Chapter Five

Elek

Being still midday, it was too early to do much reconnaissance and expect fruitful information. Instead, I observed from a distance. I could still receive some valuable tidbits. The wind ruffled past me, played with my shirt, and yet not a single leaf swayed.

The forest before us was known to house Silvanian subjects but it wasn’t Silvanian land. The border was still thirty miles south. But it didn’t belong to us either, making it the perfect entry point to cause mayhem. I once told my father to just marry Celina to the Fairy King’s son and close the breach for good, but the old man refused every time. Now Celina was to go to the human nation to wed the next head of the World Peace Alliance.

That was a laugh. Some world peace when the fiends took it upon themselves to test their power onto my people. But the leadership role was mostly used when new treaties were enacted, something to make the human royal family feel exceptional, I suppose. They didn’t live long enough to have any real impact.

Yet, Father seemed compelled to put Celina up on the block. Seemed like a waste. Then there was me. He seemed to think that a bastard daughter of the docile human king was an acceptable match. The man was going senile.

I peered over the edge of the wall down at the rapids. The thought of a young girl with raven hair and green eyes that sparkled with gold crossed my thoughts. A day at the beach in Nautica while my father met with Regnum’s monarchs. That annoying chain clanked in my chest.

I grasped my chest, nails digging into my skin as I inhaled deeply. The pull was sharp enough to snatch the air from my lungs. It wasn’t often that the sensation was accompanied by pain, but this time it pulled violently at me, as if begging me to follow it. Perhaps something happened to her. A hand clasped my shoulder.

“Again?” Huri asked, glancing at me with what looked like concern.

I straightened, observing them in their leathers. At least they came prepared.

“When did you get in?”

“Well, after I deposited your coat back in your rooms I raced this way. I thought you might need some extra firepower.” They winked at me, and I simply nodded. Having another dragon wouldn’t hurt.

Huri seemed to peer around us, as if looking for stretched ears, but the closest soldier was a good ten yards away.

“That chain is only going to pull harder the longer you ignore it.” They said, pointing a long finger into my chest.

“I’m too busy to follow it.” Which was true, especially as I overlooked the forest.

Yet, Huri gave me an all-knowing gaze with their golden eyes.

“But you know who is at the other end. That’s half the battle, now you just have to seal the gap.”

I rolled my eyes and turned to lean my back against the wall, my arms crossed before me. Of course I was well aware of who held the other end. I had known since I first laid eyes on her and it became more apparent throughout that entire week in Regnum. The bastard daughter of Jovan Gavriil. I couldn’t even remember her name.

“Serafina.” Huri announced, as if reading my mind and turning a pitiful eye in my direction.

“It doesn’t matter. She’s low-born and a match with someone that at least held prestige in her nation would make more sense.” I said, knowing I was right. Sending Celina to the human nation was more than enough, especially considering her own, unfortunate, human mutations.

Huri’s hand found their hips as their brows furrowed towards me.

“Now you listen here. Your father, your king, has given you a golden opportunity to marry the person you are actually destined for. It took too much persuading on my part to have you squander it! Now be grateful.” Their lips pursed shut as their cheeks puffed.

Such a ridiculous being, I thought as I pushed off the wall to stare at the forest line again. To believe in destiny was to have hope in something. To believe that something good will come your way because the stars aligned that day or some such nonsense. If that were the case, I wouldn’t be up on this wall staring out into a still forest - that was no longer still. Leaves began to rustle.

My eyes sharpened as I leaned over the wall, my palms laying flat against the cool stone, feeling for any vibrations. Nostrils flared with the barest of hints that the breeze had to offer. Decay was in the air. A sway of the top of a tree some distance away. Still no birds.

Huri’s body came up beside mine, their shoulder meeting mine. They inhaled sharply, eyes becoming luminous.

“Elek, you won’t need to patrol tonight.” They said in a hushed tone, eyes not leaving the forest. “They will come to us.”

“Captain! Prepare for battle!” I shouted down the wall to Nolan, who began to bark orders to the others.

Another tree swayed, closer than the last and I unfurled my wings as I looked over at Huri.

