Chapter XIII

The messengers' must have spread quickly; Aguilar was bustling with activity. Shopkeepers were boarding up windows and safeguarding various stores before the impending storm arrived, while families were being escorted along as the city was evacuating. Dhark stepped off the ship onto the piers, watching everything with careful eyes.

"They're scared."

He looked back over his shoulder and smiled some as Seiver rested a hand on his back, though it very well could have been more for support than a familiar gesture. His brother was, while back on his feet, still weak. Even the scales that used to shine silver seemed dull.

"Let them be. It could very well be the key that allows them to survive." Seiver coughed and started down the wooden pier.

Dhark, frowning slightly as he watched, followed after to keep a close eye on his brother. "You look well. I see you're wearing your sword again."

Seiver glanced down to the blade sheathed at his side. "Aye. Don't feel right without the shield, though."

"It was found in the boat, Dra'keth cleaved it in two. We don't have the material nor forge to mend it."

Seiver laughed and shook his head slowly. "Find me a knight who wouldn't be proud of the fact his shield was shattered defending others."

Dhark glanced back at the ship. "Wrayne moved on ahead with Myriad, the two are moving with Lord Greymane, Sir Edward, and Admiral Perrin to speak with the local regency. Flyre and Cyrius will be joining us once they're through helping with the ship."

"And you?" Seiver glanced back over his shoulder, smirking.

"I am here to keep an eye on you." He clapped Seiver lightly on the back before turning his attention, again, to the activity taking place in the town. "Looks as though most of the shops are already boarded up."

Seiver nodded slowly. Even now, the streets were starting to empty as the masses moved on their way under the watchful eyes of the local militia. To the north, the skies were dark with smoke which rolled ominously along, marking the advancing armies.

"They will have to slow for supplies soon. The initial advance was too fast for them to establish proper lines."

Dhark turned his gaze away from the dark clouds. "I suppose so. The original plan was to break the humans' will to resist; part of me fears that they may have done just that."

"Hardly. Look at Northshore. What happened there was not a breaking of will, but rather defiance and inability to accept defeat. The humans are stronger than you give them credit for."

The smile that crept across Seiver's face was disturbing in just how tranquil it was. "Are you certain you're alright, brother?"

"Dhark, I'm well enough." Seiver started down one of the streets leading towards the edge of town. "So, what is the plan from here?"

"We've decided to stay with the humans, for now. Xodius will be doing the same. We'll meet up with the alliance leaders in a city to the east where the counter assault will, hopefully, begin."

"Xodius is still here?"

Dhark frowned and looked around. It was true, the demon had vanished. "He is, yes. Somewhere. I can't be too certain just what he is doing, though. Perhaps he went with Wrayne."

"Perhaps." Seiver chuckled softly and shook his head. "I can't help but think he has some other goal in mind, though. He has been a tremendous ally, but I am not all too certain just how long that alliance will last."

Dhark frowned and gave Seiver a curious look. "Do you know something we don't?"

"No."

Seiver smiled again, and again Dhark found it disturbing. "Are you certain you are alright?"

"Yes, I am, I assure you."

Dhark nodded slowly, trying to more reassure himself that his brother's words were sincere. "If you insist." He paused, stooping to scoop some dirt into his hands. "The soil here is healthy. If the horizon was clear, you would never know the destruction due to come."

"I'll never know just what crazy thoughts go through the heads of druids." Seiver glanced down at the ground. "Soil that talks to you," he snorted.

"Nature has a way of speaking, but it's a quiet voice that takes time to hear." Dhark let the dirt sift through his fingers as a rogue wind picked up. He frowned, watching a hanging sign on a shop front swing violently. "This wind is not normal."

Seiver slowed his step and gave his brother a critical look. "Again, you druids and nature."

Dhark nodded. "Aye, us druids." He knelt, placing his hand flat on the ground. "Something is coming, through unnatural means."

Seiver rested a hand on the hilt of his sword instinctively as he took a careful look around him. "How do you mean?"

"Nature flows in a very structured way. While it can be chaotic, nothing is without reason. There is a strong balance that nature strives to keep. Right now, however, that balance has been disturbed by another flow of energy." Dhark frowned and stood, glancing back towards the ship.

"Nature's not telling you just what it is?"

"No. Not directly. This happens when magic is used to alter the state of reality. Warlocks, mages, even a priest can all impact nature like this. However, this is on a scale I've not felt before."

