Chapter 12:betrayal and spears

1,002 years ago

Zaird, the starbind elf and Hainn stood over a grave in the lava lands near the great sun forge elf city, behind them a group of people, some fallen star ins elves and others human warriors for hire placed the heart of a magma Titan into a cart.

"He was a brave man" Ziard said, "yes he did what he did for his land" Agreed the Starbind elf, "not just that but also a way to successfully test our new magic", "a fertility spell as our first test, this will prove the power of dark magic" Ziard said.

"Go I will catch up" Hainn said, the two nodded and they set off to their horses, Hainn simple bent down to his friends grave, a fine warrior, a good man, but his soul was not at rest, in fact it would not be for a long while, perhaps never, but it needed to be settled for now.

"Now, I will call you to the hunt when I need you, my old friend," said Hainn as he placed an Alder folk medallion onto the grave and covered it with dirt. He then hopped on his horse Azazel and he and the group galloped off to the human lands.


Castle of katalis present day

Viren was looking at some kind of study or office through the mirror, he sat in his chair staring at it with a candle attached to the chair


The nexus

Sleep didn't come easy for anyone, pretty much everyone knew about the king's death, all except for Ezran, Callum had been angry at Rayla about it but it was for the reason that she didn't tell them sooner than anything else.

"And you knew Rigran?" Callum said angrily to the Witcher the next morning while he was sitting on a Bench with Rayla, "it was her burden not mine" Rigran protested with a slight growl in his voice, "believe me I just wanted to tell you and get it out or at the least use Axii to convince her but I didn't because it was her burden along".

Rayla flinched, Callum sighed wearily, "how's Ezran taking the news?" Rigran asked, "I couldn't tell him," Callum admitted, Rayla bit her lip "Callum" Rayla spoke, Emotions weren't really her thing. Frankly, it seemed like another thing the human mage could do better than her. But, right now…he wasn't going to be any help.

"And I understand why you couldn't tell me," the elder brother added, looking at her. "When you care about someone it's hard to hurt them. Even when what you're telling them is the truth."

"I still should've told you. You had the right to know," Rayla sighed.

"I think maybe I did know," Callum confessed. "Deep down, you know? I just hoped that if I didn't think about it maybe somehow it wouldn't be true. But he's gone," he choked on a sob, "he's really gone."

"Things got worse from there" Kaja said walking up to them with Walter, "worse? how worse?" Callum asked, "the bastard Viren made a power grab for the throne claiming you and your brother were dead if it weren't for Amaya. I think he might have had that crown on his head a long time ago" Walter explained.

They all signed wearily, "the good news about that is that until Ezran returns to take the throne it stays empty" Kaja said, "and what's the bad news?" Rayla asked, "the bad news is that if he tried to gain power once he will try it again" Walter said, shooting a dark look at Soren and Claudia who were talking a little bit away.

Snake who was also nearby caught his gaze and he glared at them with his yellow cat-like eyes, they all flinched and began avoiding his gaze. Snake most likely knew of their suspicions at this point and he had a job to do. And a member of the school of the viper always got the job done.


Castle of katalis

Viren had fallen asleep while watching the room but he woke up now and he saw that the fireplace in the room was now ablaze with a fire, the angle of the mirrors vision shifted and he saw a hooded figure walk through the door.

Viren pinched his tires eyes trying to concentrate as he watched the figure look at a book, the figure then walked back out the door, "no no no" Viren said desperately but the figure could not hear him as he left. Viren sighed in frustration, "who are you?" He asked.


Nexus

"Well maybe Soren was also trying to protect our feelings" Callum suggested, they were trying to figure out why Soren had lied, "you do know he's not the type right? Or have you not been paying attention to him all these years?" Rigran asked face palming.

"Yeah you're right" Callum admitted, "we don't have a choice, we have to leave now and get as far away from them" Rayla said, "Whoa, wait, but they're still our friends," Callum protested.

"But they lied to you," Rayla reminded. "Soren lied to me, Claudia told me the truth.", "I may trust Claudia more than Soren but we should still leave and get as far away from them regardless" Kaja said, "Walters already packing up with Ezran" Rigran nodded in agreement.

"Look we can't just leave like that" said Callum, "Leave?" a familiar voice asked, it was Claudia waking up with Soren, "yeah sorry but we've decided we are leaving, today" Callum said, "the quicker we get the dragon prince to his mother the quicker we can get this war over" Kaja added.

"You sure?" Soren started. "Cause your dad is—", "oh fuck off Soren you know there father is dead they know so stop being an Ass about it" Rigran snapped.

There was a tense Silence

"Well, Callum, there's something I want to give you, in private," Claudia chuckled nervously, breaking the tense silence.

"Oh, uh sure," Callum smiled following after the mage leaving Rayla, Kaja and Rigran alone with Soren. "Be right back!".


