by Gerard Bond
It was the most logical thing to do and then there was the question of Madeira. He really wanted to find out what had happened to her.
A couple of days later Wollfen went to the enchanted lands and sought counsel with King Elyssur. The elf welcomed him as per usual.
“Hello Aerassis, I understand you are a man of great standing now?” Wollfen shook his head.
“Please, don’t remind me of it, it is like a lead weight hanging around my neck.” The King chuckled ever so slightly, he was enjoying seeing Wollfen so uncomfortable.
“So tell me, what is it you wish to discuss?”
“We have defeated all the Isogorrean forces in the north. I will be returning your army, but I would like to retain the services of two thousand of your archers. I still have one more city to take back and they would help me guarantee it.”
“That is no problem. They are at your disposal, more if you wish.”
“I thank you King, but the two thousand will prove to be more than enough.”
“Is there anything else?”
Wollfen hesitated, it wasn’t something he wanted to bring up for fear of insulting the King. The king for his part sensed what it was about.
“It's about Drexus isn’t it?”
Wollfen still hesitated but decided to speak, it was the King who brought it up.
“I am having trouble dealing with how you disposed of Drexus. She did not deserve to be executed. King Elyssur, I simply cannot come to terms with the barbaric manner in which you dealt with her.”
The King did look a little remorseful, but his words were not consistent with that look.
“I can understand your lack of understanding in this matter, but she was lost to us over a hundred years ago. Her mind would have been set by her changes so long ago that even if she did see the error of her ways she still would not be able to change back enough to be forgiven. No Aerassis, what we did was a mercy.”
Wollfen could feel the anger rising in him again. For them to make such an arbitrary decision on another person’s life without even giving them a chance went against his beliefs.
“I am sorry King, but this is one point I think we will never see eye to eye upon.”
It was his most civil reply on such a contentious issue. Four hundred years of seeing evil in the world had taught Wollfen an acceptance of it that maybe worked against him. It wasn’t an acceptance really, more a resignation.
“I think I will leave now. There is still much to do before I can march on Port Cholandra. Good day King Elyssur. May I find you in good health again when we next meet.” The King bowed his head a little.
“The same to you Aerassis, may the gods protect you.” Wollfen bowed a little in return , a portal appeared and he was gone.
King Elyssur turned back to his table and Luthein stepped out from the shadows. He waved the elf over who sat down opposite him.
“So you were saying that he succeeded in releasing the thing buried below Kassandrea?” Luthein leaned forward to speak.
“The creature is definitely gone. It is now far to the east but is not moving. We at least now know that Aerassis definitely is the one that was sired by an angel on his home world before being transported here to this planet.”
The King meditated a little.
“He didn’t mention his encounter with that thing, he is not being entirely honest with us.”
“All the more reason to be cautious with him your highness. It is looking more and more that he is the one of the prophecy. If that is true then we, the elven race, are in real danger.” The King nodded reluctantly in agreement and sighed.
“Yes you are right, if only a few more things of the prophecy fall into place then it will come to pass that we shall have to deal with him in a similar manner to Drexus. Hopefully by killing her we may have already changed the course of the future, we can only hope.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THE FINAL ACT?
Wollfen and Dark rode at the head of the column today taking in a different sight than what they were used to. Before on marches like this they would be further back in the military column and seeing only a dusty air with the backs of soldiers ahead. Today they decided to get an unimpeded view.
Elven scouts were well ahead as usual. Wollfen used them almost exclusively at first but had been sending them out more and more with human trackers. He hoped that they would pick up some tricks from the elves as they watched them execute their craft.
Dark spoke up after awhile, wanting to share her thoughts with her love.
“Do you suppose Night will be okay? I know she has been keeping herself busy with her new passion, but I don’t know that is enough to salve her grief.” Wollfen agreed.
“Mm, she hasn’t given herself any time yet to express her pain. In time she will I’m sure though. I tell you what, once we are done down in Port Cholandra we shall go pay her a visit yes?” Dark smiled.
“Yes, I would like that very much. I know it has only been just over a week but already I miss her.”
