THE DRAGON CAMPAIGN
CHAPTER 4
Trapped
Melbu Frahma leaned back slightly in his throne as he listened intently to one of his agent's reports. The throne room of Vellweb was indeed an intimidating sight to those who had reason to fear it. The whole room was dark with an arrangement of fire torches lining the far walls. The walls themselves were made of mosaic stonework which carried an illuminating effect adding to the menacing feel. Straight down the center of the stone floor was a long red carpet lined with gold rimed edges on both ends. The throne itself was decorated with ornate gold designs. On each armrest was a skull like figure of a human, symbolic of Frahma's complete domination of the human species. It was the same with the rest of the ornate designs on his seat. Each segment had some form or representational image of a lesser being molded in such a fashion that just by sitting on it, Melbu commanded an image of dominance.
The lesser Wingly soldier shook slightly as he continued to kneel in front of his Emperor. It was no secret that even with the collection of the Supreme Wingly Council, Melbu Frahma still carried all the authority and the council was only there to humor the Wingly public. The man closed his eyes tightly as he continued his report.
"My Emperor… there has been disturbing news just received from Karsack. During the absence of the Karsack Wingly militia, it appears the Prisoner Arthos has escaped."
"What!?!" Melbu's past expression of boredom suddenly became replaced by a glare of sheer anger. "What do you mean escaped? No one has ever escaped from that prison before. As for the old man, it's impossible. He couldn't have stood on his own weight much less found a way for himself to escape."
"We have reason to believe he had outside help, sire."
Melbu narrowed his eyes slightly as he cupped his chin with his thin elongated fingers. Out of all the Wingly in the world, Melbu Frahma had to have been the most hideous and fearsome looking of them all. Through years of training and genetic manipulation, Fraham now stood at a menacing height of nine feet. His once tan skin had taken on a deathly pale color. His green eyes flared with an even deeper hue giving them an almost neon effect. The hair he did have was pulled back tight in a strict ponytail, allowing his pearl colored stands to shine brightly in the flaming shadows of the torch lights. His attire was also menacing, consisting of long, high cuffed robes with demonic symbols painted on them. As he could not increase his build, Frahma was extremely wiry in appearance yet his slim figure hid the incredibly powerful inhuman strength the Wingly Emperor truly possessed. Clearly Frahma was a creature to be feared.
Melbu now curled his elongated bony fingers into a tight fist. "Any idea's as to whom it was who freed him?"
"No sire. But we have reports that just recently came in stating-"
Suddenly the doors rammed open with a loud ear cracking boom effectively cutting the Wingly guard off and causing Melbu to wink slightly in anger and a great deal of annoyance.
"WHO DARES!!"
On the other side of the door were two figures. One was dressed in a regal dress, richly designed with sown in flowers and high shoulder cuffs. The other was a moderately dressed form, slightly shorter but by appearance, much more docile and almost seemed inferior in comparison to the woman next to her.
The regally dressed woman stormed straight ahead, approaching Melbu with a solid glare. "I dare!" She responded hotly.
Melbu's once angry expression quickly lightened upon recognition of who this intruder was. "Ahh… dear sister. What is it you wish to trouble me with today?"
"Don't you dare 'dear sister' me, Melbu!" Replied Charle Frahma, the blood sister of Melbu Frahma. However, as all things went, blood was as far as physical similarities went. Charle was completely opposite in appearance compared to her intimidating brother. She had a beautiful complexion and shining green eyes, which often sparkled with love and kindness. Her shining platinum hair struck out as highly attractive to many onlookers as well as her slim and somewhat petite figure. However, at the moment, she was feeling anything but kindness as she continued glaring daggers at her brother.
"Oh, it appears you are angry with something Charle." Melbu replied in an amused tone.
"Oh your damn right I'm angry! Angry at you! What the hell is wrong with you? Why did you torture that poor girl in such a way!" She pointed towards the now frightened form of a young dark haired girl who was now inching herself further and further away from the Wingly Emperor.
"You told me you would only stop the rebels and be done with them. You said you wouldn't harm the innocents."
"My dear sister…" Melbu interrupted in an exasperating tone, effectively cutting her off. "You fail to realize… this is war. And these creatures need to be taught their place. That!" He pointed savagely towards Rose form. "That sheath was merely compensating me and my men for all the Wingly soldiers her father dared to kill in his assault. That 'thing' is lucky to even still be alive!"