"Come on Zym! You love it there as an egg!" Ezran called chasing the dragon hatchling around the room, trying and failing to get him to go in the bag. "I think he has more opinions about that now" Kaja commented with a chuckle, Bait grunted and called in, "neither of you are helping." Ezran snapped.

The door opened and Callum walked in. "Let me guess," Rayla began, "the moment we left she tried to manipulate you and convince you to go home again."

"No she didn't," Callum smirked, picking up his bag. "In fact, Claudia understands the importance of getting Zym back to Xadia.", "Oh…that's surprising, but good." Rayla admitted,

Callm nodded a wide smile crossing his face. "In fact she understands it so well that she, Snake and Soren want to come with us!"

"What?!" the elf exclaimed springing to her feet. "That's the worst possible plan!", "How? They're offering to help?" Callum said.

"Or it's a trap" Rayla said, Callum sighed and turned away back to packing, "look Callum I know you trust and in honesty I want to trust them as well but Walter is Saying that Snake has been acting odd lately, disappearing off in the general direction we are planning on heading in" Kaja states, "your siding with her?" Callum asked.

"Look Callum," Rigran said gently, standing up from his sitting position and putting his tomahawk away as he had been sharpening it. "I don't want to choose between friends either but this mission is really important and the fact remains that they have been acting odd, if we want to finish our mission then we will have to or lose everything".

Taking their words into consideration, Callum sighed. As much as he hated to say it, they might have a point. "So then, what do we do? How can we figure out if it's help or a trap?" He asked.

That was a good question, but Then Walter entered the room, "glad you lot came to an agreement and about time to but don't worry I have a plan" He said a little melodramatic, "have you been eavesdropping?" Kaja asked, seeming a little offended, "yes," Walter admitted as Zym ran between his legs and Ezran chased after him.

"But the important thing is that I have a plan and it includes this" Walter said, bringing out the medallion that Ava had used to keep her leg illusion active.


"Where are Callum and Ezran?" Claudia asked, as she joined Rayla, Lujanna, Eliss and Ava, Rigran and Kaja, "They'll be alone soon, Ezran's just packing up the dragon," Rayla replied.

"It's been a pleasure to have you all here," Lujanne mused, "I truly have enjoyed you all sneaking past my defenses and desecrating this sacred place these past few days."

"Maybe I'll come back and see about some fire magic spells" Kaja suggested, Lujanna smiled, "I may not be a fire mag but I'll be happy to" she said, "It will be lonely, quiet, but lonely without you."

"I'll miss you so much!" Ellis exclaimed, running forwards and hugging the mage's legs.

"Ellis, you will always be welcome here," the moon mage reassured, patting her head. Eva barked, causing her to chuckle as she rubbed behind the wolf's ears.

"And you two little one," she pulled out the collar, fastening back to the wolf's neck, "I doubt you need the illusion anymore, but at least you can have this as a reminder that someone's always watching out for you."

She then turned to Rigran, "tell Dravaan I said hi and that his apprentice got past the illusions better than he did" she said with a look that seemed somewhere between a scowl and a smile.

"Will do and I'll make sure he doesn't hear the end of it if that is the case" Rigran said back, Callum and Ezran arrived at that moment, "well everyone's here so let's hit the road" Rayla said.

"Snake and Walter are going to meet us along the way he has been scouting ahead" Claudia said, "good at least we won't have any surprises" Rigran said. "Yay, time to go to the magical land and do whatever," Soren drawled as he got up and stretched.


They meet Walter first on the road as the sun began to set they later met Snake and they continue walking down the path, Claudia and Soren fell a bit behind, to talk, "so we can do this the Soren way now right?" Soren asked.

"Yes" Claudia said, wincing a little, "there's no other way", "good then when the time is right, I'll give the signal" Soren said, "what's the signal?" Claudia asked, but it turned out he was wrong as it was Snake who gave the signal.

"It's going to be a long journey" Rayla said, as she began going around a corner "let me just go around this bush corner and find some…" a bear trap snapped shut on Rayla's leg as she.

Everyone recoiled as Rayla howled in pain and in one fluid movement Snake drew his sickle and slashed it Across Rayla's neck, Rayla fell to the ground dead blood pouring from her neck, the blow had been so vicious it had nearly decapitated her, Snake then quicker than anyone thought he could move drew a Kukri knife and threw at at Kaja.

It hit her dead in the side, "Kaja!" Rigran exclaimed racing over to help her as she slunk to her knees withering in pain, "Now!" Snake called out.

Claudia's reaction had been slightly delayed by the shock of this unexpected move but she nevertheless raised her hands in the air and uttered a chant.

The bracelets on her wrist came to life, and two glowing snakes fell to the ground. Hissing, the two serpents slithered towards the Prince's and slithered around them tying them up. Soren meanwhile got into a duel with Walter, "traitor" he said to Soren drawing his sword from his cane.

