I noticed that this chapter is rather short, well I hope that it is enjoyed inspite of its shortness.
Chapter Three
Gladion rode his horse triumphantly down the path at a form of a smart trot, his mission had succeeded. His men walked or rode behind, and the dragon's and their rider's flew up ahead. He had only lost about a quarter of his men, though many were badly wounded, and one or two dragons had unfortunately been lost. He thought over the results and about how he had followed his master's curt reply so closely and well, 'Take down the village, they mean nothing to me, and bring me the girl.' "So short and sweet", he muttered to himself while he was bounced by his horse. His thoughts brought him to the girl's condition however; nervously Gladion glanced at the girl riding at his side. Her hands had been tied to her saddle of the little mare she had been given to ride. Her head was bowed most of the time, with a tear, dirt, and blood streaked face. She had a few cuts and bruises, nothing too serious. Her simple tunic and leggings were torn and stained; her long hair was knotted and dirty.
His soldiers had brought her to him unconscious; apparently one of the amateur mages that traveled along with them had sent her asleep as to get her away from the village easier. Gladion had just gotten them to tie her to the saddle so she wouldn't run away, and had started on the journey home; she would be untied and cleaned up somewhat before arriving at the castle though. 'Don't need master Dralen angry at us for any ill-treatment that we may have inflicted upon her', he thought grimly. Again he glanced at the girl, 'this dirty little elf girl doesn't look so powerful or useful to me, she has been sulking like that ever since we started this bloody trip several nights ago'. He thought with annoyance.
Sotiira felt his gaze upon her, as it usually seemed to be, slowly she raised her eyes to look at him, she felt no hatred, or anger, just an empty, dull ache in her chest. The sight of her brother falling back with blood soaking his clothes and the lifeless look in his eyes haunted her day and night, every moment of the day the past events flashed through her mind. She looked at him with an emotionless, empty gaze.
Gladion felt a faint shiver run up his spine at her dead-like stare, 'she would look better off dead with the rest of them, he thought to himself'. After giving her a look of disdain to recover his composure, he looked forward again and concentrated on the path before them. Sotiira dropped her gaze and went back to her brooding, grieving world.
Dralen sat at his desk reading a spell book; his fingers traveled each sentence as he read. His dark maroon eyes read each sentence to its full depth. His servant had just come with a message recently with news of the sighting of Gladion and the rest of the small army. They were just a few miles away and would soon be here with the elf girl, the key to his power of the medallion. At the thought of this, his eyes went to the coldly glowing pendant sitting on its stand on his desk. The black stone shone with a lonely light, the jewels glittering from the fire light of the large fireplace and burning candles. 'Soon, very soon, this will be mine, the power of this medallion will be mine…shared with the elf girl, Sotiira', he thought.
Breaking his gaze from the strange piece of jewellery, Dralen slammed the spell book in front of him closed, then pushed back his chair and stood up. He was rather tall, and well built under his dark mage robes. His hood of his traditional mage robes wasn't up over his head, so his long, dark blue, black hair tumbled down past his shoulders and down his back in a slight wave, it was tied back, but was still to his mid-back. His eyes were dark maroon with his faintly darkened skin, he was rather pale compared to most in that region, but that was the result of long days indoors studying. His face was actually quite handsome; he had been the pride of his mother's heart when she had been living. His body was a strong build, it showed slightly through his hanging, flowing black mage robes. Dralen was rather young, and yet at the age of twenty-five he was here in his own castle, with his own assortment of creatures and servants, he even had his own small but useful army, and would soon have even more once the power of the medallion was his.
Calmly Dralen walked across the room and out the large, sturdy doors of his study, he walked down the cold, mostly barren hallways made of stone. His dark robes swished around his ankles while he walked. His soft footsteps and the whisper of his robes were the only sounds heard throughout the silent hallways of that part of his castle. No one hardly came up to this part of the castle, for it was strictly his domain, only servants would come when he rarely commanded them, or Gladion, his right hand man, or his adviser, Lomen. Other then that assortment of people, it was normally only Dralen who walked this area of the castle, some said it was because it was only he who could control the dark things that lurked in the shadows, others said it was just as simple as that area was all part of his private chambers. Either story could have been true really.
A servant quickly approached Dralen as the young mage stepped down the steps down into the main levels of his castle. "Sir, Master Dralen, Gladion and his legion are now entering the gates of the castle just as we speak. They have arrived with the girl." The squat little dwarf chirped nervously while unable to look his master in the eyes.
Dralen nodded then brushed past his servant without much more then a glance; he walked a little ways then stopped and turned. He decided against meeting them at the door and instead walked back towards his servant, "Tell Gladion to bring her up to my study when they come in." He said calmly, and then disappeared, seeming to fade right into the shadows of the room. The dwarf nodded even though he was alone, and then shivered.
