Chapter 2: seeing what is unseen

Back to king Harrows room that sunset

The king puts his crown back on and walks to a room to see Soren hold his sword for him. After sheathing it the king sighs that this night will be his last. Now walking at the courtyard every guard is at the ready for the coming threat tonight. Once both kings and guards made it to his room the remaining guards positioned themselves even with guards at the king's balcony with Pip the bird simply looking at them. Tonight, will be the night that everything is going to change.

The king wears his cape and does a few practice swings with his sword then comes Pip flying to the king and perches on his shoulder.

Harrow looks at the bird sadly and says, "This may be the end."They cannot speak but he does what he can to cheer up his owner by rubbing his cheek against his owner's head.

"Aw, who gives the best birdie kisses. Pip does," said Harrow feeling slightly better by the bird's love. The Witcher Draavan came in and Pip happily flew and perched on top of the Witcher's head like a wig.

"The time is coming, your majesty" the Witcher said, stroking the bird, "good to see you Pip", "how are the traps?" Harrow asked, "I'm going to be honest they are not elf traps, not designed to trap elves" Draavan said, "they are designed for hunting monsters like wolves".

"You do all you can. I have faith in you to slow them down, and remember that you are my closest friend" Harrow said with a smile.

Meanwhile both Viren and Claudia were walking down the halls talking about the king's rejection of taking the help.

"But I don't understand. The switching spell will save his life. Why would he say no," ask Claudia oblivious to the king's set of principles.

"King Harrow is a principled man," responded his father.

Rolling her eyes Claudia says, "You mean stubborn."

"Watch your tone. But, yes, he is hardheaded," Viren disciplined his daughter while walking inside his study.

"Usually thinks about the right things, but about this…*sigh* I don't know," said Viren, feeling like he failed his best friend.

Claudia looked at the painting of his father, the king, and Dravaan standing side-by-side and said, "You look so…happy in this portrait."

"I was. In fact both me and Draavan were great partners making those crazy potions of his," said Viren reminiscing the good times. "Not to mention making Rigran'' Virens face become distorted with disgust, "Witcher trails nasty things inhuman but Rigran had been a good cousin for the princes so I console myself that it was worth it" Viren said.

He looked back up to the portrait and said, "We posed for this a few days after King Harrow's coronation. Draavan was not happy, Witcher apparently doesn't like having their picture taken".

The moment caused him to chuckle just a little and to Claudia she was happy to at least help her father.

"Harrow insisted that me and Draavan stand next to him for the painting…because he knew we would stand by him through anything and even that Witcher when he got knocked down he didn't give up he kept on pushing himself to be better."

"And both of you have," said Claudia. "So far, yes," said Viren sadly.

Then after some thought he now knows what he should do, "I have to stand by him through this, Too. With both of them. I need to be the man they once believed I was."

"What does that mean, Dad," asked Claudia.

"It means there's one more thing I can do to convince both of them," said Viren, taking the basket and a few steps back to the door.

"What are you doing," Viren's daughter asks again.

"If I told you, you would try to stop me," answered Viren.

"So, shouldn't I just try to stop you then, even without knowing," asks Claudia now even more curious on what his father is doing.

"Goodbye, Claudia," said Viren, leaving the room without saying another word.

Once Viren is out of the room Claudia finds the scroll the king gave to Callum. Now curious where it came from, she notices something on the painting's frame which was persimmon jelly and she just notices the pile of stones that was once a cage on the floor.

"Now how did that get there," asked Claudia and with a pull on the painting she found the hidden passage.

The tunnels being too dark she looked at her hand and snapped her finger twice to get it to glow a light so she could see. At first it flickers off but with a few pats it is back on again and continues down the tunnels.


In the hidden chamber.

The two humans, Witcher and elf look at the egg still shocked from the reveal; the only one to break the silence was the elf saying, "This changes everything.".

"How the hell is it even still around?" Rigran said sheathing his silver sword back into the sheath on his back, "So, this is it? The egg of the Dragon Prince," asked Callum, taking a closer look at the egg.

"If the egg lives…," said the elf. "Maybe it could stop the war." Ezran finished, "aye" Rigran agreed, but then a nasty thought Struck him.