"Only to sate your sick pleasures!" Charle spat disgustedly. "Melbu what has happened to you in all these years. When we were young you never used to be this way!"
"That was over a thousand years ago Charle. We tend to grow up every once in a while. It's about time you realize that."
"What you've done was inhumane! You've completely destroyed that poor girl's life. She's almost at a state of complete catatonia. She can't even talk anymore!"
"Hmph," Frahma grunted disinterestedly. "With all the screaming she did, I am not surprised."
"Why y- you animal!!!"
"These beasts have no emotions Charle! They are not like us. They act only on instinct. It's past time you've given up on trying to 'tame' them. They are but cattle! And that! That is even less then the rest of them. She is nothing more then a sheath now for me and my men!"
"You sick bastard!" Charle raved venomously. "You and your men will never again even lay eyes on this poor soul. Yes, I was correct Melbu! You've indeed changed. For the worst possible even! You're more terrible then even father was! You! You're nothing more then a monster!!"
Melbu smirked indignantly. "Hmm… all the better to complete my authority over all those under me!"
Clearly disgusted at his last words, Charle was at a loss for words as she simply spat at him then turned on her heels and marched out of the throne room, holding firmly to the now shaking girl in her arms.
Melbu continued to smirk until his sister was completely gone from his sight. Once the doors were closed again, his expression shifted to a thin line of seriousness. He wiped the spittle that had landed on his cheek, away with the tip of his index finger then turned to face his servant once more.
"Now tell me." Melbu began. "Are there any links as to who was involved with the breakout?"
The Wingly guard shook slightly at the menacing tone of his Emperor but answered accordingly. "Not directly sire, however we have recently received reports of a band of criminals trying to break into our trade post facilities on Karsack. One man in general seemed to prove a threat. He carried a sword and effectively killed three of our men before making his escape."
"Interesting…" Once again Frahma messaged his narrow chin with bony figures. "I am willing to wager this human was the same one involved with the breakout. Is Warden Ruthktor still stationed in the city?"
"Yes my liege."
"Excellent. I want him to assess extreme measures. Burn the very city to the ground if need be, but I want him to find this man who is a slayer of Wingly."
"Yes sire, right away."
"Oh and tell Ruthktor not to kill him. I want him alive."
"He shall be tortured as Arthos was then sire?"
"No… I am bored with that measure of punishment. Instead I would like to meet such brave and eager rebels. I haven't amused myself with their company in some time."
"It shall be as you command sire."
"See that you do not fail again. Otherwise your death will be just as worthless at those that died at the hands of the human on Karsack."
"Of course sire." And with that the young Wingly soldier was gone, leaving Frahma to ponder even more devious ideas.
****
Flain felt sick. It wasn't the first time. In the last five days, he had felt as if his very soul had been wrenched from his body. He knew what Zieg had been doing but not a second went by that he didn't continued to ask himself why he hadn't done something more; why he had been so useless when his friend needed his help the most.
It had been almost a week since the failed raid on the Wingly supply post and the blow had hit them all hard. Upon their return, many of the guild members were depressed after hearing of the fate of Zieg. Flain knew it would have been easier to lie to them and tell them that Zieg had made a foolish mistake and died a different way. But he couldn't defile his friend's memory like that. Zieg was like a hero to all the guild members there. He and Flain were essentially legends to them. The fact that Zieg was now dead was a depressing revelation to the community of young rebels.
And yet, would it have been so bad to have told them he died of a foolish mistake? Flain couldn't help but continue pondering the idea. For it 'had' been a mistake on Zieg's part. 'What had he been thinking carrying a sword like that?' Flain still couldn't get the mental image out of his mind. He still couldn't forget the sickening sound of Zieg's sword as it slid through the Wingly soldier's body. The thought made him even more sick then before.
Once again Flain reeled over clutching his head painfully so as to try and erase his memories manually. He was currently sitting on his favorite chair in one of the underground village houses. Effectively everyone called it the guild masters house because that was the house Flain normally frequented the most. Since there were only a few of them left in the huge underground town, the guild members had many homes to chose from yet Flain always preferred this one.
