by Unknown
"Lahonti, the King requires your assistance now," A soldier interrupted.
"Yes, sir," Lahonti said. "We will talk again."
Lahonti left quickly, leaving Azrak looking out at his army. He stood tapping his talon on his helmet. The heat of the sun beat down on his bruised body. His eyes darted around the camp, taking in the soldiers who had just returned and those who had stayed. A tear in his heart opened as he knew what would soon be.
Several moments later he turned on his paw and walked back toward his tent and fell asleep at last.
"Sir, I must talk with you" Lahonti said peeking in through the flap of Azrak's tent.
"Can't it wait?"
"No, it may already be too late."
"Very well."
Azrak crept out of his nest and ruffled his wings and crawled out of his tent.
"What is it?" Azrak asked through a stifled yawn.
Lahonti whispered in Azrak's ear. Azrak's eyes popped open as he rose onto his hind legs. He searched for the king's tent and could only see the mist of evening camp fires.
"Where is Ralti?"
"With the others, sir."
"Send them to the falls. Now. I will meet them there."
"Yes, sir."
***********************
The old king rested.
"I have only wanted the best for you, but in my old age I fear I have made a grave error. You have not learned what I have desired for you. I am not convinced you have are qualified to lead this kingdom. You are stricken with greed and lack compassion."
"What are you saying, father?"
The king looked into his son's eyes and said, "I will not be leaving the kingdom to you. I will hold a completion to elect the next successor."
Groargoth peered into his father’s eyes trying to decipher what he had heard. He couldn't wrap his brain around the words and sat silent in his anguish.
"Father, I don't know what to say. What have I done to displease you? All I have ever wanted was to please you. I have done everything you have ever asked of me."
"True, yet you only seek for your own desires and fulfillment."
"I love you, son. That will not change. I can't make you someone you are not, but who you are is not a ruler of my nation."
"Then I will seek for its destruction."
Groargoth felt the hot anger rise in his chest and settle in his heart.
"Help me situate," King Ruadan said.
Groargoth pulled his dagger and stabbed his father in the kidney. The king gasped and struggled under the pressure of Groargoth's weight. He kicked his legs and flailed his arms. Groargoth began to sweat. His nerves felt hot and tingly as the adrenaline rushed through his body. The strength and power he felt consumed him and he pushed even harder.
Groargoth glared at his father’s dying body through darkening eyes, but his mind felt alive and invigorated.
***********************
Azrak strode quickly through the soldiers toward the kings tent. As he rounded the last tent he heard a commotion coming from within and raced the last several yards. Groargoth threw open the flap and staggered out. The two gryphton's Groargoth had been talking to were standing guard.
"My father is dead," Groargoth feigned mock sorrow.
Azrak's heart sunk to his stomach a second before his blood surged through his body.
"You –"
"It’s your fault, I had to rid him of your poison. You tried to get him to give you the kingdom instead of me!" Groargoth growled. "Take him."
The two soldiers moved toward Azrak who stepped back.
"No, it was you. He never wanted you to be king," Azrak growled back.
Azrak however knew that no one would believe him anyway. It was their custom that the heirs inherited the throne, unless a competition was ordered. Azrak thought carefully and knew he had but a moment to make his choice. Without proof there was nothing he could do, and would be put to death. The soldiers drew closer as Azrak backed toward a tent. Azrak shot to the sky and rolled several times through the air.
"Get him!" Groargoth yelled.
The soldiers shot into the sky and chased him into the fading evening sun. Once out of sight the soldiers, not really wanting to pursue their beloved general, backed off. Azrak dipped behind some trees and darted back the other way. He stayed low and carved around the outer edge of the camp and made his way to the falls.
"What happened?" Ralti snapped as he landed on the soft dirt just inside the cave behind the falls. He shook the water from his body.
"Groargoth killed the king and took control of the kingdom. He told me he wanted me, but I convinced him to hold a competition."
Azrak paced back and forth, his paws behind his back.
Helios slipped through the water's edge, avoiding the full onslaught of the crashing water. "What are you going to do?" he asked.
"I don't know," Azrak admitted.
Brigdon and Jaxton crawled through a small tunnel on the side of the cave.
"We have to get you out of here," Ralti said, "until we can clear this up."
"But where will he hide, Groargoth won't stop until he finds him," Jaxton said.
"You can hide at the academy. He won't look for you there," Helios said.
"We can take that lowlife Groargoth," Brigdon said.
"Yeah," they agreed.
Azrak grimaced but softened his face.
"No, I won’t put you in the middle."
"But –" Helios began.
"I mean it, that's an order. Dismissed."
His commanding officers nodded reluctantly but had to follow orders. They knew he was right.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Executioner
Deagan darted from his cubbyhole and raced back down the corridor. The guard’s broad shoulders appeared around the corner. Deagan barely cleared the corner as the guard shook his head slightly and turned his attention to the girl.
"We're almost there sweetheart" he said. He grabbed her daintily pointed chin and turned her soft oval face to his. Serin jerked away. She tried to separate herself from his bearlike head, but her wrists were shackled behind her back. She backed away but stumbled and nearly fell into the water stained wall. "What’s the matter pretty, can't walk with those shackles on your ankles? What did you do to end up here anyway?" his eyes wondered.
