by A. E. Wright
“And why do you think such a foolish thing?”
“Pleassse misstresss.” The Gnarl repeated, knowing that a terrible death was imminent.
“WHY?” Agrona screamed. The other Gnarls began growling again much like loyal dogs attacking as their owner did, they smelt blood.
“Because if they love their queen asss much asss we love you, they will not betray her.” The answer surprised Agrona. It was an angle she had not considered and the flattery was not wasted on her.
“Sion!” She called again changing her plans. Sion shuffled forward nervously.
“Yesss misstresss?”
“Go to Cragsley, recruit the Ogres and bring back with you the queen of the spinners.” She smiled at her own cunning as she kept her eye on the Gnarl at her feet. Sion shuffled off recruiting five other Gnarls for the mission on his way out.
“ALPHUS!” She bellowed. A bruised and swollen Alphus stepped through the crowd.
“My love.” He answered bowing his head dutifully.
“Bring me your mightiest Worlen soldier. I am in need of a very brawny warrior.”
“Yes, of course my love but whatever for?” Alphus asked. Agrona’s face turned from self-satisfaction to vexation.
“HOW DARE YOU QUESTION ME, BRING ME A SOLDIER IMMEDIATELY.” She screamed. Alphus slunk off like a naughty child before returning promptly with a huge Worlen boy. He looked around eighteen in human years, much longer for a Worlen but this boy was still an adolescent despite his magnificent stature. The boys eye’s widened as he approached Agrona, his lips trembled with fear and sweat began to form in tiny beads upon his brow. Agrona smiled inwardly at the effect she had upon the terrified boy, he ought to be afraid she thought, after-all he was in the presence of greatness. Alphus used the sharp sword he had pointed at the boys back to force him to his knees in-front of Agrona. The boy’s lip curled in disgust at being positioned so close to the injured Gnarl next to him.
“How beautiful you are boy, what is your name.” She ran her fingers through his auburn hair. He winced; he had felt the darkness too just like the girl in the chamber. Agrona took a satisfied breath, she was glad that she still had this effect on other beings; it was an interesting part of her power.
“Pactus.” The boy answered. His crystal blue eyes filled with fearful tears.
“Pactus hmm, you smell of fear. It is divine.” Her eyes widened in excitement. She kicked the Gnarl again. “And what is your name little fellow?” The wording of the question seemed innocent but it was spoken with malice.
“Kazimir misstresss, my name is Kazimir.”
“Well Kazimir, you were a naughty little fellow, you spoke out if turn and you must be punished. Kazimir winced at her words, expecting to feel the burning agony brought by Agrona’s dark magic but he did not, not for the moment anyway. “You will be punished Kazimir, you will also be rewarded. You have inspired me; I have not been inspired in a very long time. I have seen something within you little fellow that can be of great use to me. Take Pactus’s hand Kazimir.” She commanded. The obedient Gnarl did as he was instructed. Pactus could not hide his disgust as he used his mighty muscles to wrench his hand away. “That was not very kind now was it Pactus?” Agrona laughed, she waved her own hand toward Pactus and his arm responded by moving him against his will toward the Gnarl. Pactus was terrified and confused as his broad arm rested along the much smaller shoulders of the injured Gnarl. The pair almost looked like they were embraced in friendship. It was only the revulsion on Pactus’s face that gave away the horror he felt at being so close to the Gnarl. Agrona lowered the top half of her body so that she was now face to face with the petrified Pactus. Smiling pleasantly she whispered into his ear ‘devoro’ before stepping away to admire her work.
The pain Pactus felt was both instantaneous and excruciating. He felt as if a thousand knives had pricked every muscle in his body and now the content was slowly draining out the same way that a cut would bleed.
“Mother, mother please.” He begged hopelessly. Agrona laughed harder.
“Oh I am not your creator sweet Pactus, I am your destroyer.” Pactus was not the only one screaming in pain, Kazimir also began to writhe in terrible agony. Unlike Pactus who was deflating, Kazimir was growing monstrously bigger. As his muscles grew to grotesque proportions, the snapping sound of his bones had the crowd of Gnarls jumping around in joy. The show their mistress had put on for them did not disappoint. They clapped appreciatively as the wretched Pactus took his final breath, his frame much distorted by the curse Agrona had cast upon him.
What had been a strong and sinewy boy was now nothing more than a skeletal frame, its hair falling to the floor as the skin hung loosely from the bones. The dead eyes wide with panic and pain, betraying the final agonising moments of the boy. Agrona looked into them with equal deadness.
“Take it away Alphus.” She commanded. The figure was now so decreased that Alphus, who clearly was not impressed by Agrona’s command, took his long sword and balanced the remains on the end as he took them from the chamber. “Now Kazimir, arise.” The spell that had taken so much from Pactus had given it all to Kazimir. He arose as a foreboding Gnarl triple the size he had been moments previously. The bones in his neck cracked as he moved his head from left to right trying to gain a feel for his new enormous mass. He threw his arms out heavily and smiled at the crowd of Gnarls, who stared in wonder and terror at their supersized peer. “Who would like to bite Kazimir now?” Agrona asked as the stunned Gnarls looked on. Not a single one of them responded. “Your silence is wise my pets, he is your new General, obey him as you would obey me.” She instructed.
As Agrona walked from the chamber the crowd of Gnarls parted respectfully, Kazimir being careful not to cast his mistress into shadow walked a few paces behind her. As she reached a hidden doorway in the chamber wall, another optimistic Gnarl also spoke out of turn. Agrona turned on her heals, her eyes looked wild with rage.
“Who was that?” She shouted across the crowd.
“It wasss me misstresss, I was wissshing you safe journey.” A rather chubby Gnarl responded enthusiastically. Agrona looked to Kazimir who seemed to read her thoughts. He went over to the outspoken Gnarl and placed his hands around the other Gnarls neck. Turning with seemingly little effort the other Gnarl’s neck snapped viciously and his callous attacker threw him to the ground. Agrona grinned, impressed by her new General.
“Come Kazimir, you have an heir to hunt.” Kazimir smiled maliciously.
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A.E. Wright
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