Flain shut his eyes tightly. It didn't matter now. None of it mattered anymore. He was sick of guilds. Sick of missions and most of all, he was sick to death of the Wingly's. Because of them, his friend was now dead and nothing could bring him back, 'nothing!'.
"Feel like some company?" Flain whipped his head around immediately at the sudden voice and realized that Nea was standing right in front of him at the front door. She silently began twiddling her fingers nervously at his slightly cold exterior.
Flain didn't move from his position but waved his hand nonchalantly. "Sure, why not." He lied. He really didn't want to see anyone right now but he knew Nea was going through the same thing he was and sometimes it helped to talk things through with someone else.
Nea slowly walked towards the side of the chair Flain was currently occupying and sat on the armrest, placing her hand gently on his shoulder. "It hurts doesn't it?"
Flain nodded his head but said nothing, opting instead to continue staring out into space.
Nea took this as an opportunity to continue speaking. "It's been five days now… I don't know why but sometimes I feel like he's not really dead you know? I mean we've never found his body so we don't know for sure but…"
"But we found Gruger's body!" Flain interrupted her, a touch of anger lacing his words. "We fucking found Gruger alright. You saw what he looked like. Those damned beasts tore him to shreds. And he had nothing to do with the compound raid. If that's what they did to him then heaven only knows what they've done to Zieg. Probably fed him whole…"
Flain tried to blink the rising tears out of his eyes. Tried to hide the fact that for the first time since losing his parents 12 years ago, he was crying. However, after talking about it with Nea a bit, he couldn't hold it in any more. The tears rushed forth in streams.
Nea gently held him to her, collecting him in her arms as he cried. Tears of her own shed down her cheeks as she thought of her lost comrade. He was more then just a comrade, he was like a brother to her and now he was gone; dead trying to save them."
The two Guild members stayed that way for a few minutes allowing their emotions to reassert themselves. Finally Nea spoke once more, wiping her eyes lightly.
"I feel like this is all my fault…" Her voice came out raw, filled with emotion. "If I hadn't been such a chicken shit… hadn't been so selfish… we could have done something, 'I' could have done something!"
Flain rose his head up from the protective embrace of her arms to regard her thoughtfully. He reached his hand out, brushing aside a few strands of dark brown hair from her beautiful shimmering eyes. Flain had never realized it before but suddenly she was beautiful, more so then before. He wasn't sure if the whole issue of their vulnerability was at a fault here or that he just never truly took the time to notice but now he couldn't seem to take his eyes away from hers. "It's not you're fault…" He responded gently, bringing his face slightly closer to hers.
"It's mine. If I hadn't been so persistent to keep him in the group he would never have gone with us on that mission. I was just as selfish, if not more. I just wanted us to keep things the same as they were in the past. I wasn't ready to accept the fact that Zieg was changing. I didn't want to realize that he was developing his own destiny that was so far different then my own. I was the one in the wrong… I didn't want things to change from how they used to be…"
"…We both suffered for our mistakes…" Nea replied equally as gently as Flain. Slowly, before either of them realized it, their lips met and they held each other in a firm embrace. Each one sharing their emotions with the other, suddenly overcome with emotions for each other that they never knew they had.
Deeper in the shadows of the caves a lone figure saw the two childhood friends kissing from the open space of the door and a light smile touched his lips. Zieg had finally returned after 5 days of endless hiking and living off of mushrooms and stream water. He had taken a few days to rest and treat the wounds he had received yet he was still greatly weakened. Cloth-like bandages wrapped around the huge gash in his arm and the other at his thigh, yet none of that mattered now. Zieg had just seen his friends locked together in an embrace he knew would inevitably happen.
Once again, Zieg smiled yet this time it was a sad smile. Unfortunately he could not share in his friends happiness. Zieg knew good and well what he had done. He had killed a Wingly. Nothing would ever be the same now. There was no going back to the way things used to be. The Wingly would now make a mortal enemy of him and by staying with his friends, he'd only be putting them in even greater danger.
Instead Zieg was prepared to finish what he had started. All the better his friends continue believing him to be dead. In a way it was true. Killing that Wingly struck the last cord within him. He felt something snap from inside. He knew he couldn't go on being the same boy he was. He was different now. He absently wondered more then once if it was due to the realization that he had actually taken a life. Could death really change a man so much? Regardless, Zieg shook his head lightly and headed back out the way he had come. Only this time he had a fresh arm load of food in a pack he hoisted at his back. Zieg's clothing hung in tatters. His once, clean shirt was now torn at the sleeve and at the midriff and was covered in blood, dirt, grime and water. His pants also wore the badge of battle with a few random bloodstains and more torn cloth at the knee's and left thigh area. Zieg didn't really notice it anymore however. He held the sword he had used to kill the Wingly, tightly in his hands.