"Wait if Viren had the egg this whole time…" the thought passed around to the others but Ezran pressed a hand on it, "He's okay in there. I can feel it," said Ezran.

"I don't know much about Dragons but I know no one knows what gender it is until it Hatches" Rigran said, "so how do we know it's a he?", Ezran just shrugged.

"But how? Why wasn't it destroyed," asked Callum stammering.

"Because my father saved it," said Claudia right behind them which causes the elf and Witcher to unsheathe their swords.

"Callum, Ezran, and Rigran get behind me. I can protect you from the elf," said Claudia while saying that she would protect Irzan made her feel a little silly, all things considered.

"Oh and like we're going to trust you after this" Rigran said sarcastically, "Your father didn't save it. He stole it," said the elf accusingly pointing her sword.

"That's a lie," exclaimed Claudia, "my eyes may be a different color but that doesn't make me blind I can see the evidence right here" Rigran snapped pointing his right short sword at the egg.

"So tell us why is it here if he did save it?" Callum asked, stepping in front of the elf and Witcher, "My father took it to protect us, Callum, so the elves and dragons couldn't use it," said Claudia trying to convince Callum.

Unfortunately Callum was not a fool but just a little slow like Soren but he was quicker on the uptake on a lot of things and it was a poor explanation anyway, "What are you even talking about? How can we use it," asked the elf. "Don't play dumb," exclaimed Claudia. "You know it's a powerful weapon.", "It's not a weapon. It's an egg!" shouted the elf.

"Ezran, don't be afraid. Walk towards me, and if she moves even an inch…" said Claudia performing a lightning spell and readying it. "Aard" Rirgan said, forming his hands into the Witcher sign and a telekinetic blast echoed around the chamber, knocking over Claudia and Callum in the process.

"Come on, we need to get it to its mother," Ezran said, grabbing the egg. The young prince looks at the egg and then the others, not knowing what to do. After looking into the elf's eyes, he can tell that she is on their side.

"Follow me," Ez ordered and that is what the elf did.

Claudia and Callum got back up, Claudia readied another lightning spell with the primal stone in hand, "Don't worry, I won't hit Ez," said Claudia casting her spell but in just a split-second Callum moved her and the lightning hit the ceiling.

Callum grabbed one of the cuffs and clasped one on her wrist, "Callum, what are you doing," asked Claudia. "The right thing. I hope," said Callum running off and taking the primal stone off the floor.

She tried to go after them, but the short length of the chains stopped her. She pulls the right chain twice and is snapped and her right hand is free, but the left is still chained.

She looked around and found a table with a candle. She lights it, pulls a jar of odd powder and sprinkles it to the fire causing it to turn purple. With a chant she blows the candle and black purple fog bellows out from it taking the forms of two wolves going through the bars and going after their target.

"There is something after us," said Callum.

The elf assassin stops, pulls out her swords and sets herself a fighting position while Rigran does the same, short swords at the ready, "Keep running," said the elf, to the Prince's.

After Callum was ahead Ezran feels like something is wrong about heading that direction. "Wait, not that way," said the little prince. "Why not," asked Callum before he hits face first to the wall. "Because it's a dead-end," said Ez stating the obvious.

"So how much do you want to bet for the one who kills their wolf first?" Irzan asked, Rayla looked at him like he was a madman, but looking at him like he was she saw that he knew what he was doing and so to humor him, she accepted the challenge. Once the wolves were in view the elf made the first move hitting both wolves, but it did not work as her blades passed right through.

"Yrden" Rigran invoked, and a circle with ruins on the outside appeared around him as one of the wolves charged at him, and the moment it stepped into the circle it was knocked back and became a solid purple wolf.

Rigran slashed his short swords at the wolf's nose making it scurry back whimpering, Rayla tried slashing at her wolf again only to have the same effect as the first time and pass right through, "how do you-?" She was about to ask when he casts the spell again "hey bastard" he called to the second wolf.

It worked as they tried to attack him and got caught in the trap and turned solid and got cut on the nose just like it's comrade. "How did-?" Rayla stammered, "ydren, a Witcher sign that allows me to make spirits solid"Rigran said.

