“Here before you are two men who dared to break into Greenhaven in an attempt to take my life. They almost succeeded, but instead took the life of one of your own, Derian.”
Tusdar’s face dropped at the realisation and he blurted out, “Aidan?!”
She marched up to him and booted the side of his head viciously. She brought her face close to his ear and barked, “Stand up and face your old ally!”
Spitting blood, he warily stood and faced Tusdar.
“Justice shall be served here today and the punishment shall fit the crime. Tusdar has been chosen by Mestal, and as such… he is entitled to an opportunity for forgiveness for his actions!” she yelled.
Clicking her fingers toward one of the skeleton warriors, a sword flew out of its sheath to land in her hands. She swung the sword around and threw it by the hilt to Tusdar. He caught the hilt with both hands, but the tip fell to the ground from the force of the throw adding to its weight.
“Tusdar, if you truly are Mestal’s chosen; you will take your blade and drive it through Aidan’s heart as the first order of your queen. If you do so, you will pledge yourself to Shindar and you will have my blessing.”
He looked at Kassina in shock as the long blade shook in his hands.
Her eyes narrowed and she grit her teeth as she growled, “Kill him or you side against all of us and both of you shall be served equal punishment!”
Chapter 18 : We Meet Again
“It warms the heart when patience and faith are answered with long awaited news. We have completed the rebuild of Veldrenn and I feel ready for what lays ahead of us.
My darling daughter showed me that there is still joy and love in this world and I can’t wait to share her thoughts with all of Veldrenn.
As with all important matters, timing is everything. I look to the sky and wonder… how long will it be before they arrive?”
(Queen Andrielle of Veldrenn)
The rhythmic beats of Karven’s wings soothed her ears as the wind died down and they glided peacefully in an arrow formation. The night was calm and majestic, and it was easy to forget all their troubles. Being so close to a starry night made her feel more comfortable than ever before and she smiled as she stared into the endless twinkling ceiling.
Trisa had cast enchantments on Yuski and the demon hunter appeared to be resting peacefully on the back of her dragon, under the healer’s protection. The wounds covered in an enchanted balm that glowed white. Anakari could relax knowing that she was being well looked after.
When they initially took flight, she watched in horror as countless shadows emerged from the forest to swarm the Jade Inn from all directions and she was relieved to be on the back of a mighty dragon.
Once the thrill of flight wore off and she took in her surroundings, Anakari was drawn to the beam of light from She’Ma’Ryn. Watching it closely, it appeared as if a constant pulse of brighter light was coming from the stars and plummeting into the city.
She leaned closer to Vartan’s helm and asked, “Why is the light doing that? And what is that place?”
Karven turned his head slightly to answer her. “That would be Gra’Tuerians arriving into She’Ma’Ryn, the City of Wonders. They need safe harbour as their home planet has suffered greatly.”
“Great king, thank you, but why would anyone want to come here? We are in the midst of war and this is hardly a safe harbour.”
Vartan and Karven both chuckled to themselves and Vartan turned his head to speak with her. “I guess that you have not travelled much in Marithia?”
She lowered her head and reddened with embarrassment and muttered, “Well… not really, I lived most of my life with Aldorus.”
“She’Ma’Ryn is a place that none of Shindar’s forces would dare cross, it is a safe harbour for anyone who is within its walls of protection. They will be safe there,” said Vartan.
“It sounds like we should all be in She’Ma’Ryn.” She said, looking around the breathtaking landscape.
They watched as the sun began to rise over the horizon. Anakari breathed sharply at the beauty of it. It was as if the gods were giving birth to another day, and the bright sunshine brought warmth into the land. Everyone watched quietly as dawn broke.
“There is still true beauty in this world that hasn’t been destroyed,” said Karven, “We need to stop those who would take all of this away from us and enslave us through tyranny. We could all go to She’Ma’Ryn in the useless hope that we will be saved. In reality, we would be hiding under a rock until Marithia falls to Shindar and merges with the underworld. Once that happens, the protection it provides would be lost to us and the dome of protection would fall. We would be fish in a pond for the Forces of Darkness.”
Anakari sighed loudly and leaned closer to Vartan to speak with him. “How far are we from Veldrenn?”
“We are almost there, but I don’t know what to expect when we arrive. Dragons who had visited said that the city was under heavy repairs since the Battle of the Elven Woods.”
Turning her head to her left, she saw the golden glint of Greenhaven reflecting the sun’s rays.
“Tell me, what happened at Greenhaven?”
Vartan’s eyes narrowed inside his helm as he thought back to the fall of Greenhaven. “Kassina happened. Greenhaven fell through the betrayal of King Arman’s son, Derian. Many who I held close to my heart died that day in an effort to protect the city.”
Anakari spoke gently. “I see… why could nobody stop her?”
“Greenhaven was Marithia’s shining jewel, a safe haven where we felt protected. I was the leader of the Royal Knights, entrusted to protect the royal family. Somehow, Derian managed to set up an ambush where his sister Helenia was almost killed. My dear Helenia… I barely managed to save her and bring her back to Greenhaven alive. He convinced King Arman that I had betrayed him, and the king banished me from Greenhaven, where I couldn’t…” said Vartan, his voice breaking.
