Cothus grunted in effort as he lugged a large crate into the cave. Lord Ozorne, fed up with his squalid home, had demanded certain things to soften the harshness of plain rock walls.
"Here…it…is, sir…" Cothus rasped. The Stormwing remained impassive, and so that man set about opening the crate. Out came illegally trapped animal skins, leather-bound books containing the realm's recent events, and a small mirror. There would have been food there, too, had the Rising spell worked properly, but because of Cothus and Yasir's inexperience, many of Ozorne's processes had not returned with him to life. He needed neither food nor water; though, perhaps this was a blessing to the Stormwing.
"Tell me, servant," Ozorne began, staring at the man. "I have been wondering, what purpose did you hope to achieve with me?"
Cothus started.
"Purpose, sir? Why, we returned your life to you so that we might have a strong, inspiring leader."
"That is not a reason." The Stormwing said through gritted teeth. His weak sense of patience was shrivelling up.
"But sir, surely a wise one such as yourself-"
"I'm not a weak minded fool to be sweet-talked by a petty servant like you." Ozorne's face was twisted in anger. He rose from his seat and glided towards the man.
"Please, sir, I-"
The Stormwing let his arm fly across Cothus' chest, and the man sprawled. Next, he bent down and took him in an iron grip at the neck and lifted him. Revived from his momentary paralysis, Cothus began to struggle against the vicious fingers tightening around his skin.
"Why am I here?" Ozorne demanded.
"We…sorry…sir…we needed…someone to…front…the rebellion against…" The words died away and the Stormwing relented his grip slightly.
"…The rebellion against…the raka queen…"
"I SERVE NO ONE!" Ozorne cried, throwing Cothus down. The man whimpered and dragged himself away from the Stormwing.
Ozorne watched him, and muttered the word 'pathetic'. He came forward and stooped over Cothus, who shook in fear. The Stormwing took a dagger from the man's belt sheath.
"Perhaps Yasir would prefer not having to work with a partner he does not trust, hm?"
"Please…I'll…"
"You tell Yasir, and all those behind him who hope that I may bend to their will, that I am a ruler, not a pawn." Ozorne threw the dagger so that it embedded itself in the wood of the crate. It shivered for a moment or two, then stilled.
"Yessir." Cothus murmured, getting to his feet. He loped away to the mouth of the cave, not daring to glance back. He swore he could feel a burning itch as the Stormwing stared broodingly at him, and once he was out of the cave his pace quickened.
So, their plans had backfired. Ozorne would not serve their purposes…they were stupid to think so! And now, they had unleashed a tyranny, albeit a weak tyranny, back on the world.
"What have we done, Yasir?" He muttered fearfully, as he stumbled down the hill in the fading light.