Rigran slashed at Snake with his short swords, genuinely angry, "you'll pay for that" he hissed, Snake's face remained stone as his sickles drew sparks of the swords when they connected.

Zym tried to run but Claudia got in front of him with a sack ready, "sorry little guy but you need to come with me" she said generally regretfully as she threw the bag over the small dragon.


Castle of katalis

Viren watched the hooded figure once again enter the room, the figure stopped in the centre of the room before turning to the mirror and Viren saw it was a starbind elf, the night blue skin and star-like detailing made it obvious.

The elf looked at Viren, Viren waved at the elf and the elf raised its hand as well before adjusting his cloak, "oh you can't see me" Viren realised, to the elf the mirror was just that, a mirror.


Walter blocked a slash of Sorens who kicked him back and then sent a stab, Walter sidestepped out of the way and the blade went into a nearby tree stump, Soren drew the blade out just in time to block a slash from Walter.

"So Viren is doing another power grab. Why am I not surprised you two would be on it?" Walter asked as he got into a sword lock with Soren, "we are doing what we need to for humanity" Soren argued even if he didn't entirely felt the part.

Meanwhile Snake had to admit that Rigran was well trained he had even manage to cut him across his back, "your footworks on point" Snake said, as he slashed with both his sickles, "your defence is strong but you need to be a bit faster than you are now" he emphasised this point by dodging out of the way of a stab and cut Rigran across his upper arm.

Rigran winced and clutched his arm in pain, he renewed his vigor as he fought the viper Witcher.

Claudia meanwhile was looking at Rayla's corpse sympathetically, "is this really what you wanted?" Kaja demanded hatefully as she drew out the dagger, tore a strip of clothing to bind the wound until it healed and focused her fire magic on healing herself.

Claudia looked very sorry for herself as this was not what she wanted at all but she knew that desperate times called for desperate measures but she still turned, regretfully, to the princes and put the bag down and spoke to the tied up prince, "I'm sorry" she said regretfully, "I know this is a betrayal, but I can't let you go, I have to take you back home".

Neither boy responded, their expressions seemed almost neutral, "don't give me the silent treatment please" she begged, she looked at both boys and her eyes widened in realisation.

"Soren, Snake this is a trick" she called to her partners, "a trick? Why would we do something like that?" Walter said sarcastically, Soren thought for a moment then caught on, "sarcasm" he said triumphantly, Walter only gave him a deadpanned look.

"What did you do?" Snake demanded Rigran, Rigran in response whistled, there was a bark and Eliss and Ava jumped out from nowhere, "moonstone collar trick" Eliss said removing the collar and its magic dissipated.

Claudia watched as first Rayla's corpse disappeared, and then Callum and finally Ezrans chained up bodies.

The chains fell uselessly to the floor, "there illusions" Claudia said in shock, "what? You mean they're not real?" Soren demands, "that's what illusions mean Soren" Claudia snapped in frustration. "Fooled yah" Kaja quipped chuckling and standing up despite the pain still in her side.

Eliss giggled, and both her and Ava howled, Soren in frustration lunged at them, but Ava was too fast, "not even close" Eliss teased Soren missed again, "haha" she taunted and Soren missed again.

"Where is the real princess?" Soren demands, "just look up" Walter said leaning on his sword and pointing up, to Sorens amazement Phi-phi appeared in a flash of light with the prince's, And on her back, she swooped, "there getting away" Soren said as Phi phi swooped down and Rigran, grabbing the still slightly injured Kaja and jumped onto the moon pheonix back.

"No no there not" Claudia said, she began invoking a spell, Violet-red fire emerged all around her as flames crawled on her arms. Sending the magic out, flame turned into what appeared to be a violet and yellow tentacle, which wrapped around the phoenix and its riders, dragging them back towards the ground.

"Claudia! Please! Don't do this!" Callum pleaded. Walter was too busy fighting Soren to be of any help, Ava and Eliss could only watch in horror, Snake smirked, Kaja formed a fireball in hand and sent it at Claudia but the violet red fire around Claudia cancelled out the spell.

On the ground, another figure appeared, throwing out a chain. It wrapped around Claudia's wrist, and the new man pulled the mage back, causing her to drop the source of her magic, ending the spell. "What're you doing?!"

"Defend them from you!" Said Corvus as that was who it was, Soren came up behind him. But Walter Shoulder charged him and sent him spawling to the floor, "good to see you Corvus I see you were the one Amaya hired" said Walter pleasingly, "thanks" Corvus said to Walter.

The two had been on many hunts together, but they usually worked separately and Walter was only a part time hunter.

Phi-phi flew away, taking them away from the Nexus and their former friends. "You were right," Callum sighed. "I wish we weren't," Rayla apologized. But you needed to know the truth."


