by Tyler Wild
Evron and his elite guards blocked the hallway as I neared my chamber. By the devious look in his eyes, I knew he wasn’t welcoming me home.
"I must say, I'm impressed with you, brother,” Evron said. "But she is not for you."
I clenched my jaw. "Stand down, Evron. Father has given her to me."
Hatred and rage filled his eyes.
My hand gripped the hilt of my blade.
"I am next in line for the throne!” Evron growled.
"Not anymore."
The air was thick with tension.
Evron’s guards stood ready to pounce, swords drawn.
“Back off, and I will forget this little incident," I said.
"You will never be King," Evron said. "I can assure you of that.”
"When father hears of this—“
Evron chuckled. "Father will never hear this." He addressed his guards. "Arrest this man for the murder of the King."
My eyes widened. A mixture of rage and sadness filled my heart. My throat tightened.
The metal blade rang as I unsheathed Asgoth from his scabbard.
Evron’s guards charged me.
Swords clashed, echoing down the corridor.
Clad in heavy armor, the goons were slower than I was. I hacked and slashed, spinning and turning, defending myself from all angles. The demonic blade sliced through one of the guard’s swords. My deadly blade continued on its trajectory, raking across the man's neck and chest.
Rivers of blood spurted into the air.
I spun around and kicked another goon away, then deflected another blow. With a quick thrust, I skewered another, my blade puncturing his abdomen.
Blood washed over Asgoth.
The demon moaned with pleasure.
I could feel his joy and ecstasy. Each soul increasing his power, bringing him one step closer to freedom.
Evron stood back with concerned eyes, watching the battle.
I continued slashing and stabbing. I moved with speed and precision. Metal clashed and blood flowed. Within a few chaotic moments, all of Evron’s elite guards were on the floor, either dead or writhing in agony, well on their way to the grave.
My heart pounded, and rage pumped through my veins. My glare found Evron who stood uneasy in the hallway. He gripped his sword, the blade slightly trembling in his hands.
A sea of crimson blood flowed over the marble floor before me. I stepped over the bodies as I marched toward my brother, preparing to strike a fatal blow. Through gritted teeth, I growled, ”I will make you suffer for what you've done!”
Fear filled the coward’s eyes as I stormed toward him. I reared my blade back ready to hack him to pieces.
But Evron had a trick up his sleeve.
He reached into a pouch on his belt and grabbed a handful of powder. He blew it into the air, and the green cloud of dust enveloped me.
My knees went weak, and my vision faded.
I smacked the ground and heard Asgoth clatter against the tile as I blacked out. When I awoke, I was somewhere I never imagined I would be.
9
Kron
A terrible screech filled my ears, waking me from my involuntary slumber. I knew instantly what it was.
My stomach twisted as reality came flooding back to me. Slumber had brought nightmares, but they were nothing compared to the cold hard fact that my father had been killed—by Evron no less.
I never realized how horrid the conditions were in this dungeon. This part of the castle was not a place I visited often. The wet sock smell of mold filled the air. Mixed with stale, sweaty body odor and excrement made for a cornucopia of wonderful aromas.
The cold damp air raised my skin, sending a chill deep into my bones. My head throbbed, and the veins in my temples pulsed. The magic dust Evron used made me feel foggy and left me with a hell of a headache.
Shafts of light beamed through a barred window, painting squares on the stone floor. Flies buzzed around the corpse of another prisoner. Shackled in chains, he'd been dead for at least a day and no one seemed concerned enough to remove him. My face twisted from the putrid stench.
I staggered to my feet. Chained to the wall with iron cuffs about my wrist and ankles I could only take a few steps toward the door. This was my little corner of the world now.
I still felt woozy.
The ground warbled beneath my feet.
I yanked hard against the chains. The metal cuffs cut into my wrists. My biceps flexed as I tried to pry the chains from the wall. There was the slightest bit of play between the baseplate and the stone. Maybe with a little elbow grease it would separate?
I worked on it for hours without much success.
"Are you going to make that racket all hours of the day and night?” a voice asked from the neighboring cell. “Some of us are trying to die in peace.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not planning on dying," I said.
There was a long pause.
“I know your voice," the woman said. "You're Kron."
I said nothing.
“What are you doing here?"
"The King is dead. Evron has taken control.”
“What?"
"It's true.”
She sighed and muttered, “So that’s why I was arrested.”
“My brother has something against you?”
“Let’s just say, I was never his favorite person.”
“Hardly reason to merit such punishment,” I said.
"I haven't been informed yet of my crime.” A sad chuckle escaped her lips. “Not that I’ve committed any crime, but it should be interesting to see what they come up with—if they come up with a reason at all.”
"How long have you been here?"
“This morning. I’m not sure if Evron plans to watch me wither away in this dungeon, or if I will merit a public execution."
"I can't see Evron passing up an opportunity to sever a head in public."
"That's reassuring."
"At least it would be quick," I said.
