Chapter 38: Long Live the King

Ezran's eyes were wide.

"H-How?" He asked.

Azrael smiled politely.

"A King...must be resilient. Always. And I...am stronger than most kings."

The guards exchanged confused looks, then went for their weapons.

"Stand down." One of them commanded.

"Of course." Azrael replied, raising his hand, and stump, as they approached.

"Be careful." Ezran commanded, eyebrows flared. "He's..."

The well dressed king grabbed one of the guard's staffs, hitting him in the face with it, then throwing him against the stone wall. He drew a quick rune, blowing the other guard into a suit of armor, causing it to crash down on top of it.

"Dangerous. Indeed. But that was me being merciful, young king." Azrael hissed, tossing the staff aside, and eyeing him with dangerous, dark magic filled eyes. "Those are two lives that need not weigh on your conscience. I'm only here for you." He said, drawing the sunforge dagger from his belt.

"Why? Why are you still doing this?" Ezran demanded, as he slowly backed away. "You could've gone home! You could've walked away!"

"There is no walking away. My time is short." Azrael replied. "I've consumed...too much of the dark magic." He said, looking down at his arms.

Purple, jagged veins were etched across them. He looked back up at Ezran.

"I have just enough time to avenge my kingdom." He lunged forward, swiping his blade.

Ezran jumped back.

"Stop! I can help you!" He shouted. "You don't need to die here!"

"A kind thought, young king." Azrael replied. "Fear not. You'll help plenty."

"King Ezran!" Soren shouted, eyes wide, as he stood at the end of the adjacent hallway. "Hold on!" He drew his sword.

"But I have enough time left, Ezran. So do run. Make this...sporting." Azrael asked him.

Ezran backed away, then turned and took off down the hall.

Azrael smirked, watching him run.

Soren attacked from behind. Azrael turned, dodging his first swipe, then raising his sunforge blade, and slicing the crown guard's own blade in half.

Soren stared at the burning, broken sword with wide, bewildered eyes.

"Hey! That's not fair!"

"No. I suppose it's not." Azrael admitted, before spinning, and slicing the blade across his chest.

Soren let out a grunt of pain, as it sliced straight through his metal armor, into his skin. He sank to the floor, gripping his chest, as smoke poured from the metal.

Azrael turned, and began down the hall, lifting the blade up, and scraping it against the stone wall as he walked.

"Run run, little king. The final hunt has begun." He called out.

Rayla and Callum came running through the castle halls.

The eager Rayla nearly tripping over Soren's downed form.

"Hey!" Soren exclaimed, as Rayla inadvertently kicked his leg.

"Soren! What happened!" Callum demanded, kneeling down to examine him.

"Somebody...somebody attacked the king. He's chasing him..." he said breathlessly, pointing down the hallway. "Hurry."

Rayla glared up in the direction he was pointing, eyebrows flared in determination and anger. She gave Soren a quick pat on the shoulder for effort, then sprinted down the hallway, bouncing off the walls as she tore after Azrael.

"You...should probably try to keep up." Soren suggested, looking up at Callum.

Callum's expression flattened, as she was already out of sight.

"Yeah. Okay."

"Rock, rock, stone, rock, stone, stone..." Ezran frantically muttered, as he worked to unlock the secret entrance.

His eyes went wide as he saw a glint of orange in one of the stones.

He dove for the floor, as the blade came tearing in, slicing across the rock.

"This place is just a barrel of intricacies, isn't it?" Azrael asked, as he swiped at the child again. "I would've enjoyed ruling from this castle."

Ezran was completely moving on instinct now, squirming aside as each attack came in.

He hurled himself between the warlord's legs, as Azrael let out a cry of rage, slashing madly across the fake stones, cutting deep, burning swaths into them, before turning around to face the king again.

As he turned, Ezran held his royal cape in his hands.

And threw it.

It covered Azrael's head, and he let out a cry of frustration and rage, struggling to pull it off, as Ezran took off running again.

He sliced through it with the blade, letting out a roar as he tore it apart, and left it smoldering on the ground behind him, hatred in his eyes.

Rayla launched herself at the wall, running across it.

And nearly colliding with Ezran as he ran the other way.

"Rayla!" Ezran exclaimed, sliding to avoid a crash, while she skidded across the stone floor.

"What's goin on? Is it him?" Rayla asked, rushing to his side.