He walked shakily down the path towards the main exit. This would be the last time he ever walked through this passage. The path he walked now would be far more dangerous then any he had ever walked before and for the first time, he finally felt confident that he had a chance of completing that journey.
To his shock, suddenly he heard a loud thundering noise. The ground began to rumble violently. Completely oblivious as to what was going on, Zieg readily fell to the hard ground. The earth continued to rumble even more. Zieg scrambled about the ground trying to find purchase to something so as not to be thrown about by the quakes.
"What's going on?" He mumbled to himself. He quickly reached out and gripped a part of the cave wall that was inverted enough so that he could get a secure hold on it.
As if in answer to his question, a huge sudden burst of fire swam through the cave opening, dousing the area with volcanic death. Luckily Zieg was already low so that the flames passed over him harmlessly but the psychological effect was still there. Zieg could feel the rising fear from within as the flames continued for rage just over him. He clenched his sweating eyelids shut as tightly as he could. He cringed slightly at the burning sensation licking his back. Zieg buried his face deeper in the ground as he tried to get even lower from the waves of death.
Finally after what seemed like forever, the flames died down. A shuddering sigh of relief escaped from Zieg's lips. He quickly looked up to scan the area. All around him, there were burnt chars of what used to be solid cavern walls. A few random flames continued to lick about the walls and floors slowly dying down into nothing.
Zieg tentatively rose to his feet, nervously looking about. Another quick jerk and he realized the shaking had not stopped. 'What the hell is going on?' He pondered again, only this time mentally. The fallen food now forgotten, Zieg quickly scooped up his sword and charged down the remainder of the cavern, heading towards the exit.
The trek was unexpectedly more difficult then what he presumed. More then a few times, he had to catch himself from falling over and for a fact, three times he failed in that attempt. However, even still, Zieg was relieved when he finally did see the exit. Despite the constant shaking, Zieg ran full tilt towards the exit to finally see what was causing all the problems.
Unfortunately what met his eyes instead was a sight more horrible then anything he could imagine. His steel sword fell free from loose fingers. Zieg could not help but stare wide-eyed in shock at the death and destruction that lay in wake before his very eyes. It was a feeling much worse then anything he could hope to fathom, worse then his most terrible nightmares. Before his very eyes, all his hopes and dreams were burning as he watched huge armies of Virage and Winglys on chariots torching the very earth he had called home.
****
As if pulled away by unearthly forces, the clouds over Karsack ripped asunder as Huge Virages continued to rain down upon the cold desolate earth. People screamed in fear and anguish as the number of Virages slowly grew to insurmountable odds. The huge beasts gave no mercy while they continued swarming down on the people below, raining fiery death on their prey. The few buildings left remaining now erupted in flames. Loud explosions deafened the ears of dying humans as they were either caught in the aftermath of the flames of simply eaten by the few Virage that actually took the time to swoop low and feast on their prey.
Death bathed the city and fire was its domain. From his vantage point in the shadows, Zieg saw all of this. He could hardly believe his eyes. No words could possibly flow from his frozen lips. Another scene tore his attention away from the previous image as he now saw the Wingly chariots swooping low. To his shock and horror, he saw what they were doing. The few humans that managed to survive the first area of death and destruction were now being rounded up as if they were cattle. The Winglys were merciless as they cruelly kicked the hapless forms into a circle and bound them with cords.
"…Zieg?"
Zieg suddenly whipped around, drawing his sword. In his state of mind, he hadn't registered that logically his enemies wouldn't know his name. Nor would they carry the familiar voice or face he now saw before him. At the sudden recognition, Zieg's heart suddenly pounded even faster.
"Flain…"
A smile quickly rose up to the face of the dark haired man as he suddenly rushed towards his friend and wrapped him in a hard bear hug. "MAN! I can't believe this! Zieg you're alive!"
From the slight distance Zieg could see that Nea too was coming up to them now, equally happy that Zieg was still alive.
