Thanatos and the Elven army followed Urkse’s orders without delay. They marched in the dead of night; cold, exhausted and starving.Thanatos’s right arm had been ripped off, after Urkse had heard about the death of Rai. He had a lethargic walk, and his bloodied stump was packed tight with gauze and cloth.Urkse sat atop a makeshift palanquin, with the weary warriors, struggling to keep him stable. Urkse sucked on his teeth and snarled.“Tell me again. Why the fuck, did you spare the scouts you found? But decided to kill the Grand Mage I was planning to pin the blame on?” He asked glaring at Thanatos.“I-“ “DON’T FUCKING SPEAK!” Urkse snapped, slamming his fist down.Everyone jumped, their nerves shot.“It was a damn rhetorical question. I know the answer. You’re all fucking stupid. Now instead of capturing the Citadel, you’ll have to conquer it.”He slumped back, letting out a long exasperated sigh, rubbing his tired face.The ink from his flask seeped out, revealing a transcript of Y
Ul’lanna followed behind, Yamada and Jacara. The air was thick with anger and irritation. They had heard the roars in the distance, but pressed forward. Both were biding a silent rage.“Ul’lanna, how long is the trip to the Silver City?” Yamada asked.“Roughly five months, the safest route is the longest.”Jacara was silent in understanding. They needed to stay hidden.“And the shortest and fastest route?” Yamada asked.“If we cut across Pest Peak, it will take us only two months to arrive.” She said reluctantly. “But that path is filled with Drakens, and isn’t worth the risk.”Jacara and Yamada shared a mutual glance.“Hey, your father and Gwyneth, wanted you both to be safe. So stick to the plan.” She ordered.The two of them shrugged, and kept their heads down marching through the forest. Ul’lanna let out a sigh of relief.Vexgar and Axilas’s division had killed over a hundred Wyrms, and ran themselves ragged. They had still done their job and created space between the Drakens and
The terrified and enraged denizens of the Citadel, cursed and booed at the Keep. Chanting their frustrations. The newly knighted and terrified mages joined the crowd, with the old guard attempting to keep the peace.The council room was filled with a quiet dread. Cin slumped over the table, with Aerith massaging his head. Entering one’s Draken state gave tremendous power, and several advantages depending on your hierarchy.However with each transformation, you would pay with your sanity. Eventually succumbing to primal instincts.Gwyneth wore a silk dress, rather than her armour, clutching her stomach. Her injuries weren’t fully healed, and the transformation had taken its toll.Soel and the Grand Knights shared several jugs of mead and wine.The discovery of Urkse’s betray was not what concerned them the most. Nor was Encara’s withered and black haired body, nodding off in his chair.Axilas broke the silence, as Vexgar crushed a handful of walnuts in his hand. “What is our next plan?
Morning came and the citizens of the Citadel went to work with a sense of looming dread. When would the next attack happen? Could their army defend them? Was it worth staying?Gwyneth woke up, feeling Encara asleep by her bedside. He had pushed himself past his limits. His skin completely pruned, and his hair jet black.She rolled out of bed, wincing at the sharp pain still lingering in her gut. He had sealed the internal injuries to a stable state, but not the muscles.Gwyneth grunted lifting Encara into her bed, and getting dressed. She left him in her room, and walked out to see Miranda in the kitchen.Her face scowling at Gwyneth. “You broke your oath.” She growled, clenching her fist.Gwyneth was silent, and took a seat beside her.“You swore that, you would never enter your Draken state.”“Would you rather have died out there?” “Yes!” Miranda snapped.Gwyneth reeled back in her chair.“All the torment from the others, the guilt and nightmares you have experienced in the last twe
Yamada shot awake with a gasp. A familiar soreness and searing pain radiated through his body. Bruised muscles, and creaking bones.He sat up with his torso bandaged. He scanned his surroundings. A wooden hut, designed for a small family of three or four.The bed made for two people, or one obese person. Made of cheap quality and poor craftsman ship. The aroma of spices and meats brewing, caught his attention.However seeing Harbinger, resting in the corner, replaced his exhaustion with anxiety. Yamada summoned his armour and quietly crept over to Harbinger.He pushed the door open slowly, creeping outside. Yamada froze seeing Jacara and Ul’lanna tied back to back, sitting on the ground of the living room.Both of them were unconscious and gagged. He quickly rushed to them trying to remove their gags and untie them.“Ah, ah, ah. I wouldn’t do that.” Skora said from behind.Yamada spun around seeing Skora. She wore a simple cotton blouse and leather pants. Without the cuirass, her clea
Three days had passed since the first assault. At the crack of dawn, Soel and Gwyneth had been given a task by General Aerith. A mob of angry farmers encircled Soel.They cussed their fears at her. She slumped in her chair. Their words fell on deaf ears. Gwyneth stood in the corner of the room. She was stationed here, by Aerith to make sure, Soel did not lash out.Soel’s uninterested, miserable expression filled with contempt, made it impossible for Gwyneth to not smile. Soel shot her a glance, one filled with anger and malice.It only made Gwyneth struggle to not burst out laughing. She scrunched her face. One burly farmer, snapped his fingers at Soel.He was rewarded with her glower, and Gwyneth wincing, sucking air audibly through her teeth. This was one of the three things, that no one should ever do to Soel.Gwyneth had witnessed the aftermath of each one, over twenty years ago.“Are you even listening to us!?” The man bellowed. His sun kissed skin, and rugged hands, were the s
The sun made love with Encara’s face, giving him a bright rude awakening. He shot up groaning, clutching his head. It throbbed and had a dying thirst.He panned around the room, wincing before a jug of water was thrust into his face. Encara greedily drank the water, his skin rejuvenating. He stopped and frowned, before looking around at the room askance.He wasn’t inside his room, and he wasn’t on his bed. Who had given him the water? Encara panned up to see Gwyneth beside him.“Where am I?” he asked, noticing the draft on his naked body. “And why am I-““Soel and Miranda’s orders.” She said glaring towards the closed door.Gwyneth wore her silk night gown, and slumped onto her bed, grabbing an apple. Bruises and welts covered her body, where the armour had saved her.“Let me heal-ah!”Gwyneth cut him off, by pegging the apple against his head.“You’re under orders to rest. That means no healing, cursing, warping, or opening any of the gates.” She snapped.Encara rubbed the flecks of
The last three days marching towards the Silver City, had been trouble free. The three of them had gotten to learn about each other, sitting around the camp fire.They had shared their favourite fruits. Jacara was peaches, however Ul’lanna suspected there was innuendo or lewd reason, to why he chose that fruit.Yamada was mangoes, and hers was oranges. Ul’lanna and Jacara had learn to their horror, that Yamada’s favourite meal. Was actually a dish of raw fish, covered in herbs, chillies and a salty sauce.He failed to convince them of how delicious it was, and only gave them an aversion to seafood. She had thought that, Jacara would have made the trip uncomfortable.Especially after what happened in the prison. However he had spent most of his attention, on learning Yamada’s love making technique.Incessantly nagging at him to spill the secret, with Yamada doing his best to ignore him. With them starting to set up camp for the night. She felt that even if trouble were to come their wa