“Do what you want.” I said, shooting upwards. Huri wasn’t one to order around during these moments, they would know their best course of action for themselves, whether it be to fully transform or to pick up a bow and quiver.

As I kept on top of the zephyr, I unsheathed my steel sword from the scabbard between my wings and kept my shield close. Another tree swayed and still no birds fled.

There! From the tree line, came the first line of draugrs. Nasty and decrepit beings made from the fallen flesh of our soldiers, all still wearing our leathers. Their skins were ashen and tight, eye sockets void, and tendons hanging from various limbs. They would be the first line, I thought as I took in the location of the sun. The wraiths would surely come once the sun had set, remaining in the darker depths of the forest.

Fifty men made their way up into the sky with me, swords raised.

“I’m not in the mood for games today.” I said, peering towards the forest.

“Burn the entire forest if you have to. I want the wraiths taken care of before nightfall.”

Immediately the ones who could conjure fire went to work while the archers began their assault through the windows and on top of the wall as more draugrs slowly made their way out of the woods. Flamed tipped arrows flew through the air with astounding accuracy.

I fell back towards Huri, but didn’t land.

“There’s a necromancer close by. I want them alive, for now.”

Huri nodded, and walked over to the north side of the wall before casually jumping off. What ascended into the skies was a bright golden dragon with fushia flecks on some of the scales. They flew up high in the air, no doubt surveying for the best vantage point to spot who was behind the attack.

The heat was immense as the flames and dark smoke bellowed upwards. Not a single bird or forest creature had even attempted to flee, leaving me to believe that there were none to begin with. However, there were more draugrs than I was anticipating. Hundreds, if not close to a thousand pushed through the forest line, their united weight toppling many of the trees. Some came out enveloped in flames, although undeterred as they continued towards the river, swords in hand. The only way to be rid of them was to incapacitate them and burn them to the point that even their ashes were nonexistent.

I touched ground by the water, where a small group of draugrs made it without even a small lick of flames. The scent of decayed flesh permeated the air, stinging my nostrils.

The thoughts of who they were before the enchanter got hold of them had no business in my mind. The fallen were already accounted for and families notified of their sacrifices when they were lost. They were marked before becoming these hideous creatures. They were only shells after all, souls long since departed from Belinha.

From my pocket I pulled out a small vial, smashing it against my blade, the scent of oil wafting against the decay. With a small burst from my fingertips, the sword was aflame as I pounced off the pad of my foot and slammed into the closest being. Once his back hit the grass I brought the tip of my blade down into his chest, fire spewing into his body to burn him from the inside out.

Onto the next one and then the next one after that. In between dodging swords and battle axes I had to light my sword again and again. The heat from the forest was becoming more intense as soldiers touched down near me, attacking the draugr hoards as they escaped the forest.

“Don’t allow yourselves to be caught! If you are wounded make your way back to the keep and send out your replacement!” I shouted, knowing that the necromancer would likely seize the opportunity of fresh bodies.

The ground shuddered as a thunderous roar rang through the sky. High above I could make out as Huri pointed their enormous body in one direction, into the back of the woods. They had found where the necromancer was stationed.

Huri swooped down to land nearby, breathing fire at the draugrs near us before transforming back into their human form.

“They are cloaked in black towards the end of the forest. A dome of darkness surrounds them, and I can see wraiths swirling inside. Whatever wraiths were hiding outside the dome have been destroyed, as well as most of the draugrs.”

I gave a nod before peering in the direction of the dome, now slightly visible from the new lack of vegetation.

“Huri, keep the path clear. The rest of you will follow my lead. We do what we can to take the necromancer alive, but if it can’t be helped then so be it.”

Huri swiftly transformed once more and rose to the skies. I lifted my feet up as well, although not as high, knowing some of the men were stuck on foot. I flew as hard as my wings would allow towards the dome, dodging loose flaming branches and slicing through any draugr that stood in my path.

As I reached the outer rim of the darkened energy force, Huri kept to the sky, looking for any weakness from above. Peering inside I could make out a dark cloaked figure standing within the energy. They lifted their head enough for me to see their grin through perfectly aligned white teeth. The barrier seemed to melt away, wraiths writhing in pain as they met the heat from the flames engulfing the forest. They attempted to flee but my men were quick to set them ablaze as well.

