from the chest. He picked up the vials then, not other sound but the jingling of his armor coming from him as he made his way towards the pool. Thick viscous fluids rained from the vials into the water moments later, the golden light replaced by a powerful verdant green.

“We— we never had to do it like this. There was always a guide for it all, one of the Old Guard,” he said after a few seconds, his eyes focused into the now crimson waters, “And the process never had a curse involved.”

“And you can’t get one of this Old Guard to join us? Their services could come in handy right about now!”

“They’re all dead and without our bond, I can’t talk with them either. I thought, maybe being here would let me talk to one of them. My father or the last king but, but there’s nothing, even my bond with Darrien is weakening.”

“So, that’s it? We’re going in blind and praying for the best? You’re betting my life on that chance?!”

“I’m betting OUR lives on this Richard. If you die, I’ll die too, that’s the way of things,” he shouted, his fist crashed against the ground, cracking the stone. A pregnant silence took hold of the room, not even our breathing dared to break it.

“And I don’t get a choice?” I finally said after what felt like an eternity.

“Our death is set in stone if we don’t do this ritual. There’s no way around it. However, you do get a choice.” Waken closed the distance between us, handing me one of the crystal orbs with a gentle hand. “First choice, you refuse to do this ritual and I’ll lower that wall over there. You’ll get one, maybe three days, to live your life as you want and I promise to make your passing as painless as possible. You can also ask me to end your life right here, right now. As a...friend, I don’t want to see you hurting and I can promise you, you won’t feel a thing before the end.”

“My third choice is the ritual, then?”

“Yes, your third choice is entering with me in that pool, willingly, and trust me with your life. If we’re lucky, it’ll turn out fine, if we aren’t...well, my offer is still on the table.”

“There’s no fourth choice?” the bull looked away, like a scolded child, his tail twisting around his leg.

“No, at least none I can think of.”

“Can I know why? Why is this ritual necessary? Why are you and the king involved in this shit? Why did I get involved in all of this?”

“Maybe, if it all goes well. I don’t have the answers myself. It was never part of my role to know the intricacies of the kingdom. I was its shield and its hammer, the keeper of order. Darrien was always the one with the plan and the answers.”

“Can I think about it?” I asked the knight, wishing the solution would appear in the crystal orb in my hands. The bull only snorted and went back to the chest, leaving me alone with my thoughts. My stomach twisted in knots, my sweaty hands struggled to keep hold of the crystal ball. The air grew thick, making every breath harder than the last while a sour taste filled my mouth. It was a hard choice. If what Waken said was true, then my only shot at ever being free again depended on some ritual even the knight had doubts of. On the other hand, if he was lying and I let him do the ritual, my very soul could be at stake. My blood boiled at the thought of a lie from the knight. It was an unbearable betrayal, one that I would not expect from a relationships of only a few weeks. Then again, during all this madness, the bovine knight had been the only constant, my only source of support and information.

I looked over at the knight, the tall bull hunched over the wooden chest; shoulders set with a heavy weight and tail brushing the floor with each tired swing. Sadness clung to him like a mantle, loneliness clasping it over his shoulders. I took a step towards him, a part of me begging me to help, but I stopped when a string of grumbles and growls came from the knight. He hit the floor with desperate strength, huge fists unleashing their titanic strength before a loud bellow left his muzzle, deep and full of anguish. The bovine’s shoulders shook in time with his desperate sobs, crumbling to the floor, utterly defeated and spent. The sight of the broken knight sent shivers down my spine. The emotion was raw, like a festering wound. It was a far cry from the knight I had met in that damned cell or the overprotective bull that had watched over me with zealous devotion.