She knew what he wanted, it was written all over his face.
"Not here." said the executioner, his raspy voice barely audible.
The guard grabbed her face and pulled it to his.
"I will have you." he said. Serin spit in his face. The guard pulled back and jerked her by the arm. He shoved her closer to the room while wiping his face. "Why I ought-a" he started.
"Enough, you will have plenty of time with her to do as you please later, but first we need to find out what she knows."
Serin pulled away as a sudden dull rumbling formed in the hollow of her gut.
"Fine." the guard grumbled. The guard shoved Serin into the room first. Her eye caught a slight glimpse of Shaz's blade from behind the door. "Do you want to sit in there?" The guard asked, pointing to the spiked chair.
The executioner stepped into the room behind the guard. He was a good foot shorter, and unaware of the tied guard mumbling through the gag.
"Gregor?" the guard said.
Serin pulled her arm out of his grip and moved against the wall.
"Move out of the way you derp." said the executioner.
He shoved his way past him.
"What do you want to know?" Shaz asked, stepping out from behind the door.
The men gasped and the guard gripped his sword but the executioner stopped him.
"I take it you’re Shaz?"
"Yes, I am."
Serin inched her way toward the door.
"You do understand you can’t get out of here." he said, his pinched face tight with certainty.
"Yeah, that's what I've been told, something about a curse?" Shaz said. "Why don't you give me the gir
l." He slid one foot behind him ready to lunge.
"Ah, even if you get the girl there’s no way out. Eventually we will find you and probably kill you, after we torture you, of course."
The guards would be easy. With there being an air of magic to the executioner, Shaz wasn't sure how hard he would be. He stepped to the side along the wall, steering clear of the trap door in the center of the room. The second guard drew his sword. With lightning speed, Shaz slammed the hilt of his blade with an upward thrust, into the side of the guard’s skull. He crumbled to the ground.
"You are as good as they say." the executioner said.
He slid away from the falling guard. Shaz quickly stepped in front of Serin, shielding her from the executioner.
"You alright?" he asked, turning slightly but keeping one eye on the executioner.
"Yes, but-" she said, biting her lower lip to keep from trembling.
Shaz felt her energy pulsing behind him and sensed her heart was pounding nearly out of her chest.
"So what are you going to do about me?" the executioner asked as he reached for a ten inch spike.
"Ah, come on now, you don't need that, you have magic."
The executioner stopped and released the spike slowly. For a split second his face was consumed with disbelief.
"How do you know?"
"You don't know?" Shaz asked.
"Know what?"
Shaz laughed, "I wield the Shadow."
Instant burning in his chest filled his lungs with power. It was hot but tantalizing, powerful, and recognizable.
"Shaz, let’s get out of here." Serin whispered.
It was all she could do to keep from chewing her tongue off. The executioner jerked backward. He hadn't quite understood what that meant. He tried to piece the puzzle together in his mind. Shaz grabbed Serin and started to move her toward the door. She pointed to the shackles on her ankles. Shaz cursed. Then he swiftly bent down and shoved his shoulder into her core. Wrapped his arm around her legs just under her bottom and stood up forcefully.
Serin flopped over his shoulder and Shaz darted out of the room. He passed the open door and kicked it shut with a BANG. He slipped his sword into its sheath and raced down the hall. Serin saw the executioner just rounding the corner. His pinched face now reddened with fury. He ran as fast as he dared. But because his boots were sharp and pointed they gave him no traction at all. Slipping on the smooth stone, he struggled to stay on his feet. Shaz gained distance on the executioner. He rounded another corner, but this time he went the opposite direction of how he and Deagan had come in.
"We need to get these shackles off you."
Another hall led to more rooms, small cells with straw beds and a wash basin. He slipped into one of the rooms and closed the door. He set Serin down on her bottom.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Don't worry, this won’t hurt." Shaz said as he struck the hardened steel with the edge of his blade. The steel responded with a crack and fell. Her soft creamy skin was now red, swollen and raw. Serin rubbed her sore wrists and ankles. They made their way back down the corridor and toward the stairs. Shaz grabbed Serin's blouse from behind and said, "Wait. I hear someone." Serin jumped to the side of the wall and let Shaz pass her. He took a few steps closer. "We'll have to go down." he said.
"Do we have to?" she asked, and pushed the lump from her throat.
They were half way when again they heard voices. They stopped and listened. This time the sniveling voice of the executioner, yapping commands to guards, echoed in the musky hall. Shaz motioned to Serin as he moved quickly over to the other side and slipped into the wall. Serin took a second glance as she witnessed him disappear into the stone. As she got closer, she understood. She slipped in next to Shaz, held her breath, and scootched in tight. Shaz reached out with his strong arms and pulled her in. His warmth was refreshing and she was comfortable around him. An inner feeling told her his intentions were pure. A gift she had since she was young.
"Hurry up you numb scull." a guard said.
"Not like they can escape or nothin, so we wander around until we find them." a guard said, his voice husky and gruff.