“I wasn’t expecting for the Dragon Prince of Demarcus to visit.” The voice of a young woman said behind the cloak.

I stepped closer, sword raised.

“You can surrender, necromancer, and come with us for questioning, or you can die here with your creations. Choose.”

The figure gave a sultry giggle as she lifted the hood of her black silk cloak, a sway of a breeze revealed a rich blue gown underneath. Certainly an enchantress, I thought as I took her in. Crimson eyes stared up at me, set in the youthful face of a teenage girl. Her alabaster pointed ears showed through her wavy dark auburn hair. Her short stature and slender frame would have many believing that she was some docile elf, not fae. She was missing the translucent wings that most of them were seen with. However, many fairies could hide them on command. Yet, the most telltale sign of her origin was the lack of the fairy glow that all of them carried about themselves.

“For a handsome prince such as you, I would be honored to have you join my small army.” She announced, passing a hand over the remnants of her twice fallen soldiers.

I raised my sword higher, a ball of flame dancing around in my other palm.

“Choose.” I repeated coldly.

“I was just having a bit of fun.” She grinned maliciously towards me, her eyes bright with amusement.

“I needed a demonstration before I made practical use of my… gifts.” Her voice was seductive, as if begging for me to continue questioning her right there.

If I must, I suppose. I peered up at Huri, who only nodded down at me. There were no others of interest in the vicinity.

“And what use would that be?”

Delicate fingers rose up to meet her crimson painted lips as she giggled again.

“Why, to capture the daughter of Belinha, of course.” Her pearly teeth flashed as she lifted up a scroll from her cloak.

Huri landed beside me, talons in the place of fingertips as they transformed. They seemed unnerved, not the usual attitude from them, even in the most dire of situations.

“So you’re in need of a healer.” I said, watching as the scroll unfurled, yet it was faced away from us. The line was well known for their healing abilities but the knowledge of its members has been lost for hundreds of years.

“Oh gods, no.” She grinned. “Why heal what is of better use to me perished?”

Huri stepped forward, eyes sharp and brightly lit.

“There is no such daughter, Madame Enchantress. Your gifts would be best served by leaving them dormant. Since we have no casualties, I would suggest you use today as a lesson learned.” They said, voice serene even though their eyes appeared to be in utter chaos.

I pushed my weight towards the pads of my feet, keeping my men from moving forward as the exchange played out. Perhaps Huri could gather more from her than I would, but I would be ready if things soured.

Long black nails gripped the top of the scroll as she turned it for our viewing. On it was a mostly charcoal portrait of a young woman. Of course I didn’t need the clanking in my chest to tell me who the figure on the paper was. Long raven tresses and bright green eyes flecked in gold. Jovan’s daughter.

I witnessed as Huri’s jaw tightened, a mere tremor to show they were about to become unhinged. But why? Why was this girl so intriguing to everyone?

Huri turned towards me, their face grim as they approached. Resting a hand on my shoulder, they leaned in close to speak lowly.

“She cannot leave this forest alive, nephew. Nor should any piece of her remain once she is deceased. We have gotten all we need from her.” They whispered, eyes darting back towards the female.

“Don’t stop me.” They warned before pivoting away from me to race towards the figure, talons raised.

The woman hadn’t even flinched before sharp talons pierced into her neck, her fluids spilling onto the lush grass.

“I’m not the only one. More will come.” Blood flooded her mouth as she gurgled out her words.

The light faded quickly from her eyes as Huri pushed their talons further into her neck and beheaded her completely, only to summon fire to their talon tips and blast the corpse continuously until not even ash remained.

Huri returned to my side, scroll in hand and jaw still tight and eyes illuminated.

“Marek needs to be informed of this. I’ll meet you back in Maleko when you return. The threat is dealt with, for now.” Huri said, not giving me a moment to respond before their golden form burst into the sky and shot towards Thanases, our capital city.

A piece of me couldn’t resist but to inspect the ashen ground where the enchantress had stood. I knelt down to see that not even a splatter of blood remained. Whatever this Serafina was to them seemed to cause Huri to act rashly.