The wind ceased suddenly, a deathly calm settling over the scene. The building owning the sign that had been swinging before cracked, almost like a mirror being struck by stone. The silence held for a brief moment longer before stone and brick exploded outward. Dhark, almost instinctively, threw up a shield that deflected the debris from Seiver while the rest struck him hard in the face and chest. As the dust cleared, he took a quick look at Seiver to make sure everything was fine before looking over himself. Aside from a few cracked scales that allowed blood to seep, he was fine. His eyes turned to the shop. The walls had been blown out to near the foundation, pieces of bread and other baked goods were scattered with the debris. In the middle of the shop, its nexus a coalescing flow of arcane energy, was not just a window as a gateway which linked the small port city of Aguilar with the cold, foreboding interior of M'alketh.

"Go get Flyre and Cyrius. If you can, send a runner out to warn Wrayne and the others." Dhark took a step back before frowning when Seiver refused to move. "Seiver, go!"

"You should, Dhark. You can move faster. There are few guarantees I would even make it on time."

Dhark growled and watched the gateway that was slowly starting to stabilize. "I will not ask you again."

The sound of steel burying itself into dirt caught Dhark's ear and he turned to look. Seiver was standing, leaning heavily against the hilt of his sword as he shook his head.

"Dhark, go. The others look to you as a leader; there is no reason to deprive them of that now." Seiver smirked. "I'll be fine."

It was true, and Dhark had a hard time trying to figure a way to convince Seiver otherwise. Finally, all he could do was just nod and turn. Breaking into a sprint, he started for the ship. The gateway would take a while to stabilize, there was still time. Perhaps even Flyre could counter the rift before whatever Dra'keth had in store could come through.

Flyre was on the main deck of the ship when he made his way up the brow. She gave him a curious look and handed the line she was working with over to one of the deckhands. He paused to catch his breath before pointing to where he had left Seiver.

"M'alketh's mages are opening a gateway. Where's Cyrius?"

"He's down below," Flyre growled softly. "Don't they take a break?"

Dhark shook his head as he started for the ladder well. "I'll get Cyrius. Seiver's back there, waiting. Go help him. I'll join you both shortly."

Flyre sighed but nodded before starting down the narrow plank that bridged the ship's quarterdeck with the pier. Dhark watched with a concerned frown etched on his face. She was quick, and again there was that hope that perhaps she could counter the flow of arcane energy enough to dispel the gateway before it even opened. Flyre was out of sight, and he stepped below to find Cyrius.

The ship was small enough, and in the days they sailed along he had enough time to familiarize himself with the various nooks and crannies that someone like Cyrius could hide in. As it was, the assassin was dozing in a darker corner of the berthing area. Dhark gave him a quick kick to the leg to wake him.

"Wha!" Cyruis jumped to his feet. "I swear, they told me I was just in the way." He caught the look Dhark gave him. "Something's wrong."

"Yes. Go find Wrayne and the others that are with him. Warn them all, M'alketh is opening a gateway in Aguilar, most likely in preparation of some invasion or another. Seiver and Flyre are already there. I'll be going back to assist. Unless we can stop the gate before it opens, we will need as much help as we can get."

Cyrius nodded slowly before kneeling to reach beneath one of the bunks for his daggers. "Go, then. I'll do what I can."

"What do you mean, do what you can." Dhark furrowed his brow before starting for the ladder well. "All you're doing is getting help."

Cyrius laughed. "Hardly, druid." He drew one of the daggers and licked the blade. "Nice and sharp, they beg for blood. I've a score to settle with these guys, for Wraith."

Dhark growled and shook his head. "No time for vendettas this time. At a later point in time, perhaps. You're faster on your feet, get to Wrayne and the others. Bring back help."

Cyrius snorted and nodded, sheathing his blade. "Fine. Next time, though, I will have my blood."

Dhark watched the assassin slink off before starting up the ladder himself. Once on the main deck, he saw Cyrius vanish down the road, a testament to how swift the guy could be, and again started sprinting towards the gateway. Not too much time had passed, the gate might still be closed.

Seiver had his eyes closed as he leaned against his blade, his mind focused on the slow rhythm of his own breathing. It hurt, his whole body ached the longer he rested. A nagging guilt lingered in the back of his mind for lying to Dhark. Even though Myriad and Dhark had tried; had done a fantastic job no less, of trying to return his health, but he knew the truth. Dra'keth was ruthless in his attack. When the shield was cleaved in two, he had felt something rip through him. It was nothing physical, but a piece of his very soul had been torn asunder. While sleeping, he had even seen what some might call the dark gates of death itself. Truth of it all was that he wanted to go back. The druid and priest had revived him, but he wanted to go back to the place where the pain he was feeling was nothing more than a memory.

Something sparked, light flashing bright enough to be seen through his eyelids. He opened his eyes and watched as the gateway stabilized itself out, the arcane bridge between M'alketh and Aguilar complete. He took in a slow breath as he watched two figures on the other side step through, a smirk showing as he shook his head. One, perhaps a slight bit taller than the other, wreaked of arcane magic. It was the shorter of the two that caused him to shudder. Carried with him, almost like a dark aura, was the strong stench of death. Seiver let his gaze lock with the darker one.

