“What are you talking about? What have you done to the others?” Wrotan asked as he stood up.
“Foolish and weak, that is a dangerous combination, human. Allow me to enlighten you. Not even the elves seem to grasp what I am about to tell you. Dragons do not just create a bridge between their mind and the mind of another. They invade that mind and make it their own. At the forest sanctuary, that was not us controlling you from afar. I controlled you from within.”
“Of course, what a fool I have been. You will not find me so easy now!”
The hunter raised his sword and charged the dragon. As the beast moved to dodge, Wrotan split into three separate versions of himself. They worked in unison to drive the beast back into a corner. The dragon unfurled its wings and lifted off from the ground. Wrotan and his doubles each grabbed a spear from their back and threw it at the dragon. When the spears made contact with the dragon wings, a rope shot out from their end and into the hands of the hunters. Each hunter pulled down on the rope with all their strength and yanked the dragon back to the ground. The creature bellowed in pain as the spears tore its wings to shreds. Wrotan raised his sword and swung for the dragon’s skull. All three swords contacted the same spot, killing the dragon.
*
Mariah tried shaking the hunter one more time, but he was unresponsive. She looked up at the others. Kade aggressively attacked Julian, knocking him to the floor. Amber began to panic as Alandra and Hadrin crumpled to the floor. The guardswoman watched in horror as Kade drove his dagger into Julian’s chest. He ran off into the forest as she rushed toward them. Julian grinned when he saw her coming toward him. She moved to put pressure on the wound, but realized it was too late. Amber arrived shortly thereafter and grabbed hold of Julian.
“Let me go,” he said.
“No, they’ll come up with something. It’ll be ok. Won’t it be ok?” She asked as she turned toward Mariah.
“There’s something wrong with them, they won’t be any help to us at all,” the guardswoman replied.
“Then we will do it ourselves.”
“Focus on Kade, he’s the one who needs your help. Always has been,” Julian said.
Amber wrapped both her arms around Julian and held him tightly. Mariah placed a hand on her shoulder, but made no move to stop her from hugging the dying young man. She gazed off in the direction that Kade had gone, wondering why he had suddenly turned on his friend. The others were still collapsed on the floor and Amber was in no condition for coming up with a plan. She reached down and wiped the tears off the younger woman’s face and gently pulled her arms away from Julian. Desperation and panic tried to take over as she searched her pack for something to wipe up the blood stains. She helped Amber to get as clean as possible before starting in on digging a grave.
“Why are you helping?” Amber asked.
“Everyone deserves a proper burial and Julian is certainly not an exception. He may not have been the easiest to get along with, but he was a good man,” Mariah replied.
“I thought you didn’t like him.”
“There is little chance I would have considered him a friend, but he cared for you and he cared for Kade. That counts more than getting along with a guardswoman.”
“You are far more than a mere guardswoman. Your wards are fortunate to have you, or they will be when they get older.”
“If I ever get a chance to return to our hometown. The world has changed for us, not just with Julian’s death. We are moving toward something dangerous. I know not what that is, but I can feel it within the very core of my being.”
*
Hadrin grabbed his forehead as he came to. His dream had been a strange one. He fought a dragon that was only half there. It made no sense to him, but he dared not speak about it to the others. He opened his eyes and saw that Alandra was slumped on the floor not too far away, Mariah and Amber were standing over a fresh mound of dirt, Wrotan was also on the floor in what appeared to be a trance, and Kade was nowhere to be seen. The Prince slowly pushed himself to his feet. His vision swirled ever so slightly, threatening to send him tumbling back to the ground. He grabbed hold of a nearby tree and rested for a moment. Mariah squeezed Amber’s shoulder before retreating back from the mound of dirt. Hadrin waved to her and she motioned for him to stay as she approached.
“Are you feeling well?” She asked.
“Not particularly. What happened?” He asked.
“The three of you just fell into what seemed like trances. You are the first to come out of it. While you were out, Kade attacked Julian before running off.”
“How strange, I do hope they’ll be all right. Did you happen to see which way they went?”
“Not they, just Kade,” Mariah said as she pointed in the direction he went.
The Prince looked back at the mound of dirt and grimaced. He began to offer his apologies and condolences when Wrotan began to stir. The hunter lunged forward and mumbled something about a dragon. He quickly realized he was on the ground and stood up. Mariah motioned for him to join them. Alandra began to stir as well and Hadrin rushed to her side, stumbling as he went. He helped her to her feet and they walked back to the other two. Amber slowly made her way toward the gathering, her eyes still red from the tears.
“We need to go after him,” she said when she got to the others.
“I think we need to bring the others up to speed first,” Hadrin said.
“Kade is out of our reach now. Unless one of us knows how to reach into another’s mind, we won’t be able to get through to him,” Wrotan said.
“What do you mean?” Mariah asked.
“The dragons have him now. Their so called connection was nothing more than invading a person’s mind with the intent to control it. A young man like Kade stands little chance of overcoming their power.”
“We were able to, why not him?” Alandra asked.
“Because they’ll be extra careful with him. Their arrogance was the only reason I survived. He let slip that the fight was going on inside of my mind. Without that clue, I would most likely be dead.”