Karven turned his head to speak. “I know how much they meant to you… but you must stop blaming yourself for what happened to Arman and all who fell at Greenhaven. The king banished you to protect you because of who you are, can you not see that?”
Vartan was left speechless at the revelation.
Anakari’s mouth widened as she asked, “The King saved Vartan at the cost of his own life?”
“Yes. Arman always knew what Vartan meant to the future of Marithia, and that he was the subject of the Talonsphere prophecy. The Sword of Destiny revealed this to him before Vartan entered into his knighthood. Nymira shared what she saw with me the day you were banished in the throne room. Arman believed you and he sent you away to where you could be safe. You were not ready to face Kassina… as you already know now.”
“He… but…” stammered Vartan, taking a moment to steady his thoughts.
“By the gods! You are the boy of the Talonsphere prophecy? I am on the back of the king of dragons with… oh my,” exclaimed Anakari.
Vartan turned around and smiled at the sight of her wide eyes and chuckled as he spoke. “Please… Actually, it is I who feel special to be in your company.”
Turning back to Karven, he asked, “Hold on… what is the sword of destiny? It couldn’t possibly have been…”
“Dear boy… we should have had this conversation long ago. The sword of destiny was Leon’s sword. I gifted it to him in She’Ma’Ryn on one of his trade visits and it was to stay with him until the day he felt you were truly in danger. That day had come and the sword found its rightful owner.”
“I can’t believe it… all this time, he saved my life…” muttered Vartan, shaking his head.
Anakari gently asked, “Vartan, about what you said before about feeling special…”
Her words were interrupted by Karven. “We are here, hold on tight!”
She took in a deep breath as all dragons dove from the sky with frightening speed and she watched in awe as the tree canopy of Veldrenn opened up at Queen Andrielle’s command.
> Anakari screamed with joy as the adrenaline pumped through her veins and the wind howled past her ears. The dragons changed to a long line formation behind Karven and followed each other in a downward spiral following the border of Veldrenn’s open canopy.
Changing their scales to reveal themselves in the sky, they were met with the thunderous sounds of Veldrenn’s army cheering and banging their swords against their shields.
Veldrenn had not only been beautifully restored, but it looked like a whole new city with heavy fortifications and a bustling multi-cultured population.
Karven spread his wings wide as he prepared to land and they slowed down. Flapping his mighty wings, he landed with a loud shudder and folded them. The ground continued to shake with each dragon’s landing.
Helenia ran as fast as her legs could carry her toward Vartan and cried tears of joy as she screamed. “My love!”
Vartan leapt from Karven’s back, throwing his helm to the ground behind him as he ran to meet her. “Helenia!”
In the middle of Veldrenn, the boy of dragon’s blood and the girl who would be queen embraced each other again. He held her close to his chest as if she was the most precious object in Marithia and they both wept as the cheers rose with almost deafening roar.
Queen Andrielle waved down the crowd and her voice boomed over Veldrenn.
“People of Veldrenn… Let us all welcome the great dragons and our allies… and Vartan, the boy of the Talonsphere prophecy, who lives! Today marks the day that we unite once again in the battle against Shindar, the battle to free us all!”
The crowd erupted in more cheers.
Waving them down once more and smiling at her daughter in Vartan’s arms, she spoke warmly.
“We will mark this day with the greatest celebration of all, the most joyous of occasions. Tonight we will have a royal wedding! My daughter Helenia, your future queen, has my blessing to marry Vartan, who not only is the boy of the Talonsphere prophecy and knight of Veldrenn, but will become our future king!”
Chapter 19 : Woven Webs
“I never thought that the day would come where I would not only be able to marry the woman I love, but to be a future king.
This is more than I could ever have dreamed of and I have learned by being so close to death that in this world of darkness, every moment of happiness and each success should be treasured for we never know how much time we have left.
I do wonder what lies ahead of us after this day of celebration… what evil and battles we must overcome in our fight to save Marithia.”
(Sir Vartan of Veldrenn)
Thick clouds of black smoke gushed into the blue sky as she cast yet another spell to set a Greenhaven home alight. Puffing out a furious breath of air, she stormed her way to the dungeons in an effort to alleviate her boredom. She stepped over piles of rotting corpses and made her way to the holding cells. Her remaining prisoners awaited their fate with shaking bodies and fearful eyes.
The stench of rotting flesh was overwhelming and she unlocked the holding cells in a fit of anger whilst holding her breath. Pointing to the many prisoners inside, she ordered, “Take these bodies and dispose of them into the river below and get back here as fast as possible. Don’t try to run! Remember what happened last time you all tried to escape. I had to hunt you all down and teach you a lesson. Those deaths at Jade Inn are on your hands. If any of you dare disobey me, then I will tear you apart where you stand!”
“But we’re hungry,” complained a woman from the cells who appeared to be almost skeletal in weight.
Wumvarn growled with annoyance and spoke to them in a condescending tone. “We’re hungry, we’re hungry! That’s all I ever hear out of your mouths. Well I’m getting hungry too, would you like to become my next meal?”