The wolves however were clearly tougher than they looked as they turned back into purple smoke and any injuries they had vanished and their confidence returned, "short term effective long term not so much" Rayla noted, "looks like we aren't stopping them any time soon" Rigran admitted.

The wolves attacked again and of course Rayla's swords passed right through, the Witcher used Ydren again on both of them, but they just turned back into smoke and healed their injuries.

Callum watching realized that while they could hurt or slow them down they could not stop them permanently, that was when he remembered the wind spell that Claudia had shown him, if they were smoke then perhaps they could be blown away.

Callum drew out the primal stone and wrote the symbol in the air "Aspiro" he said and blew hard, a gust of wind shot through the chamber and the wolves dissipated into nothing.

"You did it" Ezran celebrated, "nice going your first official success" Rigran said, "why did none of you mention he was a mage?" Rayla asked. "Oh no…me? No I'm-I'm not really anything" Callum said modestly, "it's his first time" Rigran said to the elf, "now let's go" the group then hurriedly made their way down the corridors.


At the staircase to king Harrow's room, Viren is ascending the stairs and once he is at the top, he is met face to face with Draavan who was sharpening his sword and pouring more foul smelling liquid on it.

"Viren" The Witcher acknowledged, "Draavan" Viren replied, having a look of defeat on him, the mage who usually had an authoritative and demanding air now looked old and somewhat vulnerable.

"You made up your mind about Harrow's question?" Draavan asked looking at the basket, "yes I have and I decided I want to be at the king's side. I want nothing else but for all three of us together for all time's sake," said Viren, being actually genuine.

"That's a good thing to hear from your mouth" Draavan said but then sighed, "but Taking shortcuts is only going to lead to trouble one way or another, it's his majesty's decision but in my short time here I don't want dark magic to bring its downfall unintentionally"

"I…" Viren said not to be sure if he should defend his art or not, "argh whatever just go in and make your offer, I don't get a say even if it is Blasphemy this is between the two of you" the Witcher said making way for the mage.

Now Soren seeing his father holding the basket he asks, "So, what's in the basket? A bigger moth. "It is something that will help the king when all your swords, steel or silver will fail" Viren said. "Uh, you… You know they can hear you right," asked Soren pointing out the guards next to them. "He knows sir," one guard said nervously.

"I am prepared to do anything to protect the king. Anything. I hope you will understand," Viren said, and they did understand Draavan most of all, he was no longer a killer for coins and he and Viren both wanted the best for the king.


Back to the tunnels the four who had been walking for quite some time and Irzan started to question Ezran's sense of direction. That is when the elf walks up to the prince and orders the prince to give the egg.

"You knocked me out, nearly killed the princes. And we trust you, why?" Rigran asked, The elf gave a wary look and said, "hey you tried to kill me as well. At any rate I need to get to the roof, just trust me."

Rigran scoffed and Callum rolled his eyes, "Right, right. That makes sense." he said sarcastically "Since we go way back. Like that one time, ten minutes ago, when you chased me and Sol through the castle trying to stab me? *laughs* Good Times."

"You might not realize it, but I'm trying to help you. Any moment now, others will be arriving. Others like me," said the elf being serious.

Callum knows what she is talking about, "Assassins."

"I need to show them the egg to stop them. Just give it to me," she ordered.

"Rayla was it?" Rigran asked but didn't give a chance for the elf to answer, "I get it what you are trying to do and I understand the severity of the situation but we do not have our full trust in you yet and besides this is Ez's decision"

After some thought Ezran said, "I'll take you to the roof.".


In the king's room Harrow looks at a picture of his wife sadly while Viren enters the room, "I've given thought to what you said" Viren said, "Oh, have you," said Harrow taking a seat to the closest chair and sharpening his sword. "Then why have you returned with that abomination?"

"Yes, I've brought the soulfang. I have a proposal. Let me explain," offered Viren and the king looked at him. "Go on," Harrow ordered.

Viren sighs and goes up the stairs, "You are my king…but you and Draavan are also my friends.", "Your friends," asked the king. "Yes. Right now, I do not come to you as my king. I think of you…as my brother," said Viren, being insistent.