Zieg wanted to laugh and joke with his friends but he found that all he could do was sigh in dread at the fate that surely awaited them all. Zieg disentangled his friend from the hug and turned to back to face the havoc before them.
Flain was slightly baffled at Zieg's behavior. Then suddenly he finally caught sight of what was truly going on before them.
"…W… what is this?" He breathed in a voice just under a whisper. It was as if he were living through his worst nightmares. "This can't be…"
"It is…" Zieg replied solemnly.
Flain regarded his friend curiously. "Zieg… Zieg just what is going on? What happened to you? Why didn't you get to us sooner?"
Zieg quickly turned around to face both his comrades. "Now's not the time for this Flain!" His eyes were now engulfed with a multitude of emotions. He didn't know what he was feeling right now. He was happy to be with his friends even if for only a short amount of time. Yet at the same time, the agony of what was ahead of him struck terror and pain in his heart. He still didn't know why it was happening, why any of this was going on right now. All he knew was that somehow he had to stop it before things escalated any further.
Flain on the other hand, watched his friend silently, with stoic eyes. Nea grasped the elder boys hand tightly as she watched the destruction ahead of them. The air was filled with the moaning and cries of death. Blood was everywhere. "It's terrible…" She said finally.
"Yes. It's terrible." Zieg didn't turn around but he felt he had to reply to her statement. "Its what the Wingly do best to our people. Terrorize us. But why all this? Why are they doing this much?"
Finally his eyes trailed back towards the old group of Winglys who were rounding up humans. However this time there were more Wingly and a great number of human prisoners. Zieg's eyes widened fearfully as he caught sight of one particularly familiar Wingly in general.
Flain squinted his eyes slightly. "Hey! Isn't that"
"Yeah, it's the Warden." Zieg finished with a voice devoid of emotion. "I don't like this."
Without another word, Zieg quickly leapt out of the exit then stealthily moved closer towards the group of hostages and enslavers.
"Hey! Zieg wait!" Flain called out, grabbing his friends arm before he could go any further. The scene specifically reminded Zieg of the day he and his friend entered the Imperial prison.
"Zieg!" Flain began, fear obvious in his voice. "There's nothing we can do! If you try anything you'll die!"
Zieg's eyes narrowed as he savagely ripped his arm away from his friend's grasp. The time for hiding was long over in Zieg's mind. All that remained was the fight. "I have to know!" He hissed.
So shocked was he by the sudden anger and animosity in his friend's voice, Flain faltered and was at a loss for words. Zieg took that opportunity to continue his trek. Before he realized it, Zieg was gone once again.
Nea lightly wrapped her arms around Flain's shoulders. "He's made his choice." She replied lightly.
Flain could do nothing but blink as he continued to watch after his friend. Finally he narrowed his eyes in a glare. "No!" He replied suddenly. "I won't lose him again! I've got to stop him!"
Before Nea could say anything in protest, Flain forcefully pushed himself away from the safety of the shadows and ran after his childhood friend, intent on stopping him from making a big mistake. Nea's eyes began to water as she saw her two longest friends running off into an uncertain future. Helpless to do anything more, she silently fell to her knees and wept.
Zieg, totally oblivious to his friend's pursuit of him, quickly hid behind a stone overface. His fear continued to grow as he listened to the conversation being played out before him.
In the center of the small circle, the Wingly Warden continued to pace back and forth in front of the human hostages that were crying in pain and agony. Some of them were near death as it was. Blood was everywhere and Zieg even caught sight of a woman with two children crying together in a small ball despite the fact their arms were bound.
The Warden glared hatefully at the human prisoners now, gloating at their misfortune. He silently raised his arms and the Virage suddenly stopped in their assault. However, instead they now swooped down low and surrounded the hostages so as to ensure no one escaped. Satisfied that all was in order, the Warden walked to the center of the small row of hostages.
"Consider yourselves fortunate you are still alive humans." He began in a shrill voice. "I detest you all so I will make this as short as possible and hopefully depending on how you respond, this wont take long. We have learned that one of our hostages has escaped from our Imperial Prison. We have reason to believe he had outside help."
Zieg's blood immediately ran cold. 'NO!' His mind screamed in agony. Could they actually be causing all of this pain on these innocent humans because of his actions? Would they actually punish them so just because he aided a dying man?
