Bitter Wars- Ashes

by Kerriann Burns

  The days continued to fly pass with their work in the castle, Leo and Argonar became very close friends, continuing to add to their growing language all until one day there was frantic shouting from the lord’s room. Argonar was completely unaware as he worked away with Leo close by his side until Callahan almost ran to the smithy and took them both away.

  ‘C-Callahan?’

  ‘Shh! Both of you in here.’ He hushed as he put them both in a storage cupboard together. ‘Do not make a sound.’ He quickly closed the door without an explanation until a frantic lord Beldon came into the blacksmith wailing and shouting.

  ‘He is here! Where is Gareth why won’t you tell me where Gareth is!?’ he yelled to his staff. His wife with tears already streaming down her face tried to reason with him, but it only made him worse.

  ‘Gareth Hardgrave is dead my love, he’s been dead for years now, please understand.’ She begged but in his delusional mind continued to call out for Gareth.

  ‘Callahan he was here with you! Please tell me where he is, it’s not true they’re not dead!’

  ‘Sire please be calm; you’re frightening your wife.’ Callahan attempted some form of comfort, yet it wasn’t enough.

  ‘I want to ride out to their castle right now, arrange a carriage for me!’

  ‘Sire, please.’ The more he was denied his family, the more frantic and more dangerous he became, Argonar didn’t know how to react like before, he didn’t know if it was better to stay hidden or to see his family member.

  ‘Sir A’m gonnae ask ye tae leave before ye get hurt, the smithy is dangerous.’ It got to the point where they had no choice but to restrain him, he was at risk of hurting himself and others, tears welled up in Argonar’s eyes as he felt more guilt than anything. His episodes were getting far worse, and he felt as if being here made it so. With the adults finally gone the boys exited the cupboard where Argonar whipped his eyes with the back of his arm.

  ‘I-I have to see my uncle.’

  It didn’t take Argonar long to relay the message back to Ebony who sat silently considering their options.

  ‘I think Argonar…Its best we go home.’

  ‘But-.’

  ‘Listen, before we came here, I was really thinking maybe you should stay.’ Argonar stared almost hurt. ‘But I didn’t want that…I just wanted to keep you safe but if that’s how the lord’s acting, it won’t do him any good Argonar.’

  ‘That’s what I was thinking…But we can’t just up and leave, can we?’

  ‘We’ll get our money, then we’ll buy food and supplies and head back I never thought we’d be gone this long as it is, the camp is probably worried.’ Argonar reluctantly agreed, he liked the castle and the work he did, the friends he had made, he knew that travelling with the elves would mean it would be extremely unlikely that they would ever come back, especially with how everything was now.

  Ebony made it clear to Callahan that they had to leave, and he understood why without the full reason. While the two men spoke about their leaving arrangements Argonar spent some time with Leo, as a final goodbye.

  ‘So, you’re leaving?’

  ‘We weren’t going to be here that long; we’ve got enough money now to go back to where we came from.’

  ‘It was nice to have someone to talk to.’ Argonar gave a smile. ‘Before you go Argonar can I ask you something?’

  ‘Sure.’

  ‘Can I…Touch your face? It helps me to see.’ He could see Leo’s shyness about asking such a question but Argonar happily agreed. Leo was nervous as he laid his fingertips against Argonar’s skin, feeling his jaw his hair, his nose until he quickly recoiled at the touch of the scar.

  ‘Don’t worry it doesn’t hurt.’

  ‘How did you get it?’

  ‘I was out playing in the forest and this huge animal with big teeth and claws attacked, I managed to hide but it just caught my face.’

  ‘That must have been terrifying!’ he exclaimed. ‘How did you get away?’

  ‘My mother saved me, she and the other people I live with.’

  ‘Wouldn’t it be safer here? Nothing can get behind castle walls.’ Argonar gave a small wince of a smile, remembering the story of his family’s demise, but still knew he had to leave.

  ‘The lord isn’t well, and he thinks I’m his nephew Gareth Hardgrave, it won’t make him any better, if anything we think it might make him worse.’