"Only two of you? I'm disappointed." He tugged his blade free of the ground and brought it up to rest flat on his shoulder, grunting softly as a sharp pain shot through his body. "So, shall we introduce one another, or just cut straight to the fight?"

The mage laughed and shook his head, stepping around the one smelling of death. "Thrax, take care of this traitor for us. I'll see to the others."

Seiver frowned as he watched the mage start to leave, lifting his blade to level its tip at the departing Dra'keth's throat. "Not so fast, stranger. Who are you two and why is this gate here?"

The one called Thrax hissed and drew a wickedly curved blade, leveling it at Seiver menacingly in response to the sword. "Never wise for a dead creature to ask questions. Look at him, Coelu, he can't even hold that blade steady."

A low growl rose in Seiver's throat as he looked from Thrax to his sword. It was true; his muscles were straining to keep the tip level, the sword itself shaking with his arm. "Doesn't mean I can't use it. I'll tear you both down."

Coelu laughed and shook his head again, making a deft motion with his hand before turning to walk away. "Kill him, Thrax. Now. I have very little time for nuisances."

"Of course, Sir."

Seiver stepped back and spun around, bringing his sword about in time to parry the dagger before it could find purchase. It did little for him, however, as Thrax pressed the flat of his palm towards him, sending a wall of black energy his way. The blast left him sprawling, his sword clattering off to the side and out of reach. He rolled to reach for the pommel, but a sudden wave of pain exploded from his shoulder as Thrax's dagger bit into him. Seiver balled his fists and struck blindly at the weight pressing against him, shoving away and rolling to get back to his feet.

Thrax was already standing, bloodied dagger in his hand as he stared coldly at the knight. "It would be best to simply accept your fate."

Seiver snorted, walking towards his sword to pick it up, wincing at the sharp pain in his shoulder. "Why would I do that?" He hefted his blade onto his shoulder, biting his lip hard enough to draw blood to avoid cringing in pain again. "I would so enjoy taking someone with me."

Fire exploded around him, tossing him forward and again sprawling onto the ground as his sword clattered out of reach again. The smell of burning flesh stung his nose as he rolled to see the source, only to find Coelu's cold smirk aimed at him. The mage winked, adding insult to the injury, before he turned to take his leave. Seiver struggled to push himself to his feet, fighting off the pain that radiated through him, threatening to cripple him. Stumbling forward, he retrieved his sword and buried the blade into the ground, leaning against it.

"Feeling the pain, traitor?" Thrax picked at some dirt beneath a nail with the tip of his dagger as he sauntered towards Seiver. "I'm sure Coelu meant well, think of it all as a parting gift."

"Only one thing out there I'd consider a gift. Thrax, was it? So, what does Dra'keth have you doing for him, eh?"

"Ah." Thrax smirked and brought his hand up, dark flames erupting forth. "I am his necromancer, the final solution to the threat posed by you and your traitorous companions."

"Traitorous? I prefer to be called free." Seiver spit bile off to the side and rested his sword on his shoulder, planting his feet firmly on the ground. "Why's he hunting us?"

Thrax shrugged faintly. "He fears you all. Honestly, though, there are others he needs to fear, more ambitious and powerful threats to his regime."

"I only assume you mean yourself. You're arrogant, might kill you some day."

Seiver tensed and sprang, gripping the sword resting on his shoulder with both hands as he threw his weight into a powerful strike. It was not exactly surprising, but powerful all the same, and even though Thrax threw the dagger up to counter, the strength behind the sword easily crashed through the weak barrier. Steel bit into flesh and the necromancer howled as the shoulder of his robes were instantly soaked in blood. The wound, however, was far from fatal, merely incapacitating, and he reset his grip on the dagger to thrust the blade towards Seiver's gut.

Flyre was in a dead sprint when Coelu stepped around the corner onto the pier. She slid to a stop and almost immediately called a fireball forth, holding the swirling flames in her hand as she narrowed her eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"Ah, the old master magi, it seems like so long ago since our paths last crossed."

"I never was in the habit of visiting former students, Coelu. Now, will I have to cut you down, or will you step aside?"

Coelu quirked the brow over his left eye and shook his head. "Not today."

Flyre released the fireball just as Coelu set a shield of fire in front of him. Flame met flame and the explosion that resulted was nothing short of spectacular, scorching the pier and surrounding fish stands in the process. Almost immediately, she had another ball of fire charging in her hand while Coelu, his fire shield destroyed, was drawing up another barrier.

"Think you can hide behind shields all day, Coelu?" Flyre smirked and let a second fireball well up in her free hand. "Where's Seiver?"