I heard a door open down the hallway. The hinges creaked, and heavy boots clanked against the stone floor. A moment later, Evron’s repulsive face appeared through the viewport in my cell door. He couldn't contain his smug grin. "It really is dreadful down here, isn't it?” His nose crinkled up. “These are horrendous living conditions."
I glared at him.
"Don't worry. You won't be living for long.” He paused. “If it were up to me, I might let you wither here, but father was such a beloved King the citizens will want to see you face a gruesome end.”
I snarled at my brother.
“For the murder of the King, you will be executed at noon tomorrow in the public square." He sighed. “I will miss you, brother. But not that much."
I wanted to smack the grin from his lips. He spun around and marched down the hallway. I listened to his footsteps clamor , then the dungeon door slammed behind him as he exited.
"That guy is an asshole. I can't believe you two are related,” the woman next door said.
“I’m not so sure we are related,” I grumbled.
Evron shared none of the traits of my father, and there wasn't much resemblance. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was no blood relation at all.
For the rest of the night, I worked on trying to loosen the chains. Morning would come all too quickly.
10
Malvina
“You fool!” I growled, attempting to keep my voice low. I didn’t want this conversation to be heard outside of my bedchamber. “You should kill him now.”
“Relax, dear sister,” Evron said. “We will make a spectacle of him.“
I clenched my jaw.
“If we do this in secret, questions may arise,” Evron explained.
"You acted impulsively! If we would have done this my way—“
"I had no choice," Evron said. "I had to act. I did not anticipate Kron would return with the dragon-shifter. Actually, I did not anticipate he would return at all."
; I paused. “Have you mated with the dragon-shifter?”
He sneered at me. "Of course. Do you think me a fool?"
I dare not answer my true feelings. My brother was rash, impulsive, and not what I would call a deep thinker.
“She is now under my complete control.” His face twisted with disgust as a thought ran through his little brain. His eyes flicked to Gort. “Please don’t tell me you mate with this dumb thing?”
“I not dumb,” Gort grumbled in broken speech.
Evron rolled his eyes. “Is that how you keep him under control?”
I sneered at Evron.
Gort was a massive, 7 foot tall blue orc that I had conjured from the underworld. He was a loyal protector, and what I did with him was my business. He was gentle and kind. When provoked or threatened, he became the terrifying beast that he was. With bulging biceps, rippled abs, and legs like tree trunks he was a fearsome force.
For a moment, a sickly feeling ran through my body. Evron was now King, and I would serve him.
I worried that his rule would be worse than my father's. But I reassured myself of my ability to sway Evron. He had always taken my counsel, and I had always been able to mold his opinion.
"Have no fear,” Evron said. “The people will believe what we tell them. And they will have no choice. Anyone who speaks against the King will suffer grave punishment.” He had a mischievous glint in his eyes. "We can dispense with all the ridiculous notion's father held and rule the kingdom as we see fit."
11
Kron
The sharp blade careened toward my neck. I cringed anticipating the deathblow. I hoped that Asgoth would at least have mixed feelings about severing my head, though he would probably relish the taste of my blood.
It was a great day to die. Clear blue sky, brilliant sun, plenty of onlookers. All things considered, it was better than wasting away over months or years in a dank dungeon.
I waited for the blade to impact my flesh, but something miraculous happened.
Asgoth stayed the executioner's hand mid-swing.
The blade hovered just above my neck. The executioner’s hand trembled as he tried to force the blade to move.
Asgoth didn’t budge.
Sweat beaded on the executioner’s forehead. His eyes filled with astonishment.
The crowd gasped with confusion.
Instead of severing my neck, the executioner sliced the ropes that bound my wrists.
My arms swung free. I sprang to my feet.
The executioner turned the blade on himself, stabbing the sword into his belly. His face filled with horror, and his wide eyes bulged. Crimson blood spurted from his abdomen as he fell to his knees.
I grabbed the sword and pulled the blade from his stomach, then hacked off his head for good measure. It smacked against the deck and rolled into the crowd, leaving a trail of blood-spatter behind.
The onlookers stepped back and gasped.
I guess Asgoth liked having me as master. He decided to save my life.
Evron watched from high atop a castle terrace. His look of astonishment turned to rage. “Seize him!”
Several of his elite guards stormed the executioner’s platform. I swung Asgoth hard, slashing at an approaching guard. Asgoth's razor-sharp blade severed the man’s jugular. Blood spurted like a fountain from the wound as he face-planted to the deck.
I backhanded my blade and struck another goon, knocking him from the platform. With a quick thrust, I plunged the sword into another guard.
Asgoth vibrated with ecstasy.
Blood coated the blade and dripped on the wooden deck. Metal rang out as I pulled the blade from the dead man's armor. His limp body clanked to the deck.
I jumped from the platform, and the crowd parted around me. I hit the ground and tumbled, then sprang to my feet.
Evron commanded his dragon to attack.
Aurora leapt into the air and transformed into a massive red dragon. Crimson scales covered her body. Her wide wings flapped, launching her into the sky.
She had fierce teeth, a rigid snout, and horns that tapered back past her ears. Her golden eyes shimmered in the sunlight. Tall spikes lined her spine.