  ‘Will I see you again?’

  ‘I’ll make sure of it.’ He smiled before joining Ebony’s side.

  ‘I’ve arranged for a small wagon for you.’

  ‘You’re sure?’

  ‘It’s the least I can do your both your services, you’ll be able to carry more and help that brother of yours rest a while.’ The pair shook hands as a respectful final farewell before Callahan looked down at Argonar and have a smile. ‘I hope we’ll meet again soon Argonar.’

  ‘I hope so too.’

  ‘Hopefully you’ll grow up to be like the dragon your name suggests.’ He said with a smile as he ruffled Argonar’s hair. Once their final goodbyes were done the pair made their way into the city spending every coin they earned on food, equipment, clothing and blankets but Ebony still remembered his task while he was here. Just a simple tailor, he knew he couldn’t buy anything too extravagant for a woman that was not even his own and such a dress wouldn’t be practical in the forests. He settled on a simple red dress, elegant enough for a woman but simple enough for travel and simple work, something like the tunic Adonia once wore.

  ‘What’s that for?’

  ‘For Ashryn, her husband asked me to get her a gift while we were away, just don’t tell Ivory alright?’

  ‘Okay.’ Their final stop was to pick up Ivory that still needed the assistance of a cane to walk.

  ‘That should do us through the winter, especially if we still hunt.’ Ivory smiled as he was assisted into the wagon.

  ‘Breaking your leg is one way to get out of work.’ Ebony joked as they made their way back to the forests.

  ‘Being in that bed all day was driving me insane, not to mention being surrounded by other dying people.’

  ‘The medics was always full, why?’

  ‘Living in a city makes it easier for people to get sick, too many people in one place.’

  ‘How was castle life?’

  ‘Better than being on that farm, poor man hardly had enough food for himself let alone two more hands.’

  With the wagon it didn’t take them long to re-join the camp where they were welcomed by all and it brought a small sense of joy finally seeing some familiar faces. The camp stayed up later in a slight celebration for their return, Ashryn loved her dress as she would pick up the skirt and twirl around in an excited display. They sat by a small bonfire telling stories of their stay in Harim, Argonar gave a smile until he heard a strange, foreboding noise.

  ‘…What’s that sound?’

  Chapter 5

  Blood Elf

  A mission that Adonia thought would only take a couple of days turned into weeks, Dukan made no retaliation with his wife’s disappearance, perhaps he didn’t even care. Every day since the attack Adonia would scan and watch the Griffiths castle, looking for some opening, something that the men had missed. She took notes every time a group of men went to attack, notes from how many soldiers she saw, what their main defences were and any weak spots within the castle. Her memory did not serve her any better either, she remembered being a small child being taken to the Griffiths castle, but she could barely remember anything about the interior, no doubt Griffiths would have changed such things since. Every day she travelled to the forested area that Fenrir pointed out, trying desperately to find the hidden exit, maybe he lied to her just to keep her quiet. Her condition with Fenrir also seemed to improve, slightly. While they would hardly ever talk their fights seemed to be nothing but distant memories. But now that she had been here longer their fights now seemed to just turn to glares, at least it was some progress.r />
  Adonia sat in the so-called staff room of the tavern, overlooking her notes and diagrams while she jotted down some more. Arthur sat close by her, also looking at the notes and trying to help her where he could. Something else was pressing on her mind though, she missed her son.

  He’s probably worried sick…I told him I wouldn’t be gone this long but…Adonia sighed.

  ‘You alright?’

  ‘Hm? Yes, it’s just…I miss my son, I should have been back by now.’

  ‘It’s hardly a task you can finish in a day, travel up here pay a friendly visit to Griffiths and be back before the nights end.’ She giggled slightly then returned to her notes.

  ‘I just never expected him to be so over the top with his defences, my home once had soldiers yes but never this many.’

  ‘You never had barbarians at your door.’

  ‘Well…Once was enough.’

  ‘Shit sorry-.’