She opened her beautifully full red lips to reveal the snake-like teeth within and her long reptilian tongue. Her jaw clicked as she dislodged it to open her mouth unnaturally wide and hissed at the prisoners. They shrieked in fear as they ran to the corners of the cells, bracing their arms against their chest in an effort to protect their beating hearts.
“I didn’t think so! I will feed you as I always feed you, with the flesh of those around you. I even allow you a fire in your cells to cook with and you still complain.”
One woman vomited at the thought of being forced to eat human flesh again.
“Alright then, my little pets… if you get your work done faster and all come back to your cells without incident… I will hunt down some local animals for you to eat. Now get to work!”
The prisoners nodded and began to lift the rotting corpses and march them out of the dungeons.
She snapped her head around to a nearby skeleton warrior guard. “And you! The few of you that were deserted were left here to rot in a dying city. Do what is asked of you properly or I will kill you myself. Escort these prisoners to their duties and make sure I am not disobeyed. Quickly now!”
The warrior’s glowing eyes darkened as he moved into action and shrieked with annoyance as he prodded the prisoners to move faster.
Wumvarn headed upstairs, sighed loudly and muttered to herself, “I found this city mostly deserted with holes the size of houses dug into the ground. I filled the holes, cleaned up the mess and made this place my own. Still, I find all of this so boring. Such unsatisfiable meals… skin and bone and their hearts are weak. This just won’t do. At this rate, I will lose all my powers… I need the hearts of warriors and those born with magic in their blood to sustain me…”
Halting her ascension at a window, she watched from Greenhaven’s outer walls as the last of the rotting bodies was thrown into the river and the prisoners marched toward the main gates.
“Looks like they’re still good for something!” she scoffed.
Reaching the door to the throne room, she made her way to the queen’s throne and sat back with her legs crossed, tapping her slim fingers on the wooden arms in boredom and drawing out a golden mirror.
Wumvarn had adopted a stunning body, taking the skin of a Marithian beauty. Her features were almost perfect, a breathtaking brunette, with the exception of a small scar at the base of her neck. Every demon had weaknesses and her true form would be revealed through the use of a mirror.
Her skin was decayed and dying and there were layers of skin that revealed the darkness of the demon inside. Its skin was like a continually moving bowl of black worms. She knew that if she didn’t feed on a worthy heart soon, she would be far too weak and could die. It was the wait that was the most painful of all. Only those who beheld her reflection in a mirror could see the truth beneath the mask.
Looking at the image of her true self, she asked, “How can I make life more interesting? I could take on a new body… start anew. No, I’ve done that too many times and I quite like this one.”
She opened up her ornate robe to reveal her milky white skin and continued dropping it down to show her full breasts. Slipping out her long tongue, she flicked her nipples.
“See? This body is far too much fun!” she giggled.
Her reflection grimaced in return and spoke back in a dark voice, “You’re having too much fun already. Find me some fresh hearts, or we will lose all of our powers. Remember that you and I are one… and without each other, we both die.”
Wumvarn’s smile turned to a scowl as she stared into the face in the mirror.
“I have been doing what you have asked of me since the day your soul merged with mine and we entered a human form! Do you think I enjoy what I have become? I give you time to take control and I swallow those steaming hot human hearts to keep you alive!”
“Do you miss your old life? Dogs and humans used you as a toilet while you swayed uselessly in the wind. I turned you into something more, I made you what you have become and your powers come from me!”
Narrowing her eyes, she stood from the throne and spat her words out in distain. “I know, you tell me all the time. Just you remember that if it wasn’t for me saving your soul when yo
u were desperately grabbing onto anything with life left within it, you would have died a lonely death at Crondor!”
She raised her hand high and smashed the mirror into the ground and it shattered into pieces.
The sound of laughter filled her mind as Wumvarn’s blackened and decayed face stared back at her in every shard. “We are the same and it matters not if you deny it.”
Rubbing her hands through her long golden hair, she stepped through the dusty beams of light to arrive at the throne room window facing the lowered gate.
“Oh my, do we finally have company worth making an effort for?” she giggled.
A rogue warrior led his horse over the gate with his shiny sword pointing the way forward. She threw her robe to the empty throne and descended the stairs at full speed, her bare breasts bouncing with each step. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, she saw the shadow of the warrior in the distance and ran through the city to the guard station and to nearby chains she had attached to the walls.
My powers are weak and I hope I have enough magic left to get this right, she thought.
“Redimio manuum ut chalybs,” she chanted.
The chains glowed as they clamped around her wrists and ankles, pulled her tightly against the wall. Her arms were spread wide along with her long shapely legs.
“Help! Help me!” she cried.
The sound of running filled her ears as the man came into view. He looked over her naked body helplessly strapped against the wall and grinned, slightly lowering his sword.
“My word, what happened here?” he asked, cautiously taking steps toward her and looking around for a possible ambush.
“Please! The city was emptied yesterday and I was left here like this as punishment. Help me out of these chains and back to my family. There is certain to be a reward for my safe return.”
The man nodded, sheathing his sword and approaching her.
Legends of Marithia: Book 2 - Darkness Rising Page 15