Her scent was sweet to Shaz, even though she was dirty and had been in the dungeons. For that moment, she leaned in and rested perfectly in the hollow of his neck and shoulder. Shaz wanted to stay in this moment but they couldn’t. He slipped into the hall. Serin followed. They rounded a corner into a spiral staircase. A guard heard them coming and stood silently around the next bend. As Shaz approached he stopped mid step, only one inch from the guard’s sword.
He held out his arm stopping Serin.
"Back up." he said.
He gripped the hilt of his sword. The honor blade shrieked as it whipped out of its sheath. Serin ran back up the stairs as the guard gripped the hilt of his sword and twisted his wrists bringing it up in a back rounded swing. The narrow staircase limited the movements of the long swords. Shaz parried up the stairs a few steps and lifted his blade to block. Twisted his blade and wrapped it around the guards blade. Locking the hilts Shaz shoved the guard sending him skidding down several stairs.
Shaz rounded the corner with his back against the wall. The guard regained his footing and stuck his blade out straight and lunged up at Shaz. Shaz stepped around the blade and flipped it back sending the hilt into the side of the guards head. The guard stumbled back and shook his head. The soft light flickered before his eyes as he struggled to keep his conscience.
“Maybe he can help us get out of here.” Serin said.
“There is no way out?” the guard said.
“I can get us out. I just have to find the grate under water.” Shaz said irritated that Serin didn’t trust him.
It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him, but that she could sense the guard’s nature and he didn’t want to hurt anyone. Serin felt Shaz’s frustration and was about to apologize when the guard lunged up the stairs once more. Shaz blocked with a side step and slapped the oncoming blade against the stone wall.
The guard pulled hard and yanked it away then took a few more steps back. Shaz advanced quickly and rounded his blade over his head. He brought it down toward the guard who threw his blade out to block. The honor blade sliced straight though the other blade. The tip fell to the floor and clanged down the stairs. The guard looked up at Shaz with terror in his eyes.
“Please, I can help. I can get you to the waterways.”
“Why should I believe you?” Shaz asked
“You shouldn’t, but I am clearly not in the position to argue, and neither are you.”
Serin touched Shaz’s shoulder and he sensed her feelings. Shaz thought about it, and peered into his eyes. He looked deep into his soul and felt no harm.
“Fine, take us to the flooded tunnels.” Shaz dug his blade into the guards back. "No funny business."
The guard nodded and moved down the stairs.
"Halt, who's there?" an old gruff voice asked.
Shaz twisted the blade against the guards back.
"It's me you duff head." said the guard. "I have the prisoners, open the gate."
"Why do you have prisoners?" said the old and feeble voice.
"It’s no concern of yours."
The sparse torches in the dimly lit corridor cast long sinister shadows on the old man’s face. Blindly he fumbled for the keys and scuffed to the iron gate.
"Keep your nickers on, I'm a goin" he said, clinking the keys together as he shook from old age. "To the caves with ya then? You'll have time to think down there, unless you freeze to death first." The old man laughed.
He fumbled with the latch, and slowly pulled the lock off the door. He let the gate swing freely an inch or so then opened it all the way.
"Have fun down there." the old man said with a depraved cackle and big grin on his face.
Once out of earshot the guard said, "There's a bend just a few more feet then we will come to the shifting halls."
"The shifting halls?" Serin
asked. "I don't like the sounds of that." A chill ran up her spine.
"On my way in, the boat's pole got stuck in a grate in the floor of the canal, we need to swim and find the grate."
"That's your plan?" Serin asked.
"I don't know of any grate." the guard said.
Shaz reached into his pocket and pulled out the map. He opened the paper but the darkness made it impossible.
"Blast, I can't tell, it’s too dark in here."
"Come this way, there's a lamp over here" the guard said.
"I think it's around here." Shaz said, tapping his finger on the map.
"Ah, that's way over there" the guard said, pointing back in the direction they were going, "But it’s too far to swim, the water is too high, there are no pockets to breathe from."
"How many floors are under water?" Shaz asked.
"Two" the guard said, "They were flooded when the city started using canals."
"Then there's got to be a way out." Shaz said.
Shaz folded up the map.
"I think I can help." Serin said.
"How? Unless you can remove the water, there is no way." the guard said.
"Well, that’s just it, I know how to breath under water." she said smiling.
"You have magic?" Shaz said. Of course, that’s what I felt in town. He thought.
"Magic?" said the guard.
"If we are going to work together I think we should know your name" Shaz said.
"Barrick."
They hurried back to the edge of the water, Barrick leading the way. Shaz stood back. Serin closed her eyes. Put her hands out in front of her, one leg in front and the other in back. She swooped them around her and then held them out inches from each other. A small ball of pale blue light began to glimmer between the palms. She pulled away, making the ball bigger.
"Shaz come here."
Shaz stepped toward her. She placed the ball of light over his head. Instantly the warm tingle of magic filled his lungs as he breathed in the air around him. Serin did it again, this time placing the ball around Barrick and then herself. Shaz started into the frigid water. Cold seared through his body.
"It's very cold, are you going to be ok?" Shaz asked.
"I'll be fine." she said and stepped into the water.