"I will only ask you this once." The Warden continued emotionlessly. "Bring us the old man and the culprits responsible for his escape or we shall commence to continue destroyed this disreputable city until all that remains is dust and blood!"
Zieg balled his fists tight. He could barely restrain himself now. It was his fault. His fault that the towns were destroyed. Flain had been right. It wasn't just he that would suffer but the whole city and now they had him to thank for their agony.
Zieg forcefully rammed his fists into the rock he was currently hiding behind. He knew if he came out to attack, he would die. There was no way he could take on an army of Wingly much less the flying Virages surrounding them.
He watched in horror as the Warden approached a particularly old human who was desperately trying to stop the bleeding in his stomach. "You!" The Warden hissed menacingly. "Where are the culprits hiding?"
"I don't know!" The man spat in defiance. "And even if I did I'd never tell you! I'm sick and tired of you Wingly's alwa-"
The Warden quickly unsheathed his sword then plunged it deep into the old man's heart. Zieg watched on his horror as the man continued trying to speak as his mouth slowly filled with the dark red bile of blood. The warm liquid washed over and through his fingers as he continuously tired to retain his life's blood. All that was left was a low moan before the man finally keeled over in death.
"I will not tolerate this human insolence any further." The Warden continued. He easily walked back and forth, swinging his sword around casually as he passed by each slave. "Now… who will tell me what I wish to know? Or do I have to kill you all one by one?"
"Leave us alone!" This from one of the two children currently huddled about their mother. The mother quickly tried to tell her child to be quiet but it was too late. The Warden was upon them in a heartbeat. A cruel smile played across his lips as he easily flipped the blade of his sword under the woman's throat.
"And how about you woman? Won't you tell me what I wish to know? Or shall I simply be forced to make orphans of your two children here?"
Zieg couldn't take it anymore. He would not stand by and watch people die for him. Even if his life would end this day, he would still fight so that others may realize his bravery and finally decide to take up arms against the Wingly. Zieg's eyes filled with passion as he quickly rose up and prepared to head towards the group of terrorized humans and Wingly interrogators.
Suddenly a hand quickly grasped his arm, halting his progress. Zieg quickly spun around and saw the anxious stare of his childhood friend. Flain was panting loudly, obviously having had to move quick to catch up to him. Zieg forcefully tore his arm away and continued to move forwards. The time for talking was over.
"Zieg!" Flain called out the name one last time, desperation clearly evident in his voice.
Zieg slowly turned around to regard the hapless form of his long time childhood friend. The elder boy sighed and for a moment he appeared far older then his 17 years.
"It doesn't have to be this way…" He pleaded helplessly. "You'll die!"
Zieg continued to regard his friend steadily with a stoic posture. His eyes hardened with firm confidence. "That's a sacrifice I'm willing to take…" And with that, the young ex-guilds member walked off towards his destiny, leaving his past and all of his friends behind.
"Zieg!" Flain called out once more, this time his voice was filled with more urgency and fear. Yet it all fell upon deaf ears, for the young companion he once grew up with was gone, now replaced by a growing man destined to make his own future.
****
Zieg did not look behind him when he heard his friend call out once more. It was a painful choice to make but he knew he had to make it, especially now. He looked on with horror as he saw that the Wingly Warden was about to cut the woman's throat. It was no more time for thinking or watching. Zieg ran towards them now at full speed.
"WAIT!" He called out just as he saw the Warden pressing the blade to the woman's throat. "I am the man you're looking for!" Zieg yelled.
The Warden turned in surprise at the sudden voice, then sneered as he recognized Zieg's face. "So you finally come out of hiding, do you human trash?"
"I may die this day…" Zieg began. "But by my power, I will take as many of you Wingly scum with me as possible!" Zieg suddenly charged towards the hordes of Wingly, screaming out a battle cry.
"Not just yet!" The Warden suddenly shouted, placing the tip up his blade closer under the crying woman's neck. "You attack us and they die! I've seen your fighting prowess and although I'm not impressed, I still don't think any more Wingly blood should be spilt merely for the life of one pathetic insect like you!"
Zieg looked on fearfully towards the crying mother who's children were calling out to her desperately. He quickly closed his eyes tightly then dropped his sword at his side. "Fine…" He muttered hatefully. "Do what you will with me but let them live."