Wollfen turned back and looked at Vaughn. That man was always loyal and ready to serve. There were no questions and no desire expressed by him to be doing anything else. Yet when he had free time he was always off getting himself involved in other things. Wollfen was curious about that, it just didn’t add up. Ah well one day things would change. Wollfen knew that day was coming, he had made a promise.
Two elven scouts came galloping up to the front of the column. They had been riding hard for quite awhile he could see.
“We have news! Port Cholandra is deserted!” Wollfen was caught by surprise.
This was not something he was expecting, they hadn’t come across Kane’s army yet.
“Tell me, how do you know this?” The scout grinned.
“We have already been to Kane’s encampment not three hours south of here. He sends you greetings and hopes this news is welcome.” Wollfen laughed out loud.
“Ha! He knows very well how I will take it. Tell me what other news does he have for us?”
“He informed me that they have had a number of columns in the city for the last two days. Apart from a small local civilian population left behind, the Isogorreans are gone. They took very little too but he hasn’t done a full inspection yet. He is waiting for your arrival.”
Wollfen turned in his saddle and signaled to General Beowulf off in the distance. It would only take him a minute for the man get to them, Wollfen turned back and addressed the scouts.
“If you want you may take a rest further back and get yourself some food. I’m sure you can use it and thank you.” The scouts nodded and left them. General Beowulf showed up beside him.
“You have news my Lord?” Wollfen greeted him and responded,
“Yes, there will be no fight. The Isogorreans have fled the city. I am going to ride ahead and talk to Kane. His encampment is another three hours on, I should be there in an hour and we won’t wait there either. I have every intention of collecting a small expeditionary force and entering Cholandra immediately.” Beowulf nodded.
“Yes sir, we shall be there this afternoon awaiting your orders.”
“No need for that General, simply come to the city. It will need to be occupied quickly. Anyway, I expect there will be much work for us to do there. Until I see you.”
Wollfen waved and he moved forward, signaling to some others as he rode off. They joined him and the small detachment raced ahead. Two hours later Wollfen rode through the open gates of Port Cholandra with Kane by his side. It had been almost a year since he had last been here. So much had happened in that time, only a year? It felt like so much longer. He turned to Kane and commented,
“I feel like I’m visiting the scene of an old crime.” Dark piped up,
“If anyone should be feeling that it should be me, after all I did burn down the docks!”
They all laughed. This final mission was an anticlimax and yet it was a relief to them all. They had seen enough bloodshed to last them a long tim
e.
“So tell me why we had to rush to be here?” Wollfen turned to Kane,
“I am hoping that a friend of ours might still be here. It is only a chance but I have to see. The person’s name is Madeira and she is a good ally of ours. The best I can estimate is that she was captured here by the Isogorreans, I am hoping they left her behind.”
They continued on along the almost deserted streets of the city. Sometimes a person would be out and would wave to them but for the most part there was an eerie silence. Finally they made it to the palace of the incumbent Lord. The Isogorreans would have disposed of him in the beginning before they took over Wollfen thought. It didn’t really matter now. Wollfen was more interested in getting down into the dungeon.
They dismounted in the courtyard and picked their way past the litter of broken furniture and personal belongings. The place was a mess. Once inside they only took a minute to get their bearings and down they went. The staircase went deep underground and became dark.
Once they reached the lower levels the group walked along all the cells shoving a torch in whenever they thought they saw someone. Most cells were empty and one had a dead body in it. There was no sign of Madeira. They all turned to leave and at that moment the body moaned. Kane pulled on the cell door but it was locked, he motioned to Vaughn to help.
“Here give me a hand, get your sword in between the door frame and the door.” They twisted and heaved for a bit and the door sprung open. Then Kane went in and turned the man over.
“Beerguts!” They all turned to Vaughn who had called out.
“You know him?”
“Yes, he used to be the Lord of this city. We all called him Beerguts because of his heavy love for alcohol.” Wollfen looked down at the man on the cot.
“I remember that name, Duggan in the Tavern mentioned him a year ago.” He addressed him now, “So, you have been liberated, but I wonder if that’s such a good thing? After all, someone had to open the gates to the Isogorreans in the first place eh?” The man pulled himself up on the cot.
“Wait, wait, please, I heard you speak of a woman called Madeira? She was here.”