  ‘It’s alright Arthur.’ She reassured with a smile. ‘That was a long time ago now, but they still deserve the justice I’ll bring to them, I know it won’t bring them back but…’

  ‘No, I understand.’ Adonia gave another soft smile before returning to her notes and diagrams. She knew the area well now, how many outlooks, how many patrols and their routes. The soldiers seemed to change day to day, but she never recognised them to be the young soldiers she saw with the man that led the slaughter of her family, perhaps they left the Griffiths house once and for all.

  While they talked about their plans, another entered the room which quickly made them look up, but Adonia was the first to look back down at the notes. It was none other than Fenrir.

  ‘Didn’t know you two were in here.’

  ‘Going over Griffiths’ defences.’ Arthur responded with his usual innocent smile.

  ‘Again?’

  ‘Well if someone would tell me where the exit is, I would’ve done this much sooner.’ Adonia said still staring at the notes but with irritation in her voice.

  ‘And I have told you hundreds of times, it’s too dangerous.’

  ‘I’ve been in the middle of a war-.’

  ‘You got lucky.’ He interrupted. Adonia glared at him, aggravated. ‘There’s no denying that is there, you were, very, very lucky to get out of that alive. Even you know that.’ She looked away angrily as she knew she couldn’t disagree, if it wasn’t for Greymire locking her away as he did, she knew she wouldn’t be sitting here.

  Adonia gripped at her papers, she was annoyed at Fenrir but knew he was the only one with the information.

  ‘I’m erm…Going to help in the tavern.’ Arthur said awkwardly as he went to slip away from a brewing argument.

  ‘I want to go home Fenrir!’ she yelled as she threw her papers to the side and confronted him. ‘I miss my home; I miss my family! My son!’ she had him pinned to the wall with her yells, but he only stood his ground and raised his eyebrow at her.

  ‘You never once said anything about having a son.’

  ‘Yes, Greymire and I had a child and I want to go back to him! I can’t afford to stay here any longer, but you’re the one not giving me the information I need!’

  ‘What do you expect to do? Go in there and be a one-man army? He has hundreds of soldiers in that castle all ready and eager to have a pretty thing like you.’ He said as he sarcastically pinched her chin which forced her to shake her head away and shove him back against the wall.

  ‘Then take me on your raids! I know you and some of the men still go on them! If anything, I can help, I can fight!’

  ‘I never said you can’t fight. If I was you, I’d return to your kid and stop trying to be this hero that must avenge your family. You’ll get yourself killed with thinking like that.’

  ‘Fenrir please just one raid!’ annoyed he finally managed to shove past her and went to leave the room. ‘Why won’t you let me go with you?!’

  ‘Because I don’t care if I die!’ she was taken back a bit as he snapped back at her. ‘Those men that go with me, they don’t care if they die either and it’s got nothing to do with nobility or honour bullshit. Our lives are fucked so might as well die trying, you have a life, I don’t, that’s why I won’t take you.’

  ‘Fenrir…’ he returned a glare. ‘Barmic says you’re like his son, Arthur looks up to you like a brother, they’d care if something happened to you.’

  ‘For a while, then they’d forget, how many people do you think we’ve put in that pit?’ he said as he pointed in its general direction. ‘People forget corpses.’ Adonia stood quiet for a moment until he resumed walking away.

  ‘Well if you won’t tell me I’ll find it myself.’ Fenrir didn’t even respond; he only held his fist up in frustration as he took a deep breath then let it fall with his exhale before leaving the room.

  Adonia scrunched her nose in annoyance but in some way, she could see where he was coming from, his own personal way of protecting her even if they didn’t see eye to eye. He didn’t know about her curse of course, it’s not as if they have ever had a friendly drink and talked about it. In fact, she hadn’t told anyone about the Tainted that stalked her.

  Even if I did go back to Argonar…She’d only find me and put him in danger, I can’t risk that. It’s the main reason she hadn’t returned either, she knew this time of year and with the threat of the south they wouldn’t be far away, and knowing Argonar he’d follow her and might end up in the cross fire between her and Griffiths, or even some of the thugs that lived here. She ignored her feelings and went to travel out again to search for the exit without Fenrir’s help once again.