"Yeah. Yeah it's him. But he's different now. He looks...normal. I didn't recognize him at first..." Ezran said, struggling to catch his breath.

"He must've used all that dark magic to fix his appearance..." Rayla surmised, as Callum came running up behind them.

"Ez!" Callum exclaimed, before stopping, and leaning over, panting heavily.

"You alright?" Rayla asked.

Callum held up a finger, as he continued to pant.

"Yeah. Yeah, just...I don't...I'm not..." he paused, finally standing upright, his eyes widening as he did. "Um. Guys?!" He asked, pointing.

As they all turned to see Azrael standing behind them. A smug look on his clean, human looking face.

"Oh I am so glad you're all here." He said genuinely. "My quarry. All three of you. You have been remarkable trouble for me."

Rayla reached behind her back.

And realized that she was still wearing the white silk shirt she had been provided.

She had no slots for her blades.

She had no blades. They were in her room.

"Ugh." She grumbled. "Welp. That's a bummer. Alright. Ezran, run." She commanded, cracking her knuckles as Callum drew a rune in the air.

"No, guys get outta here!" Ezran shouted.

"Not a chance, Ez." Callum replied firmly. "Go hide."

Ezran looked over at the hallway leading to his bedroom.

"I have an idea." He said, turning and sprinting down the hall.

"Aspiro!" Callum shouted, blasting a gust of wind at the warlord.

Azrael raised his hand, and redirected it, sending it at a suit of armor that stood by the wall.

The armor was ripped free, and sent flying at Rayla.

She barely had time to groan in pained anticipation, before it crashed into her, sending her crashing into Callum.

Sending them both to the floor in a heap, amidst bits of metal armor.

Azrael stepped over them, and made his way down the hall, after Ezran.

"Your king has trapped himself. Perhaps I gave him too much credit." He mused, holding out the blade again, and dragging it along the wall once more, leaving a burning line following him as he closed in on his prey.

Ezran stood in his room, as Azrael walked in.

"Stay back." Ezran warned, as he backed toward the balcony door.

"There's no escape now, son of Harrow. It's over." Azrael said, as he stepped towards him.

Ezran turned, opening the door, and stepping out into the afternoon sun, toward the end of the balcony.

"It's been...quite a fight you put up. You impressed me at every turn. You made your father proud." Azrael taunted, gripping the burning blade tightly. "But your time's up."

Ezran backed away further, tripping and stumbling to the balcony floor, sending his satchel sliding back toward the railing. He looked to it, then back at Azrael, the fear evident in his eyes. And he began crawling towards it.

"It was...a grand hunt. One final glory for the Chain Islands." Azrael declared, stepping closer. "Know this, child. You die a prouder death than so many I have struck down. Your ancestors smile upon you."

Ezran shook his head, as he grabbed for his satchel.

"Stop saying nice things, none of what you're doing is okay!" He protested.

"It's all a matter of perspective." Azrael replied, flipping the blade upside down as he prepared for the killing blow. "Any final words, Ezran, son of Harrow?" He asked.

Ezran was panting hard as he turned to look up into the face of his attacker.

"Just one question." He replied, holding up a finger. "Have you met Bait?"

Azrael cocked his head to the side.

"Have I met...who?"

"So no." Ezran answered between breaths, unbuckling the straps on his satchel. "Say hello...to my little friend."

He reached into the satchel, and pulled out a glow toad.

Bait looked up angrily at Azrael, who stared back in confused bewilderment.

Then, with a grunt, Bait flashed, bright enough to light the whole balcony.

Azrael let out a cry as he was blinded, dropping the blade as he covered his eyes.

He staggered back.

And stumbled over the balcony's railing.

He barely had time to cry out. It all happened too fast.

Before he could react, he was sent toppling backward, and plummeting off the balcony's edge.

There was a distant thump as he hit the courtyard below. Ezran grimaced as he heard it. He felt no need to look.

Rayla and Callum came running down the balcony.

"Ezran! Are you okay?!" Callum demanded.

"Where is he?!" Rayla snarled, grabbing the sunforge blade off the balcony floor, and waving it around threateningly.

Ezran shook his head.

"He's...he's gone." He replied, holding a very proud looking Bait in his hands. Bait grumbled in confirmation.

Callum leaned down, helping Ezran to his feet, then pulling him into a hug.