Now they all looked to him fully alert. Wollfen wasn’t someone to be played with.
“Don’t make games here, if you are lying I will surely cut your throat!” The man raised his hands in supplication.
“No! I speak the truth! She had jet-black hair and skin like alabaster! She was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Please you must believe me. If it wasn’t for her and her tenderness I would surely have died.” Dark looked to Wollfen and nodded. He was telling the truth.
“What did they do with her old man? Where is she?”
“They took her with them. They bound her up and dragged her out. I remember hearing there were orders to take her down to the ships, that was the same day they left.” Wollfen looked to the others.
“She is on her way back to Isogorr. It won’t be a welcome reception when she gets there.”
“So what do we do with him?”
Wollfen looked down at the pitiful soul. He was haggard and dressed in rags and yet his heart softened towards the man who had betrayed so many. He leaned down and whispered into the man’s ear.
“We are going now but eventually we shall return. When that happens it would be best you gone for we will not remember having found you. The decision to leave or stay is yours.” Wollfen stood up and turned back to the others.
“Let’s go.”
Up top they mounted their horses and left the palace. There was nothing here for them anymore. Wollfen decided a trip to the water was in order and they rode back out the city walls and down to the beach.
As they gathered there by the water Wollfen turned to Darkling,
“I'm going to focus on Madeira's beacon. If I can find it I would like to take some of you and snatch her out of the hold of the ship, are you up for it?” Dark nodded immediately,
“I am with you my darling.” Wollfen smiled,
“Thank you.”
He turned towards the ocean and focused on her beacon. But there was no sign, they were obviously using that stinky drink on her just as they had on him when he was first captured. Concentrating more he used even more mental energy to seek out Madeiras spiritual light but there was nothing.
After a couple of minutes Wollfen let out a deep breath and opened his eyes. Darkling could see the sadness cross his face, they would not be going anywhere. She gave him a hug, holding him as he stared out across the ocean.
Wollfen knew they could do nothing in the short term, he would have to come up with another plan of attack over the next few days. Looking around he could see the others were watching on. He stood for a second and gave thought to Nightwing. She would so enjoy some time here with them at the waters edge. He turned to Dark.
“Wait here, I shan’t be long.”
Then he reached into his pocket, felt the teleport crystal and was gone. A few minutes later he reappeared next to Dark and Night was holding his hand.
“Night!” Dark jumped into her arms and Wollfen stood back then disappeared again.
“Where is he gone now?”
“I have no idea.”
It wasn’t long before he returned again and this time he had Solynne's hand. She had a small bundle in her arms. It was Solynne and Kane’s baby boy.
“Oh! Wolfy! You are the best!”
All of them were hugging and kissing, Kane was happy too, he had been missing Solynne and the baby more than he cared to admit. They all stood there chatting and reminiscing, it was time too to reflect on the others that had been lost.
Later as the sun set they sat there with a fire burning on the beach swapping stories and sharing the good times and the bad. The best of friends sharing their lives and being happy but he knew it wouldn’t last. Wollfen left them after awhile and sat quietly nearby on a sand hill looking out over the ocean.
Madeira was out there somewhere and he would have to go find her. Then there was also the question of the orcs. They had retreated back into the mountains now they had a leader in that thing Wollfen had inadvertently released. That one single being was a danger to everything that existed and what of the elves? They too were not the purity he had always thought them to be. Soon enough there would be much, much more to do but right now he would share this quality time there with his closest friends. They had freed a nation, it was time for a pause. He walked back to them, sat back down and joined in with the good.
###END###
Stay tuned for the next installment in the Angels Blood series when Wollfen goes head to head with the unknown being that almost killed him. The orcs become a credible and almost overwhelming force too, threatening the existence of the Kingdom. But as always there are intrigues and plots behind the scenes too. Can Wollfen hopefully keep the alliances together and even bring the secluded dwarves in to help? Do the Elves have a hidden agenda? Is there more to the hidden doorway far below Kassandrea? Can it be opened once again to other worlds beyond this realm? What is Wollfen's ultimate destiny? Be sure to look for “Entity” coming out in the near future and have many of your questions answered.
Table of Contents
ANGELS BLOOD
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Prologue
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
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