Back on the ground the four readied for a fight but Snake had other ideas, looking up he saw Eliss and Ava waving goodbye to her friends, "goodbye I'll miss you guys don't you forget about me" she was yelling.

Snake threw a kukri at her, the curved knife spun through the air Eliss turned in the nick of time to be slashed and crossed her left eye, she fell off Ava, half blind now and holding her bleeding left eye.

Snake advanced on her, Ava bravely lept at Snake but he grabbed the wolf and used the moment to slam her to the ground, he picked up Eliss by the scruff of her neck and then returned to the stand off between the four.

"Drop your weapons or she gets it" he hissed, everyone's eyes widened when they saw Snake holding the whimpering child with a sickle to her throat and the Gaul to have blind her. Walter and Corvus reluctantly dropped their weapons. Soren knocked both of them out with swift hits to the back of the heads with a rock.

Castle of katalis

Viren watched the mirror with one hand to his chin, the elf was reading a book of some kind and he magically put out the fire of the candles and made his way to the door of the room.

But then he stopped and turned to Viren who shot up in the sudden realization that the elf could see him after all. The elf magically put out the fireplace with a wave of his hand and held it in his hand before putting it out.

Viren squinted closer and closer to the mirror trying to see and a four digit hand pressed against the glass of the mirror, Viren gasped.


Back in the forest

Soren, Snake and Claudia had successfully tied up Corvus and Walter, Snake dropped Eliss, "go and do not follow" he ordered, Eliss quickly got back on Ava and the two rode away, "you know you're gonna pay for these traitors" Soren said.

"Traitor?" Corvus said accusingly, "I was sent by general Amaya to protect the Prince's of Katalis and you just tried to kidnap them". "Everyone who votes Corvus is a traitor raises their hand" Soren said raising his own hand, Claudia sighed and raised her own hand.

"Uh snake we need a tie breaker" Soren said to the Witcher, Snake remained quiet, Soren sighed, "you're a traitor no matter what the vote is anyway", he then put a gag in Corvus and then Walters mouth.

"Now that that's down" Claudia said then punched Snake in the jaw, she had a stronger punch then she would have let on, Soren winced as she balled out the Witcher, "the hell were you thinking?!" She demanded furiously.

"How many bear traps did you have?! You could have taken someone's legs off Elf or not. not that it would have mattered seeing as you were willing to kill her and then you needlessly injured Kaja, our friend, and then tried to kill Rigran!" She yelled.

"We were told to bring the prince's home, anyone else was off no convenience," Snake said coldly, "as for the bear trap we'll have accidents to happen in the wild, dangerous accidents".

Soren was caught off guard as the Witcher looked at him when he said that Claudia turned on him, "what is he talking about?" She demanded, "uh I don't know" Soren lied.

"Well it doesn't matter anymore anyway because it was all for nothing!" Claudia yelled, "not entirely" Soren said going over to the bag which had the dragon prince in it, "we still have the dragon prince" he opened the bag and a swarm of moon moths flew out and into his face.

"Uh disgusting?!" He exclaimed as he tried swiping at them with his sword to no effect at all.


Border of Xadia

Thunder flashed as Hainn rode along the rocky terrain of the border of Xadia, a shadow passed over him as his horse galloped around, a fireball from above narrowly missed him. He had been at this battle for days on end without stopping, he was holding the dragon spear in one hand as he hadn't used it yet.

However the shadow flew over him and down into a deep dip in the land that formed a steep cliff, Hainn stopped his horse feet away from the edge, for a long while there was nothing but the snort of his horse and the echoes of thunder above, finally from the cliff rose a giant dragon a dragon that dwarfs all other dragons.

A golden dragon with a massive red scar covering his blind eyes, the dragon roared as he new victory was certain, Azazel reared up and charged at the dragon, The dragon readied the final fiery breath that would end this blight.

Hainn stood on the saddle and just as the fire came his horse maneuvered around and Hainn jumped and disappeared as his horse ran out of the path of the fire.

The dragon stopped the storm of fire and sniffed his ears sharp as he tried to find a trace of the pest, he was not on his horse, he had leapt into the fire, the blight was dead, good riddance to that armored human thinking he could beat a dragon as mighty as him.

Hainn then reappeared mid air and plunged the spear deep into the dragon's chest, the dragon howled in agony as Hainn pushed the spear deeper into the chest, the dragon thrashed about wildly, pain coursing through him at a skull not possible from such a tiny pin.

The dragon flew up back to his home, thrashing and Writhing in pain in his chest, Hainn let go and landed on his horses saddle, the two stopped and watched the dragon struggle as he flew back.

"It may take longer but it'll kill him, it always kills them eventually" Hainn said, patting his horse and praising it for its bravery and loyalty, together the two set off back to Katalis, soon the fall of Sol regem would be heard and the elves would fear.