The dragon plunged down, rocketing toward the ground. She swooped low and landed in front of me. The ground rumbled under her weight.
The crowd scurried to clear the area.
I gazed up at the towering creature in awe. She inhaled, and her chest expanded.
I knew what was coming next.
I spun around and ran in the opposite direction.
She blew a stream of molten fire.
I slid underneath the wooden platform in the nick of time. The flames engulfed the deck, turning it into an inferno. Amber flames flickered high in the sky. Smoke billowed into the air.
I crawled underneath the flaming platform. Searing heat baked my back as I scurried to the other side.
Within a few steps, Aurora landed before me and took another deep inhalation.
I spun around and ran as fast as I could. I plowed into the crowd, weaving my way through the horde.
Aurora's breath sent flames into the crowd, incinerating several innocent citizens.
I narrowly escaped the inferno.
The gruesome screams of the burn-victims filled the air. Flesh popped and crackled as it melted from bone.
I turned down a side street and dove into a sewer, splashing into the slimy muck.
The swampy stench wasn't exactly appealing, but it was better than being roasted to a crisp. I scampered down the tunnel as Aurora pressed her snout against the sewer opening. Her heavy breath rumbled off the stone walls.
She inhaled again and blew a stream of fire into the sewer.
I raced as fast as I could down the tunnel as flames filled the passage behind me. Heat nipped at my backside as I barely outran the flames, sliding down the algae covered chute.
I slid down the sewer tunnel and slammed into the metal grate at the outlet. Sewage poured from the opening into the moat a hundred feet below.
The rusty iron grate was the only thing keeping me from plummeting down.
Aurora’s screeches echoed through the passageways. Her heavy wings flapped. She launched into the air and circled the citadel, looking for the sewer outlet. There were dozens around the perimeter of the fortress.
I kicked the grate as hard as I could, trying to free the rusty iron from its attachments. Rust colored flakes flittered into the air with each kick. The iron bars rang throughout the passageway.
Klong!
Klong!
Klong!
After several tries, the grate broke loose from an attachment point. Another quick kick, and the iron barrier tumbled down the side of the cliff face, splashing into the moat below.
I scooted to the edge and peered below—it was a long way down.
The flap of Aurora’s wings drew my attention. I glanced to my right and saw the dragon approaching, fury burning in her eyes.
I jumped from the ledge and plummeted toward the moat. Wind whistled past my ears, ruffling my hair.
I splashed into the water and sank to the soft, spongy bottom. My ears filled with pressure. My legs pushed off the murky depths, and I swam to the surface, my arms pulling me through the water. I reached toward the shimmering light above, needing to grab a breath of air. But I also new death was waiting for me.
I broke through the surface and sucked in a breath just as Aurora exhaled a stream of fire. Her molten breath blazed toward me as I dove back underneath the surface.
The dappled rays of amber light cascaded through the water as I pulled myself below, swimming as hard as I could.
The blurry shape of Aurora hovered overhead. She flew low over the water and plunged her head below the surface. Her powerful jaws clamped tight, nipping at my heels.
I pulled myself through the water as fast as I could, trying to out run the shadow of the dragon that enveloped me. My lungs burned, depleted of oxygen.
12
&
nbsp; Kron
The dragon plunged her head into the water and snapped at my heels.
I swam deeper, trying to evade her sharp fangs. My lungs were growing unhappy about the lack of oxygen and were about to demand a breath.
I kept pulling through the water as the menacing creature tried to pluck me out like a gull snatching a fish from the sea.
Through the murky water I saw an opening—an aquifer that fed the moat. I pulled myself through the soup and swam into the tunnel. The moat drew its water from a nearby stream in the Lorewood.
I was swimming against the current. Within a few feet, the passageway became pitch black.
I couldn't see a thing.
I felt my way through the dark, my hands tracing the slimy algae covered walls. My muscles burned, and a wave of dread washed over me.
I didn’t know how far the tunnel went.—farther than I thought I could swim. I wasn't entirely sure that drowning was a better death than fire.
Both seem equally horrible.
My mind filled with thoughts of doom. I wasn't the only one concerned. Asgoth was in a panic.
If I died in the passageway, there was no telling how long Asgoth would remain at the bottom of the murky depths.
Without a master doing his bidding, he would have no chance at escaping the sword. My death would leave him stranded for the better part of eternity.
A blurry speck of light in the distance gave me hope.
The end of the tunnel, perhaps?
Hot coals burned in my lungs, and my arms were rubber. But I kept pulling.
As my strength was about to fade, I felt a rush of energy from Asgoth. I had felt it many times on the battlefield. The boost from Asgoth gave me just enough strength to swim to the end of the tunnel.
I entered the river and pulled toward the glimmering surface. I was on the verge of passing out.
I splashed through the surface and filled my lungs with a deep gasp. I trod water for a moment, catching my breath, then swam to shore and pulled myself onto the bank. My hands grabbed fistfuls of grass and dirt, clawing my way up the slope. I took cover at the base of a large tree. My eyes scanned the sky for any signs of the dragon.