“We can’t just give up on him, there has to be something we can do. Where do we go from here?” Amber asked.
“As of right now, our best bet is the spirit monks. They might know of ways to contact others.” Hadrin replied.
“It seems our best course of action.” Wrotan added.
“What of Kade? We can’t just let him wander about. How should we deal with him?” Mariah asked.
“With the head start that he has and us not knowing his destination, there is little or no chance that we could catch him.” Alandra replied.
“How do we know that the dragons have him?” Amber asked.
“The scourge, they used it to invade our minds. He has a small portion of the scourge within him, that is enough to give them access to his mind,” Wrotan replied.
*
Kade stumbled through the forest, unable to remember anything other than his name and a burning hatred. He wasn’t even certain where the hate came from or what it was aimed toward. His head felt as though it were filled with clouds, yet there was a single unknown purpose driving him forward. The forest around him was far from inviting. His senses amplified the dangers around him, pushing him to quicken his pace. The nagging feeling in the back of his head pushed toward an unseen enemy, promising respite when that enemy was defeated. A strange sadness pulled at his heart as he pressed on. He pushed forward, sealing away all feelings that made him seem weak. A new Kade strode through the forest unafraid, brimming with newfound power, and set in his purpose. The old Kade had shrunk away, locked inside of a new cold exterior.
*
Obrin flexed his muscles as he felt his strength return. It had been far too long since he had felt this good. The night elf King drew his sword and tested his agility. He felt as though his youth had returned to him. A part of him felt bad that they had to trick his son into thinking that the scourge was truly a problem, but it had been an integral part
of their plan. His dragon ally let out a soft growl to remind him of the importance of their task. He nodded to the beast before turning toward his castle. Though he enjoyed spending time at the Citadel of the Night, there was nothing like the feeling of being welcomed home. His kingdom was in the capable hands of his Generals and he was certain that they would be able to ready their troops within a week. Ungaroth had his doubts, but the dragon knew better than to push the night elf King too far. Their alliance was strongest when they worked together as a team. The night elf King raised a hand as he made his way toward the outer gate.
“Your majesty, we are pleased that you’ve returned!” One of the guards said.
“As am I. I trust that the sun elves are no longer bothering us?” Obrin asked.
“They returned home some time ago, your highness.”
“Are my Generals close at hand?”
“Yes, your grace, they’ve kept us prepped for war since your departure.”
“Excellent. I must pay a visit to our allies, but you can give this to Neilon.” The King handed the guard a small scroll with instructions on where to meet.”
*
“These lands will test us,” Wrotan said as he held up his hand.
“Is this not your home?” Hadrin asked.
“As close as you can get to it. We are entering the wilds or the proper part of them. The nomadic peoples of the wilds do not see the forest as a part of their lands. They see it as the elves giving of their bounty as a sort of tribute so that they are not inconvenienced by the inhabitants of the wilds.”
“That is certainly a stretch,” Alandra said.
“If you truly think that, then you have never traveled the wilds,” Mariah said.
Wrotan nodded before setting forth. The others followed closely behind, not wanting to be left behind in a harsh land. They had all heard the tales of pioneers being lulled into a false sense of security by the bountiful look of the wilds. The name referred to the inhabitants and their attitude toward outsiders. Their bloodlust toward outsiders seemed unquenchable. Few knew the truth behind what had driven them to adopt such a stance toward the neighboring peoples. The hunter glanced back to check on Amber. They all knew that she only stayed with them because she feared what would happen if she were to try to track Kade on her own. Wrotan slowed down so that he could speak with her.
“We will do everything we can to bring him back,” he said.
“What if it isn’t enough?” She asked.
“It may not be, but I will die trying to save him. You have my word.”
“That is a lot to sacrifice for a young man and a young lady that you barely know,” Mariah said as she joined the two of them.
“The dragons need to be stopped or the entire world is doomed. That much I’ve already accepted. Going a step further and saving the boy instead of killing him is reward in itself. Furthermore, Amber and Kade are among the few people I’ve met that are willing to help their fellows, human or elf. That is something the world needs more of. Look at the wilds, these people are still stuck on tragedies that occurred hundreds of years ago.”
“You are quite the enigma, Wrotan.”
“I think it is a good thing,” Amber said.
“I never meant it as a slight,” Mariah added.
“You can thank the elves for his upbringing,” Hadrin said.
“As much as I share your love for our people, I cannot help but think it is in spite of the elves,” Alandra said.
“Why can’t things be like they were in the stories of old?” Amber asked.
“The stories were written to inspire and impress. They leave out the negative parts when it fits their worldview better. It would not sound so good if they told the part about Randor torching an entire elven village or how Gellian ordered the slaughter of all the human captives that had surrendered on the field that day,” Wrotan replied.
“Why do they leave such things out of the histories?”
“Some claim they do so as a way to not influence the younger generations. A sort of clean slate to end the previous wrongs. Others say it is a way for each kingdom or race to make themselves look better.”
“And what do you say?” Mariah asked.
“I say that it doesn’t matter. What matters is that we understand the mistakes those before us have made so that we do not make them ourselves.”