Sotiira quietly raised her gaze at Gladion's announcement of the arrival to the castle, and "your new home", he had said with an almost smug look. She had only ignored him then, but now she looked up at the large castle before her. It was much like any other castle, only it didn't have a moat filled with water, but instead it was just an endless pit on both sides, faint moans and growls could be heard, warning any intruder of a possible fate. Sotiira shivered and tightened her hands on her reins, her hands had been untied and her face and clothes washed the best they could be before they had come into sight of the castle.
The castle was a great size, built of a dark stone, with slitted windows for arrows and towers with sharp spirals seeming to want to touch the heavens. The wall was huge, surrounding the castle entirely, giving it an excellent source of protection against attackers. Sotiira had always been used to her little home back in the forest, but now here was this menacing looking castle with its towers and pinnacles, the castle itself was set in a treeless clearing, giving it full view of the area, with mountains in the distance behind it. Sotiira felt herself shivering as her horse went over the drawbridge and entered the gates; the whole procession entered the gates and stopped once inside the large courtyard.
Gladion groaned faintly from his sore muscles and dismounted, many of the men did the same, and the dragons and riders flew over the castle to a larger area in order to dismount. Sotiira dropped from her horse and absentmindedly smoothed down her tunic. Her dark blue eyes glittered faintly for the first time with interest and curiosity at the sight of the large doors opening before her. Gladion and the apprentice mages walked up the steps and into the large room at the entrance, Sotiira was brought along with them. The soldiers dismounted and wearily headed for their quarters at a different part of the castle.
Sotiira looked around with awe reflecting in her large, dark blue eyes; she felt so small, so out of place in this breath-taking castle. The room she was in had a seeming endless ceiling, it was so high up, and the floors were stone, as much of the room was. There were some tapestries and rugs decorating the room, but other then that it was rather cold and barren. There was a large, dim staircase at the end of the room, towards this Gladion and the mages were pulling her along.
Sotiira followed without much argument, and then stopped when they stopped. Gladion talked to the dwarf servant and nodded, then lead the troop up the large stairway. The mages seemed to fade off into their own directions, down different hallways and stairways, Sotiira noticed. Gladion continued leading her up the stairs; they seemed to not want to end, until they finally did. He pulled her along down a dark hallway; he walked quickly for his large, bulking size, Sotiira also took notice of this.
After what seemed like hours, but was only a few moments, Gladion stopped in front of a door. There were no guards, but none were needed, a sense of magic and barrier seemed to cover the door. Gladion reached out and knocked, he tensed, almost nervously. Sotiira looked at him then looked at the door, fear but also more curiosity filled her.
A voice answered, it was soft, but rung of authority and firmness, "Enter."
Gladion glanced at the young woman at his side and pushed open the door; he stepped to the side, and then nodded towards the room. Sotiira looked up at him then looked towards the room, she felt the longing to stay out in the dark hallway, to run through it and back down the dark stairs then enter the room. She could feel warmth, and see the light of a fire, it was warm and inviting, but something was telling her against it, warning her. Gladion gave her a sharp look. Sotiira swallowed hard and gathered her wits and courage; she walked past him calmly and entered the room.
She glanced around for a moment, and heard Gladion shut the door after entering in behind her. He stayed by the door, but gave her a little shove from behind to force her further into the room. Sotiira stumbled slightly from his force and took a few unsure steps forward. Her dark eyes studied the room; she saw the fireplace, a large stone one, with a crackling fire. She looked at the uniquely woven rug on the floor, her eyes passed over the large cabinet, and the door near it. She took note of the small window near the ceiling, and the nicely carved, dark wood desk, and matching chair. She felt faint admiration for the carvings upon it, and felt a small ache for her home and the carvings along the stairs.
Her grief was short lived however, because her eyes were drawn to the figure sitting in the chair, she felt a strange chill run through her. Sotiira studied the man sitting at the desk, with his elbows upon its surface and his fingertips lightly placed together. Her quick eyes took in his black robes and the black hood over his head, shadowing his face. She had seen the robes before, the robes of a mage, she thought to herself, and a high status one at that.
"Gladion, I see you have brought me the young woman", the mage said calmly.
Gladion nodded, "Yes sir, I brought the girl", as he bumped her further forward into the light of the fire. Not all that valuable for all the trouble if you ask me, he thought to himself in annoyance.
Sotiira stumbled forward more from his shove; she began to shake from cold and fright. The man before her, in his black robes and his hooded head struck her heart with a sickening fear. She couldn't see his face, but she could feel piercing eyes on her, almost as if they were looking right into her. Sotiira felt herself shrink back, wanting to disappear from that gaze, that horrible gaze from under that hood. She put her arms around herself, holding herself with hope to stop her shivering. Her heart ached in her chest and her mind seemed to spin, all of the horrible things that had happened, Kaltren arriving as an apprentice to a magic-user, the news, her village attacked, and her brother killed right before her eyes. Then now, standing in the room of a stranger, in an eerie castle, and now caught in the gaze of this mage. She could feel her heart almost crumpling from the pressure and grief. Her head dropped, her gaze aimed at the floor.