"Where'd he go?" Rayla asked.

Ezran gestured to the railing.

Rayla walked over, and looked down.

Her expression flattening.

"You've got to be kiddin me with this guy."

Ezran frowned, before running over to look for himself.

There was a bloody spot on the ground, where he had made impact.

There was, however, no sign of Azrael.

The door to the courtyard burst open, and the trio ran down, surrounded by crown guards.

"Spread out! He could be anywhere." Callum commanded.

Ezran looked at the spot where he'd landed, noticing a trail of blood, leading from it. His eyes followed it.

He looked over at the statue of King Harrow.

And it was there that he saw him. His broken form crawling toward the base of it.

Weakly, desperately, making his way toward his fallen enemy's monument.

"Stand down." Ezran commanded, stepping forward. "It's over."

"Ezran, be careful." Rayla warned, as she spotted him.

But Ezran held up a hand. And as they watched carefully, he made his way toward his adversary.

Azrael let out a desperate gasp, as he continued forcing his broken body across the cobblestone ground.

His eyes glaring up at the statue.

He was finally once again face to face with the man who had doomed his kingdom.

And yet, the feeling was lacking. Almost empty. He found his rage and hate dissipating.

Replaced with sadness. His lips trembled as he glared up at the statue.

And he paused, as he heard approaching footsteps.

And looked over to see King Ezran standing beside him.

Azrael let out a few pained breaths.

"Sometimes...the easiest way to cope with pain...unconscionable pain...is to drown it in rage." He said, bowing his head. "And now...staring him in the face...it's gone."

Ezran listened, eyes sympathetic.

He looked around, then sat down on the stone ground, across from the dying warlord.

"What do you feel now?" He asked.

Azrael looked over at him, then back at Harrow. Then down at the ground.

"Shame." He replied simply. "Shame. For I am a king without a kingdom. A king who failed his people. Who led them to slaughter." He said, his voice cracking. "It left a hole in me. A hole that...could never be filled. But I tried to..."

Ezran's expression hardened.

"Through slaughter."

"Through vengeance." Azrael insisted. But his features relaxed. "It...it felt like vengeance at the time." He paused, coughing violently, some blood dribbling down his chin.

"I don't understand...you lose everything. And then you decide to take everything from everyone else..." Ezran said, shaking his head. "Why?"

Azrael looked to him.

"You won't understand." He said simply. "I...I hope you never have to understand. Sometimes when you're hit, you have to hit back..."

"No." Ezran said firmly. "No you don't." He looked up at King Harrow's statue.

"My mom died before I could even remember her. She was killed by Thunder."

"I know." Azrael replied with a nod.

"And my dad killed Thunder." Ezran continued. "So the dragon queen sent assassins to kill my dad. And they...they did."

"And what of the dragon queen, then?" Azrael asked.

Ezran shook his head.

"Nothing. I forgave her."

Azrael shook his head, coughing up a little blood.

"Why would you do that?" He asked incredulously.

Ezran looked down at him.

"Because vengeance is too easy. It's a shortcut. A cycle. You have to forgive." He said with a firm nod. "Or you spend your life fighting your parent's wars. Their parent's wars. I don't want that. For myself. For my people. For anyone's people." He said, looking away. He saw Callum and Rayla holding hands, watching very carefully.

"That's the future I want." He said, gesturing to them. "For Katolis. For Xadia. For everyone."

Azrael followed his gaze. And he nodded, looking back at him.

"The world will resist. You know they will. Change is never easy. Especially coming from the mouth of a child." He warned.

"I know." Ezran replied. "But it's worth fighting for."

"Is it worth dying for?" Azrael asked, as he felt the light slipping away.

Ezran paused a moment, fear gripping him at the question. But he closed his eyes. And he nodded.

"Yes." He said firmly.

Azrael nodded, his eyes distant. Regretful.

"Then you will make a fine king, Ezran." He said, as he laid down on the ground. "Naive. But fine. I wish you luck."

Ezran nodded, bowing his head. He looked down at the ground, then over at Azrael.

He was gone. His expression peaceful. Devoid of hate. Devoid of rage.

Ezran didn't need to check for a pulse. He knew.

He stood up, looking up at King Harrow's statue again. Then nodded at it.

And turned, to rejoin his family. Rayla and Callum rushed to embrace him, as the crown guard surrounded the fallen king's lifeless form.