The Warden smirked evilly. "You slaves are so weak and pathetic." He quickly pressed his blade and slit the woman's throat anyway. The children cried even louder as they saw their mother slain before their eyes. The surrounding Wingly soldiers quickly cornered the two children as they ran for their mother and killed them as well.
"NO!" Zieg shouted reaching for his sword. It was too late however. The warden quickly flew upon Zieg flapping his wings in the wind then ramming his boot into the man's chest. Zieg fell over with a pained grunt. Angrily, he rose back up to his feet. The Warden smirked again and backhanded Zieg into the hard ground. "You dare rise against your betters human?"
"I dare!" Zieg spat out in hatred and rage as he continued to rise again. However, the Warden quickly proceeded to kick the fallen man venomously before his could get far. Zieg tried to retaliated but every time, he was continually assaulted with a flurry of more and more boot kicks. More and more Wingly soldiers got into the fray as they aided their leader. Soon the Warden could feel his boots tearing against flesh. However this excited him more as he continued with even more vigor. Finally after a good few minutes, the Warden pulled his now bloody boot back and regarded a nearly comatose Zieg. He ripped the boy's face up from the ground to spit at his already blood filled visage. "This is merely a piece of the price humans pay for going up against the Wingly. You are special boy. You killed more then one Wingly. For this crime, you will be executed before our supreme emperor!"
Flain watched all of this in agonizing horror. He wanted to run out and help his friend. He wanted to scream. To do anything to stop the madness but he knew he could do nothing. His friend's fate was sealed and there was nothing he could do in his power to prevent it.
Many other human onlookers stared fearfully from the shadows of the fires, watching the horrid display of power the Winglys were exerting over them. The Warden noticed his audience and hoisted Zieg up off the group, holding him by the throat. He then held him as if he were a showpiece. "This is the price of those who defy Wingly rule! Only death awaits you now!" He shouted out into the crowd.
The Warden held Zieg's ear close to his mouth as he spoke. "You are responsible for this boy. Remember that. All their deaths will now be on your hands."
With that, the Wingly quickly rammed Zieg's face into the side of one of their chariots, effectively knocking him unconscious. He then tossed the limp form over to a few of his Wingly subordinates. "I grow tired of carrying this filth. The two of you will take this trash to our emperor."
The Warden turned around to face a few other Wingly guards who were standing in front of the armada of Virages. "As for the rest of you,… Kill them all. Destroy every single village here. Karsack was useful but no more. It's high time these humans learned their place! None shall ever defile the Wingly!"
The sound of the Warden's cruel laughter was the final clarion call as the Virage continued to lay siege to the helpless inhabitants of Karsack filling the air once more with the screams of agony and suffering.
****
Zieg felt horrible. Every bone in his body ached with new and penetrating pain. He could barely raise his sticky, blood encrusted eyes. He could tell for a fact his nose was broken. Probably his jaw as well. He wasn't certain but he could sure feel the pain. Zieg tried to message his mouth but found that his arms were constrained. He finally remembered what happened last and new dread slowly began to enter his heart.
Finally his eyes opened and the bleary hazy image finally materialized into a completely new surrounding. This area was completely different to him. The walls were of fine stonework. Much different then the encrusted, dirty walls in Karsack. Not just that but despite the menacing feel to this room, everything was relatively more clean then before. Had the situation been any different, he might have found his surroundings almost breathtaking.
"I see you've finally woken up."
The voice sounded cruel and menacing to Zieg's ears. Never before had he ever heard anything so evil in his life, filled with complete malice and hatred. Zieg wearily rose his head up to see who this new speaker was. The sight that greeted him was less then assuring. Zieg has seen Winglys before but this one was the worst. He was abnormally tall with an odd pale contrast to his skin. His attire was completely evil and his eyes shone with something close to demon-like evil.
Despite himself, Zieg flashed a slight smirk at the Wingly in front of him. "Hmph! I take it you're the Wingly Emperor I've been hearing so much about…"
The Wingly guard standing next to Frahma nearly charged at the constrained boy. "Why you piece of unworthy filth! How dare you speak to the Emperor in such a fashion!" the Wingly quickly backhanded Zieg across the face, sending a spray of blood to shower across the tiled floor.