"I see the problem now. It's that you believe you are special, better than everyone else, above the laws of this Kingdom," said Harrow accusingly.

Viren got scared and said, "That's not what I was trying to say. Please, listen."

"Assassins are coming to murder me tonight, and you're wasting what precious time I have left," spoken the king getting more angered.

"No, Harrow, I-" Viren tried to say, "Stop. How about, "No, Your Highness." In fact, let's try, "Yes, Your Highness" for a change," said Harrow, having had enough. "Oh, are you sure you wouldn't prefer "Your Royal Highness"? "Your Esteemed Inimitable Majesty," perhaps," said Viren, getting riled as well.

"I have tolerated your arrogance for a long time, maybe even encouraged it. But if today is my last day as king, you will know your place," the king being serious.

"And where exactly is that place," asked Viren arrogantly. "Right here," said Harrow pointing his finger to the ground. "On…your…knees."

And so Viren has done that he has taken a knee before the king bowing.

"You are a servant of the kingdom of Katolis. You are a servant," said the king, being true to his word but tonight many things will happen behind closed doors.


Back to the for we see Rayla sneaking around avoiding the guards until she has gotten to a location on top of the walls feeling someone is there.

"You're here. I know you are," said the elf looking at her surroundings. "Rayla," Runaan said, walking towards her. "You defied me."

"Runaan, you need to call off the mission," Rayla begged. "You've lost your mind." Runaan said accusingly. "Please, listen to me. I found something. The egg of the Dragon Prince," said Ralya telling her what saw.

"That's Impossible," said Runnan, flabbergasted by the news.

"The egg wasn't destroyed" Rayla explained "it was stolen. Their High mage was going to use it for dark magic, but the human princes and a 'Witcher' found it and they're only trying to help-".

"No. Humans are liars even if one of them is an alchemist," said Runaan interrupting Rayla. "This is a trick and a trap. You are a fool Rayla."

Rigran stepped out with Callum, "she's not a fool" Callum said, "you may not believe the word of a human but I think tonight you might have a change of opinion" Rigran added, grimly.

"You've made a terrible mistake," said Runaan pulling out his swords while Rigran pulled out his own short swords, "Ez, show him," Callum ordered his little brother.

Ezran stepped out of his hiding spot and showed the egg to the assassin. "It's beautiful," Runaan stammered, unable to believe it. "How can we take vengeance for an act that neve happened? You have to call it off," Rayla begged again.

"Rayla, you know it doesn't work that way. We bound ourselves. There's only one way to release it," said Runaan, "Runaan, please. There has to be another way. This is a miracle, a chance for peace," said Rayla, trying desperately to help him listen to reason.

"The humans struck down the King of the Dragons. Justice will not be denied. Now, give me the egg," demanded Runaan. "You might want to call off the attack otherwise you'll have my master to deal with" Irzan warned, "I believe your people called him the beast in human skin?".

Runaan felt a tremble go through him, that name was only reserved for one and the elves thought he had died of old age long ago, there had been plenty of killing of elves and bounty hunts into Xadia performed by him until the agreement was struck about the borders.

The elves both feared and slightly respected him, "it matters not justice will be done" Runaam said, recovering his wits.

Rayla pulls out her swords and sets herself a fighting stance to not let Runaan near them. "Go she told the others", "screw that I'm sticking around" Rigran said drawing his short swords and readying in a fighting stance with his swords in the backhand position.

"Come on Ez" Callum said as the two made their way away from the battleground. As the clouds part the full moon shows its shine to signal the start of the elves' fight.

"Don't do this," said Runaan, pulling out his swords and turning invisible. "I will kill you.", "Probably," smirked Rayla, turning invisible as well.

Rigran had quite forgotten about the invisibility and so was caught off guard "Oh I forgot about this" Rigran thought regretfully as he was kicked by the invisible Runaam and fell down to the courtyard, luckily the it wasn't a very far way down, a survivable fall for Witchers but it sure hurt like hell.

"Fuck" Rigran groaned, as he stood back up and looked up to see the fight or lack there off since the elves were pretty muchly Invisible. Luckily the Witcher had a remedy for that, he took out one of the many Vials on his person and pulled out the cork and drank it all in one go, it was a potion called De Vries' extract and it would allow him to see that which was unseen.