  She missed being in the forests, the trees felt so protective like the walls that guarded her since her birth. Adonia walked through the auburn forests in search for the exit but took her time as to admire the beauty of the forest surrounding her. The earth beneath her feet rose and fell, leaning up towards the mountains that towered above. Fiery leaves fell as gently as snow as she walked past, readying their trees for the coming winter. It felt as if it would come sooner, but perhaps that’s because the north felt much colder than she was used to. As she was lost in her state of wonder at the surrounding forest, she nearly tripped over what she thought was an old branch until she examined it further. She knelt down to the old piece of wood and lifted it slightly, the engraved word was just barely legible against the rotting, moss covered wood. “Oarim”

  ‘Oarim…’ she looked over her shoulder in the general direction of the village, so that’s that it was called before. She laid the sign back down before continuing on her search, she gave a sigh as the forests gave her the memories of her times with the elves.

  It’ll snow soon…I hope the camp will be alright. She thought as she pushed on, making sure to examine each crevice within the earth and trees.

  When I’m done, I think it’s time to teach Argonar how to hunt bigger game…And use a sword properly, he needs to learn to defend himself. It made Adonia miss him the more she thought about it, she had so much to show and teach him, at times she wondered whether or not to travel to her old home and what was left of it to teach him about her old life there. Adonia also wondered about the fate in store for herself, once she defeated Griffiths, she’d return home, but then what about the Mother? How can a single person defeat an unstoppable force? She gave a sigh as the harrowing thought lingered, she knew she had to fight but she didn’t have the leadership skills that her ancestors had before her, she was no Alexander Hardgrave.

  As she came close to the mountains’ base, she noticed an easily missed cave entrance, it was dark and cold inside, a darkness that stretched for an unknown distance.

  Yes! This must be it; it makes sense, Griffiths’ castle is protected by the mountains so perhaps this exit will lead me to him. She kept close to the wall as she crept into the darkness until it consumed her. Unable to see before her there was a sharp decent that threw Adonia into the cave and onto her back, she coughed slightly before realising her situation. ‘Shit…’ she hissed a
s she rubbed her back and looked up to the gaping hole that trapped her within. She tried jumping for the ledge, but it was far too high, she tried scaling the jagged walls to reach the ledge, but the stone crumbled under her grasp, she truly was trapped in this black tomb. Adonia thought about calling out, but what if one of Griffiths’ men heard her? She was stuck in a cave with no way to see, no one knew she was here, she was completely trapped.

  Fenrir fidgeted irritably, he couldn’t get Adonia out of his mind, or the thought of her putting herself in danger over finding this exit. He knew it was inevitable that one day she would find herself in trouble, she always did around here, he knew he had to put things straight and find her. Even if it was mainly just to rid himself of his guilty conscience.

  ‘Another raid?’ Barmic asked as Fenrir went to leave.

  ‘No…The hero’s gone to look for that exit again, she’ll get herself killed if she keeps it up.’

  ‘Aww, gettin’ a soft spot, are we?’ Fenrir only replied with a glare before venturing out to the exit. Of course, he knew where it was in the depths of the forest and had used it enough times to still get away with it. He came to a wall covered in foliage that even in the depths of autumn still covered a hole that led to a tunnel. Fenrir kept close to the walls but knew his footing around here, he listened closely to any sounds of disturbance, but he was only met with silence. He reached the end of the tunnel to a small light source above, he stood under the metal grating for a moment, not to see, but to listen, if Adonia had gotten in there, there would surely be a commotion by now. Again, nothing but the groans of prisoners locked away in the dungeons.

  Not here…

  Adonia had been gone for hours at this point and the only thing that stopped her from her escape was her bleeding hands from trying to climb the rocks. She sat on the cold floor with her head against the wall trying to think of a solution or whether to try again. She couldn’t give up now.