*
Kade smiled as he neared the stronghold. Several guards stepped forward to intercept him. They threw aside their orange cloaks as they drew their swords. The young man made a fist with his right hand. He reached up with his left hand and caught the oncoming sword. His fist shot out and hit the man in the chest. A burst of electricity shot out of his knuckles and blasted the guard backward several feet. The other soldiers stepped back, both awed and terrified by what they had witnessed. Kade continued forward as they moved out of his way. He stepped up to the gate and placed his hand against the massive gate leading into the stronghold. A shockwave of fire smashed into the gate, knocking it to the floor.
“Knights of Ardevale, you answer to me know!” Kade yelled as he stepped into the courtyard.
“Not if I have anything to say about it,” one of the Knights said as he stepped out into the courtyard.
Something deep inside Kade shuddered when he saw the man. The fear washed away as he clenched his left fist. His combatant was taller and stronger, but the young man knew it wouldn’t be a problem. He strode forward as the man charged. The Knight raised his shield and catapulted himself toward his opponent. Kade grabbed hold of the sides of the shield and tore it out of the Knight’s hands. He threw it aside before grabbing the man by the throat. The man attempted to break free as his opponent’s free hand came to rest on his chest. Kade closed his eyes and his palm began to glow. A blast of pure energy shot out of his palm, tearing a hole through his opponent. He tossed the corpse aside and turned toward the others in the courtyard.
“Anyone else wish to question my rule?” He asked.
*
Hadrin positioned himself between the wilderlanders and Amber. He motioned for Alandra and Mariah to do the same. They others did as he asked. They all watched as Wrotan stood up as tall as he could and approached the nomads. The Prince half expected them to attack the hunter. Alandra and Mariah each stood ready to draw their weapons. One of the wilderlanders took a swing at Wrotan, but the hunter was too fast. He caught hold of the man’s fist and delivered a punch to the man’s side. Another nomad got an elbow to the face as he stepped forward. The hunter held up a hand that told Hadrin and the others not to interfere. He proceeded to make quick work of the two wilderlanders before calling the others over.
“They are willing to let us travel through this part of the wilds without incident,” Wrotan said.
“Without incident? What do you call that?” Hadrin asked, motioning toward the two men that the hunter had thoroughly thrashed.
“They were under the impression that I had spoken ill of their sister. I set them straight.”
“Did you speak ill of their sister?” Amber asked.
“It seems that somebody has been masquerading as me. We shouldn’t focus on stopping the man, but if we happen across him, I would very much like to set him straight,” the hunter replied.
“That is a reasonable request, we’ll keep an eye out for this false Wrotan,” Hadrin said.
“You will have my thanks, friend.”
They separated from their huddle and motioned for one of the nomads to lead them on. Hadrin took in as much of the surroundings as possible. Though Wrotan had attempted to explain to them that the wilds were a fertile land, the point had not quite gotten through to them. Seeing things with their own eyes was the only way to convince them of the fact. The other large surprise for the elf was seeing the fields of grain that had been planted by the nomads. He headed to the front of the pack so that he could ask Wrotan about it.
“If the people here are nomads, who tends to the fields?” The Prince asked.
“Each individual tribe is nomadic, but they all live off the land. One tribe may plant the grain while another harvests it. They always ensure that there is enough food for their neighboring tribes. It is the same with the fruits and vegetables as well. There are eleven tribes in all and they rely on one another to ensure that everyone survives. Relying solely on animals is too risky with hostile neighbors. The result is that the eleven tribes had never been at war with one another. They simply cannot afford to fight each other,” Wrotan replied.
“Fascinating, though I find it somewhat shocking that none of them have attempted to settle in one place for a prolonged period of time.”
“The borderlanders see to it that they are never in one place for too long. They’ve made several incursions in the past few decades. Prior to those attacks, there were fifteen nomad tribes. The eleven remaining tribes learned to stay on the move and assist each other whenever necessary.”
“That sounds like a hard life,” Amber said.
“It is often seen as one. We can only hope that our time in the wilds is much less eventful.”
*
Obrin took a deep breath as Ungaroth swooped down toward the sea. It had been far too long since he had properly ridden a dragon. The two came down for a landing inside of Queen Ophelia’s courtyard. Her guards readied their weapons and moved forward to surround the majestic creature. The night elf King slid off the back of the dragon and headed for the throne room. He extended his hand out from one side of the body to the other, knocking aside all the soldiers that had positioned themselves in front of him. The Queen was waiting for him on her throne. He knew there was an extreme fury behind her calm. Though her armies were inferior and her dragons vastly outmatched, she posed the biggest threat to Obrin and his allies.
“So the night alliance comes here at last,” she said.
“As I am certain you already know, King Lothrin has already accepted our offer,” Obrin said.
“Yes, the spineless weasel probably didn’t even attempt to negotiate. Tell me, what of the sun elves?”
“They have been taken care of. One of our agents is now in control.”
“I hear you awakened an old enemy, is that wise?” Queen Ophelia asked.
“He too, has been taken care of. The shadow dragons were able to finish him for good,” the King replied.