He stiffened as black veins bulged around his neck and his eyes turned as black as sharks and he growled with teeth bearer for tonight it was time to hunt.


In the courtyard

Callum found a cart of hay and put the young Prince and his pet glow toad into it, "you stay hidden" he told Ezran, "keep the egg safe, I'll tell the king" "Callum why don't you just call him dad?" Ezran asked, poking his head out of the hay.

"Because he's the king and my stepdad," Callum said as an excuse, "I think he would want you to" Ezran argued.

"Right. be right back" Callum said, and ran off, he pushed past the guards in the tower a little bit later, "whoa slow down Step prince" said Soren, "the kings are a little busy at the moment, trying to not die and stuff".

"What's going on here" said Draavan, "you're not stopping me" Callum said to Soren dashing past him only to be blocked by Viren, "you should not be here" Viren said.


Meanwhile the fight between the two elves was still going on, and Runaan being the superior fighter and vice versa, both swords clash together and Runaan was having enough, "your better than this" Runnan said , "not really" Rayla deadpanned, "you've hade twenty more years of training".

"I mean your character" Runaan said in frustration, kicking Rayla back as he jumped back himself forming his blades into a bow and launched an arrow, but another arrow hit it halfway and knocked it away, both Runaan and Rayla turned to where the arrow had come from, it came from the opposite battlements, it was Rigran his eyes pitch blade so black they looked like hollows with black veins around them he looked absolutely terrifying as he readied and arrow in his bow and fired at Runann.

Runann separated his swords and blocked the arrow, "he can see us" he said, "I do not know how that is possible" Rayla admitted, "it shouldn't be" Runann said as he blocked another arrow, Runaan hurriedly jumped down to the courtyard and clambered elegantly up to face the young Witcher, the boy hurriedly holstered his bow and drew his short swords ready for battle, Runann came at him slashing with the left sword.

"Igni" Rigran said invoking the Witcher sign of fire with his hands, a burst of flame shot towards Runaan he stopped dead and jumped back before the flames could get him unfortunately the flames got his right arm and burnt him badly.

Runaan looked at his arm teeth gritted as saw the burns, Rayla appeared next to the Witcher ready for a fight, "your just stalling" Runaan said, "interesting theory care to discuss" Rayla asked, "your justice will come later" Runaan said as he jumped away quicker than anyone could have caught him even if one of them was a Witcher, "fuck" Rigran cursed.


In the tower

"I know what you did. You stole the egg of the Dragon Price. We found it, and we're keeping it safe," said Callum to Viren accusingly. "We?" said Viren, "what?" Dravaan suddenly asked, The king will have you in shackles when he finds out about this," said Callum but Viren has a cool face.

"What makes you so sure he doesn't already know," asked Viren which causes Callum to cower, and Dravaan knew Callum was telling the truth right then and there, "grab him" Viren ordered, "but he's the step prince" Soren protested, "do it" Viren snapped, Callum attempted to run but two guard grabbed him and bring him in front of Viren, "now tell me where is the egg" Viren demanded, "I'll call out. I'll scream," said Callum to get Viren to stop what he is doing.

"Go ahead," said Viren, grabbing something from his robe, crushing it, doing his chant which a green fog is forming. But before the chant could finish a sword flashed in front of Virens face and cut him just to the left of his left eye causing him to drop the hand, as that was what it looked like it was, shocking the guards and Callum.

The sword was from Dravaan, "try a spell and you'll be shitting your guts out of your stomach" Dravaan threatened, "you are a fool Witcher as you always were, i am doing this for humanity" Viren said nursing the cut, it wasn't deep but it stung like hell no doubt some kind of Witcher potion or liquid.

"That prince and your "son" are impudent mongrels. They have been spoiled and given everything…and that has left you both weak and helpless. Tonight, your world is changing, and there is nothing you or anyone can-" Dravaan shot out his hand and used Aard to knock Viren back on his ass and stop his ranting.