Zieg was restrained in a most painful way as his arms where pulled to the very limit and beyond behind his back. They were locked firmly into a round-like stone device that held them in place. His legs were also constrained in the same device in the exact fashion as his arms. Zieg continued to forcefully push aside the terrible pain he was feeling, almost as if his spine were being ripped in half. However he still found the energy to grin after the Wingly struck him.
"So I suppose I'm popular to have been presented directly before the Wingly Emperor…"
"Why you!" The Wingly soldier prepared to advance once more when suddenly a cold hand stopped him in his tracks.
"That's enough!" Melbu said, rising from his throne in an impressive display of power. He smoothly walked before Zieg, grinning wickedly. "You wish to know why I've sought an audience with you human?"
Zieg didn't respond and he merely glared hatefully at the evil Emperor. He tried his best to hide it but the closer the Emperor got to him the more fear he felt creeping up in his system.
"I have requested this audience as to amuse myself. You owe your life to me for not having you killed directly!"
"Why am I so important to you?" Zieg spat angrily.
"You aren't. But you do amuse me. You've killed three of my Wingly. You single handedly rescued a hostage from the most impenetrable prison in the wold. And You were prepared to do even more when my men finally caught you. Those feats either peg you as very brave or very foolish. Regardless of which, I'm forced to acknowledge your potential."
Frahma ceased in his talking to slightly caress Zieg's jaw in a display of power. "My men have done their work well on you. You will need time to heal from your wounds."
"Why am I still alive? What do you want from me?"
Melbu Frahma smiled cruelly as he looked wickedly at Zieg's exhausted face. "I don't want anything I've already got human. I own you and from now on I will be watching you closely."
"I will never obey you!" Zieg spat venomously. "You're going to have to kill me!"
Melbu Frahma suddenly backhanded Zieg across the face as forcefully as possible. Zieg's face snapped back and even more blood showered the stone tiles.
"Human, if I wanted to kill you, you would already be dead by now. No I don't intend to kill you just yet. You seem to have much energy. Energy much better used if put to test in the mines below this wonderful city of Vellweb."
"I'd rather die!" Zieg spat.
"Hmph, you may try but you will find that would be highly impossible. As I said before, my men will be watching you closely. And if you do anything out of the ordinary, I will continue killing random workers. If you do in fact kill yourself then I will have little choice but to destroy a fourth of my slaves here. It is truly of little consequence to me. You see slaves are like food. When you run out you can always just grab more. The earth is plentiful enough that I will not have to worry. So… what do you say to that?"
Zieg looked on hatefully at the face of the man he loathed more then anything else in the world. "You leave me no other choice. Know that I will constantly be waiting. My time will come when I slay you with my own two hands Frahma!"
Melbu couldn't help the laugh that erupted from his cruel lips. "I look forward to the challenge human. Please hold off until you do sufficient work for me. I really don't want to waste a potentially useful slave. If you ever do manage to come to arms against me I would look most forward to a duel of swords. I've been rather bored of all the other humans who I've slain by my blade. Hopefully you'll have more promise!"
Zieg looked on hatefully. He suddenly spat in Melbu's face. For the first time, Melbu's composure crumbled before his hostage as his expression suddenly took on one of pure evil. Zieg found hisself shaking despite his best efforts.
With pure venom, Melbu quickly rammed his fist solidly into Ziegs stomach, forceful enough that the hapless man coughed up blood. Melbu wasn't finished, however, as he then rammed his fist across Zieg's face. More blood flew to the ground. Frahma didn't notice or simply didn't care. He continued to ram his fists into Zieg's chest, body and face even long after the man lost consciousness. After a few more minutes of this, Frahma finally got ahold of his emotions and ceased his venting.
Frahma breathed in heavy gasps as he reigned in his emotions and lowered his bloody fists. "Get…. This worthless wretch out of my sights!" He seethed in barely suppressed rage. "When he recovers, put him to work in the mines and be sure to give him seven lashes for his affront!"
The Wingly guards were quick to respond as they hurriedly carried the unconscious man away. Frahma watched with satisfied eyes. This human despite his insolence, showed great promise. Frahma would enjoy tormenting him and breaking his spirit down to nothing.
::::::::::To Be Continued::::::::::
Author's note: Thanks for reading and please stay tuned for chapter 5. Things are really going to start to heat up now. Chapter five will be the corner stone of the start of everything. Hope you all will enjoy it!