Chapter 8 — The Chains and Wings of Destiny
Western Gíria – Black Elven Castle
Valtherk:
— And where is the Dragon?
Nelan:
— In the North. But we still have a small problem.
Valtherk:
— And what would that problem be?
Nelan:
— Something is preventing us from approaching him. It's like an invisible barrier is blocking our entry.
Valtherk:
— Then do what's necessary to make that barrier vanish.
Nelan:
— We've tried everything. We can't get close.
Valtherk:
— Then send the Draquia there. We cannot allow that Dragon to live any longer.
Nelan:
— As you wish, father.
Valtherk:
— Now... bring the prisoner to me.
The dark elves bring the chained man forward. He is forced to his knees before Valtherk.
Valtherk:
— Still clinging to your suffering? Just to protect those insignificant races? The root of impurity in this humble world?
Prisoner (angrily):
— The races you call insignificant at least have a heart. You're just monsters, obsessed with a ridiculous and selfish belief.
Valtherk:
— And by saying that to me, what do you gain? Tell me... what do you gain by protecting them?
Prisoner:
— And if I tell you... will you set me free?
Valtherk:
— Yes. If you tell me where the Karips is. If you give me what rightfully belongs to me, I will grant you eternal freedom.
Prisoner:
— I will never hand Karips over to you. You'll wait until you're exhausted and then kill me—without ever knowing where it is.
Valtherk:
— But your mind tells a different story, my child. You're hiding the truth from yourself.
Prisoner:
— What are you talking about?
Valtherk:
— Your mind... your body... they long for the Karips. You want it in your hands. It's hurting you from within. The pain of desire is real, but you're still resisting, aren't you?
— I can see it in you.
Prisoner (screaming):
— No! You're wrong! I would never want to be near that thing!
Valtherk:
— Beings like you always resist reality the most. You and your friends sealed Karips away from me and my children. But sealing it had a price.
— The transmorphs can no longer turn into animals—or anything other than humans, elves, or dwarves. And you... you and your friend spilled blood on Karips. Now it's wounding you from the inside.
Prisoner:
— Stop it!
Valtherk:
— The burn on your arm... it was Karips, wasn't it?
Prisoner:
— Why won't you stop talking?!
Valtherk:
— It's calling to you, isn't it? Like something is taking over your body. But you don't need to resist anymore. Tell me... you want Karips, don't you?
Prisoner (in pain):
— NO! NO!
He grabs his head. His eyes turn dark, like a dark elf's.
Prisoner:
— Yes... I want Karips for myself! I want it!
Valtherk (smiling):
— Good. Now tell me... what is the name of the transmorph who helped you seal Karips? He has the burn too, doesn't he?
Prisoner (conflicted):
— Yes... he does. His name... his name is...
He clutches his head tightly.
Prisoner:
— No... I can't say it. I won't say it!
Valtherk:
— It's okay, my child... you can speak.
Prisoner (in agony):
— His name is... Kaleos.
Valtherk:
— Now tell me where Karips is.
Prisoner (screaming):
— NO! NO! NO!
His eyes return to normal.
Prisoner:
— You monster! What did you do to me?! What have you done?!
Valtherk:
— Me? Nothing. The real question is... what is Karips doing to you?
— That's enough for today. Take him back to his cell.
Prisoner (shouting while being dragged away):
— You'll never find Karips! Never!
The dark elves drag him away.
Valtherk (to Nelan):
— Find this Kaleos.
---
Southern Gíria – Forest
Sasha mounts her horse. Peter approaches.
Peter:
— Leaving already?
Sasha:
— If you're gonna ask me to take you somewhere before I keep the horse, forget it, kid. Not gonna happen.
Peter:
— No, I wasn't going to say that. But... where are you going? The kingdom's crawling with dark elves. No matter how strong you are, you won't take them all on.
Sasha:
— I don't need to take them all. I just need to kill as many as I can.
Peter:
— You sound pretty confident.
Sasha:
— Because I am confident, kid.
Belguiner wakes up.
Aaron:
— You should still be resting. You haven't fully recovered.
Belguiner:
— I'm truly grateful you took care of me.
Aaron:
— Thank the boy. He's the one who risked his life to save yours.
Belguiner:
— I will.
Aaron approaches Sasha.
Aaron:
— Have you thought about where you're going?
Sasha:
— Why do you all keep asking that? It's so annoying...
Aaron:
— If you want, you can stay with us.
Sasha:
— Stay with you? And what do I get out of it?
Belguiner (approaching):
— You get my respect. And my trust. Thank you, both of you. Thank you, Peter.
Peter:
— No need to worry...
Sasha:
— Wow... whoever you are, you wake up and suddenly think you're in charge?
— And don't get it twisted... I didn't save your life. They did.
Sasha dismounts and notices movement in the bushes. She draws her bow.
Sasha:
— Who's there?! Come out now or I'll shoot. You've got one minute.
— And for the record: I never miss.
Alex, Sara, and Amélia emerge.
Alex:
— Don't shoot! Please!
Sasha:
— Are you human?
Alex:
— Of course. If you don't believe me, search me.
Aaron:
— What are your names?
Alex:
— I'm Alex. This is Amélia... and that's Sasha.
Aaron:
— Where are you coming from?
Alex:
— We came from the South.
Belguiner:
— Why?
Amélia:
— A creature just destroyed the city. Turned it to ruins.
Aaron:
— Stop joking around... why are you really fleeing the South?
Sara:
— We're not joking. If you don't believe us, why don't you go see for yourself?
Sasha leans in toward Aaron, suspicious.
Sasha:
— You're really gonna believe them? I've seen plenty of thieves fake being innocent. And why were they hiding under leaves? We should kill them now, while we can.
Aaron:
— They don't seem to be lying. Tell me, kid: if the city was destroyed, where is everyone else?
Alex:
— I don't know... some got out. Others didn't make it.
Aaron:
— I see. I detected no lies. You can stay with us, if you want.
Alex:
— Thank you... but we're looking for a friend.
Belguiner:
— That's fine. Stay with us for now. If you stay out there, all you'll find are dark elves. They're everywhere in Gíria.
Sara:
— Okay. We'll stay.
Sasha:
— Oh great... Mr. Generosity now wants to die by taking in strangers.
---
Northern Gíria
Lion sees Zury drop her pendant. He picks it up and approaches her.
Lion:
— You dropped this.
Zury:
— Thank you... really.
Lion:
— It's a beautiful pendant.
Zury:
— It belonged to my son. He wore it before he left for the North.
Lion:
— I heard you talking with Nicia. You came here for him, didn't you?
Zury:
— Yes. I'm here for Eli. Not a day goes by that I don't think of him.
— You know... you remind me a lot of him.
Lion:
— What's his name?
Zury:
— Max. That's his name.
Lion:
— Must be hard for him too... being away from family.
Zury looks behind Lion and suddenly yells:
Zury:
— Lion! Watch out!
Lion turns just in time to be grabbed by the Draquia. The creature lifts him into the sky. Nicia runs in.
Nicia:
— Lion! LION!
Up in the air, Lion struggles.
Lion:
— Let me go! LET ME GO!!
The Draquia roars, climbs higher... and then drops Lion from the sky.
---
To be continued...