"Go boy get the egg to its family" Dravaan said to Callum, "but-" Callum began and then a gust of wind entered the castle and all the flames went out, Dravaan and indeed the others readied themselves for the Elves were here.

"Go" Dravaan said to Callum once more as he took a vile of De Vries' extract himself and his eyes went as black as night just like his apprentices, an arrow shot out from the doorway and hit Soren in the shoulder, he pried it out and examined it before dropping it and drawing his sword.

"Defend the doors" he ordered, and two elves jumped forward looking a little battered possible from the traps, and knocked out the closest guards to them, and unknown numbers of them swarmed into the chamber, all unseen except for Draavan, who slashed at the closest elf and cut deeply into his leg.

Viren did his best to avoid being hit within the symphony of sword clashes and one of the elves assassins got past the guards to try and break down the doors.

"King Harrow," Callum calls out, "Dad," Callum tries again now worrying, "Callum go!" Draavan roared as he beheaded an elf who was distracted by Soren, it was a grizzly sight and The first killed for the humans in this fight.

But The elves were fairing better than the guards and that led to Soren and the guards to be corner, but Draavan was holding his own very well in fact he was handling himself better than either side as he dances from elf to elf slashing at them sometimes unsuccessfully sometimes giving them a nice cut to remember by.

Callum looked out a nearby window to see Rigran, Ezran, Bait and Rayla down in the courtyard and looked up at him.

Callum took one last look before running down to them as quickly as they could.

Callum made it to the courtyard, he was a little out of breath, "Callum, Did you talk with Dad," asked the little prince.

"No I didn't" Callum said looking back up at the tower, All four of them still hear the sounds of swords clashing in the tower. "Say the word and I'll go back into that tower with you," offered Rayla. "No we can't, we need to get the egg back to its home".

"Rigran's right we need to head to Xadia and stop the war" Callum agreed, "And find its mother," said Ez.

"We can change things. We could make a difference," said Rayla. "Just the four of us," said Callum before Bait pops his head giving a croak.

"Uh, five of us," Callum corrected.

Rayla nods to Callum and now the team forged through fate now running to get out the castle. Rayla stops the group waiting for guards to be gone. Once there was no one in sight they pressed forward through the bridge, but they all stopped looking back to the castle giving the final farewell to their home.

"Callum, do you think Dad will be okay," Ezran asks. "He has the finest guards in the kingdom defending him." Callum responded "and he's got Draavan and you know how he can be.".

The young prince let out a little laugh as he knew and Rigran couldn't help having a little spark being lit into his heart at the laugh. But also some guilt for not telling the truth.


Back at the tower, there is Runaan trying to keep balance. He is battered and bruised with some blood dripping from his side he has gotten to the balcony and once there his bind unravels still retaining its silver color Runaan too focused on delivering the message did not look at the bind.

The collapses on to his knees holding the arrow to deliver the message that the king is dead but once he wrapped the bind to the arrow, he sees that is retained it natural color.

"What," surprised and not having enough time to figure it out he continue with the delivery. He said his chant and launched the arrow which it turns into a red fogged bird flying through the sky.

Then a sword swung from behind him and cut off his right arm, Runaan fell to his knees as he looked up to find the battered, bloodied and exhausted Draavan there and then the Witcher fell to the ground out cold exhaustion finally caught up to him with his injuries.

Soren and the guards surrounded him two checking on the Witcher, "Finish this," Runann ordered.

"My pleasure," said Soren, only to be stopped by his sister. "No, We can find a more practical use for this one.," said Claudia, glaring at the elf. "Tie him up." And the guards did so.


Back to the four they are still running with all their might to get as far away from the castle as possible and Rayla slows down. Seeing her bind has fallen off but retained its color shocking the wondering what went wrong but she sees the message is being delivered with the same colored bind so it must mean he is dead but not the spirit somehow.

"What's going on? Something is wrong." Callum asks

"No, it's… we should stop and rest soon. It's a long journey to Xadia," said Rayle, but even with the effects of the De Vries Extract still in effect Rigran saw right through the lie as he looked at the silvery white band around Rayla's wrist and looked at the blood red one on the ground. That will be a topic that he will question her later but now there are other priorities to take care of. Saving the world.