"Oh, him?" Coelu shook his head. "Should be dead by now. I expect you'll be joining him shortly."

Fire erupted along the pier, timber instantly incinerated as the pier was torn asunder. Charred splinters flew about and in the midst of the fiery hurricane, a lance of pure arcane energy speared towards Flyre. She ducked to the side, the lancelet grazing her arm and drawing a thin line of blood. Shaking off the pain, she countered with a funnel of fire that radiated outward in a wide cone in front of her. Coelu screamed behind the wall of fire.

"Too hot for you, Coelu?"

There was silence and, briefly, Flyre smirked. Her triumph was short lived, though, and something thudded into her stomach. Dull pain slowly spread through her body as she slowly sank down to her knees, blood already pooling around her. She gazed down to see what the mage had used, confusion spreading on her face. It was not something she would have expected. The magic she had once schooled encompassed frost, fire, and the harnessing of arcane forces flowing within nature. What she saw was a thin-bladed dagger, electricity crackling about its hilt. She looked up and saw Coelu, arms clasped behind his back as he smirked at her.

"It's something new, Magi. Dra'keth was kind enough to teach us a few new tricks, feeling that you might not be properly prepared to counter them as you might other schools of magic. Of course, it is not my specialty, but can be useful all the same."

She coughed, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth as she felt her body starting to numb. "Where's Seiver?"

Footsteps sounded from behind Coelu and she had to fight to focus her eyes on the approaching Drek'kan. Black scales; not Seiver. She fell backwards and closed her eyes, her mind travelling along the rivers of arcane energy until they found the whirling vortex of the gate. It was a soft muttering, something perhaps not even heard by the two standing over her. Energy crashed and the spinning vortex began to collapse inward on itself, the gateway rather suddenly disappearing in a colorful mist. Another spike was sent along the ley line used to carry the gateway, rupturing the flow of arcane energy that allowed the bridge to be formed. She smiled, even as the colors slowly began to fade and become replaced by darkness.

Then, in the midst of the darkness, she heard a voice calling her back; forcing the soul that was so eager to leave back into the broken shell of her body. Her eyes slowly opened to find Thrax and Coelu smirking down at her.

"Welcome back, dear," Thrax half-whispered to her, "how does it feel to be my puppet?"

Dhark took in the battlefield as he clenched his hands into fists, talons digging into the palms of his hand. The street and pieces of the pier were destroyed, scorched by fire and magic, with an unsettling pool of blood still fresh on one area. He took a good look around, calling Flyre's name, though no sign of her, nor Seiver, could be found. Moving on, he rounded the corner and went on to the spot the Gateway had been open. There was nothing there, now. He knelt and let his fingers touch another pool of blood that was staining the dirt.

"Well, at least we accomplished this much." He closed his eyes and listened. There were bugs droning in the distance, the surf was crashing along the beach, and the smell of death hung heavy in the air. "So, that was the cost, then?"

Leather wings beat the air nearby and he opened his eyes in time to see Xodius drop from the sky, landing nearby. Cyrius was not too far after, almost out of breath from running hard. Dhark stood and gave them both a slight shake of the head.

Where are Seiver and Flyre?

"I don't know. Can't you tell?"

No. I feel nothing from them both.

Cyrius knelt down and ran his fingers along the blood soaked dirt. "This is thicker than human blood, belongs to a Drek'kan." He smelled his fingers. "Has Seiver's scent, too."

Dhark nodded slowly and sighed. "I know as much, or feared as much at least. Cyrius, you are the hunter among us, could you please go to the next street down and check the blood there?"

Cyrius froze. "You think that is-"

"Yes." Dhark let out a slow breath as he looked to Xodius. "Can you find out if anyone came through that gateway?"

There is nothing new here. I cannot find any trace of Flyre, though, or Seiver. Both, I fear, are dead. However, I do smell something, a portal opened recently. I can try to trace where it leads.

Dhark sighed and nodded. "Please."

Both Xodius and Dhark watched as Cyrius departed to check the battle site near the pier.

Are you going to be alright, Dhark? I know what she meant to you.

"It was mostly unrealized, I suppose. Maybe this was for the better."

It could never have been for the better. It was purely unfortunate, and tragic at that. I assure you, she felt the same way.

"I know."

What do you need?

"I need time," Dhark stood and turned to walk out of the town, "alone. You know how to reach me if you need me. I'll be in the forest."

Xodius watched Dhark trudge off towards the edge of town, shutting off the link he had kept so open with the Druid's own mind. It was too painful to listen to the thoughts that were so vividly carried by Dhark. Even Cyrius', once the blood was indeed found to be Flyre's own. He closed his eyes and relaxed down on the ground with a heavy sigh as Wrayne and Myriad ran up on the scene. He let them both take a look around telling them both about Seiver and Flyre.

End Part II