The mage got up and crossed the room, his robes softly whispering around his ankles and body as he approached the young elf before him. He stopped once in front of her and reached out with one of his hands. Gently, he slipped his hand along her jaw line and cupped her chin in his hand, forcing her head up to look up at him. Reaching up with his other hand, he slipped his hood back, revealing his face. His maroon eyes glittered faintly from the fire light and the power from within himself as he looked at her.
Sotiira felt her breath catch, she flinched and closed her eyes as he took off his hood, and she felt his burning gaze deepen. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked up at him; a shiver ran through her body at his penetrating eyes. Sotiira studied his features with a steadier look after a few moments of gazing at it. She looked at his strong features, his long black hair with bangs that fell over his forehead and into his eyes slightly, giving him a younger look. His face was sharp and handsome; his skin was clear and faintly darkened. Sotiira's eyes traveled over his features and finally came back to his eyes, his deep maroon eyes that lightened to a bloody red when he was angry. His eyes seemed emotionless, covered over by a screen of shadowed ice, letting no one see into the depths of his irises.
A strange kind of energy seemed to come from him, a biting darkness but it had a sweet feel, just like the bitter smell of spices, and the sweet smells of flowers and rose petals that his robes held. Sotiira felt an unfamiliar feeling, a warm, numbing feeling with a kind of admiration run up through her weary body and touch her heart. She caught herself and slammed down on the feelings with anger, he slaughtered my village, he killed them all, just for power of some stupid medallion, he killed them all…even my brother. At the thought of her brother the momentary fire seemed to dwindle as she wearily dropped her gaze and head.
Dralen looked at the girl before him; he forced softness into his voice and eyes. Gently he continued caressing her cheek. "I apologize for the brutality of my men, they mean no harm," he said gently. His eyes shimmered in the firelight as he watched her. He studied her fine features and large blue eyes. An odd feeling of strange admiration touched his heart as he looked at the girl before him, vulnerable, dirty, and bleeding. He could tell that his servants and soldiers had tried to clean her up enough so it wouldn't be noticed. She looked no better off then a worn out peasant at the end of a hard day, but her eyes and her face had held such an intelligent and fiery look at that moment before her head had dropped. He slammed down on the thoughts immediately and growled in his mind, this is just for use of the medallion, I only need her blood then the full control will be mine. He kept the softness in his voice and eyes inspite of his cold feelings.
Sotiira looked up at him again, she had detected the softness in his voice, and her wounded and battered heart hungered for it. Tears filled her eyes inspite of her tightly set jaw and determined look, she blinked them away then faced him. "I will never fall to your traps, or let you use me in order to have that pendant's powers, I won't help you! You killed my brother, my family!" Sotiira snapped, her voice was quivering but she managed to make it firm.
Dralen glanced at Gladion, who shrugged and shook his head; the mage looked back at the young woman. He thought, 'how does she know this?' He studied her stubborn look, but could see the building weariness in her eyes and body. Calmly he raised his hand and rested his fingers on her forehead; he murmured a few words and his fingers glowed.
Sotiira's eyes widened and she tried to start back, but she was caught in his magical hold. She could feel warmness, but a cooling energy run down through her body like a liquid. Her eyelids began to droop, her fight drained from her body. Sotiira closed her eyes and limply fell against him in a deep sleep.
Dralen sighed slightly and picked her up into his arms, calmly he looked at Gladion and some assistants who had come unnoticed to the door. He nodded to the cloaked figures; a woman stepped forward and took the sleeping young woman into her surprisingly strong arms. At a gesture, the assistants disappeared.
Gladion waited for the door to close, and then looked at his master. He watched the mage walk back to his desk; he watched as the man calmly sat back down and sighed again. "Master, am I dismissed?" at his master's nod, he turned and strode out.
Dralen looked at the medallion resting before him on his desk; hesitantly he reached out and rested his fingers on the coldly gleaming metal. A painful burning sensation ran up his hand as the skin on his fingertips burned. Flinching, Dralen pulled his hand back and looked at his charred fingers; his skin was sprinkled with black and red. He sighed and slipped his hand back into his black robes. A faint flicker of annoyance and frustration flared through the icy cover over his maroon eyes. "It still rejects me, I have had it for years, while building up my power and strength all the while…and yet it still thirsts for a woman's loving blood…" He muttered. Coldness washed over his eyes, giving them the clear, glassy shimmer once again. "…So it will be…" his voice rung out through the empty room. "I have no other use for a worthless girl of the elf race; her breed of elf lacks the original strength and characteristics of the earlier elves," he muttered, "the elf of the more resourceful race has died out…along with their spiritual powers and ways with nature…and yet…there is this girl and her purity and untainted heart…" Images of the girl looking up at him made him stop his ranting for a moment; her dark blue eyes had given him a strange feeling, her look had had a strange effect on him…it bothered him. With a faint snarl, Dralen got up from his desk and walked to the other room, his quarters, he opened the door with a word and strode in. The door shut firmly behind him, forbidding anyone to enter.