My heart made it clear to me then, as much as I hated to admit, I couldn’t doubt Waken. Reckless and loyal to a fault, the bull had been the only one who had been honest with me through it all. The mage had kept much from me and messed with my mind; the king had given me few answers and more troubles than I cared to count; the dragon was quick and efficient, in a way that made me wary of her every move. My feet carried towards the bull, the knots in my stomach diminishing with every step. A hesitant hand settled on the bulls neck, caressing the surprisingly soft fur in a vaguely familiar way. Teary golden eyes turned my way, lost and torn. I took a deep breath and organized the jumbled of thoughts in my mind, my decision already made.

“I’ll do it, Waken. For my sake and yours,” I told him, fighting through the knot forming in my throat. The bull gave me a minute nod, rubbing his face clean with his hand before he pulled me into a trembling hug. Fear raced through me as the thick arms enveloped but his hold remained gentle and caring. The hug grounded me, the warmth of his body muffled my fear and reminded me I wouldn’t be alone, and in this moment, that was worth more than a palace full of gold.

Waken let go of me a few moments later, a determined glint in his eyes. I confirmed my decision with a nod, unwilling to go back on my word. His nose flared with amusement before he gave me a nod of his own and went back to searching for something in the chest. Moments later we were both in front of the blood red pool, a crystal orb in our grasp.

“Last chance Richard. There’s no going back after this,” the bull said, grasping a silver medallion in his left hand.

“There’s not much to look forward to if I don’t do it either,” I declared with finality, stepping closer to the strange pool. The knight snorted, his solid presence keeping my nerves at bay. “I’ll take this wager and hope to succeed, that’s the way I’ve always lived. Or should I say, that’s the way I always thought I lived.”

The bull threw the medallion into the pool, the metal sinking with a soft pop into the thick waters. A soft golden light appeared on the bottom moments later, golden lighting spread from it, flying across the room with wild vigor. Besides me, the knight knelt and lifted his orb high with his paws. A stream of lighting struck the crystal moments later. The orb lit up like a star and released an unbearable heat. I understood the meaning of the bull’s words then; I bit my lips until I drew blood, the ferrous taste filled my mouth and drove me forward. I imitated the bull’s movements and I didn’t have to wait long before the cool touch of the orb was replaced by a scorching heat. I felt deep stabs of pains come from my left forearm, a cold disgusting sensation spreading through the muscles. The orb almost fell from my arms when the sensation got stronger and more insistent, almost as if enraged by the pool’s light. My mind went blank when the cold feeling reached the tip of my fingers, the light burning my fingers like fire. My left arm throbbed with pain, its cold daggers digging deeper into my flesh. The orb remained stuck to my other hand, its searing power spreading through my body with astounding speed. My body was frozen in place and I became a prisoner as the two powers battled for dominance. I wanted to cry out, to make it all end, to avoid the mind numbing crashes of the two forces wrecking my body apart. Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to open my eyes, catching a glimpse of the golden pool before the brilliance made me shy away from it.

A reckless idea possessed my mind, driven by both desperation and anger. I needed to lean over a bit, to regain control of my body for a few seconds. A wave of nausea washed over my body, the coldness in my left arm opposing the notion with all its might. It was all the confirmation I needed. I focused my whole will on my back, ordering it to move forward. The muscles stretched and tensed with every thought, inclining me forward ever so slowly. The coldness renewed its assault, coiling around my lungs with an unrelenting hold, its message quite clear. I felt hope slipping away as darkness crept at the edges of my vision, a clear herald of death. My will alone was not enough, my body was not my own. I was going to be swallowed by these two and there was nothing I could do about it. A new presence brushed my mind then, kind but full of guilt.

“It is time Richard,” the king said, his voice tired and heavy. He didn’t give me a chance of react before he gathered his own will and tilted our body all the way. Air rushed over our ears before liquid took me into its warmth hold. I felt the orb explode in my hold moments later, followed by an anguished cry. The coldness in my hand boiled with anger, losing its hold of my arm as my body burned. I felt another body slam into mine, heavier and broader, followed by another explosion that shot pellets against my skin. Thick arms hugged me tightly before it all faded away in a sea of white