Chapter 6: ...leads nowhere!

Road to Silverwind
Southerland Forests, Oakenvale
Fridas, 68th of Summerset
POV: Karkat

Walk. Walking. Walked. Still walking. That's all we had done for a thorough 3 hours without rest. Aurius just didn't seem to GET tired. According to Kairo, there where two trolls in Silverwind, two traveling to Silverwind, and one at the Valiant's Castle. And we where going directly to Silverwind. Four birds, one highly messed up stone.

"Is there any way we could stop for the fraction of a minute? We've been walking for hours?"

Aurius turned to me with a look of annoyance. He suddenly stopped, and sat down. Finally, a break.

I sat down, grabbing my water skin. Drinking a swig, I noticed that Aurius looked intently to the left.

"What is it?" I asked

"The only reason we stopped was because we've reached a fork in the road. Two of your people are currently heading down said road." Aurius replied.

And surely enough, as Aurius had predicted, a carriage burst down the road. Following it where 4 black robed men on dark horses. The carriage stopped at Aurius's feet, and he walked to the rear of it, shielding it from the men. The carriage driver, a man in light silver armor, jumped down form his seat, drew his sword, and guarded me.

"Stay here. The Pheonix will handle this." Of course, I completely ignored him. Running, I got a better view of the scene.

One of the robed men approached on his horse. Stopping a meter away from Aurius, he drew his sword and spoke. His voice was chilling, as though all of the void lived within him.

"Human. You hold with you a prize that the Valiant wish dearly. Surrender and no harm will come to you or your compatriots."

Aurius strolled forward. "Under who's authority do you ride in these lands, shade? Your kind are not welcome here."

"Under who do you claim the right to question us?" Roared the shade. At that moment, flames burst across Aurius, transforming his clothes into armor. The armor was dark red, gold, and orange. It looked as though lava and fire actively flowed within it.

"My name is Aurius Veranus Pheonix, God of Fire, commander of the Armies of the West, General of the Flame Legion, brother and loyal servant to the true king of Silverwind, Griffon Tempest. Son to a murdered father, husband to a possessed wife. I am the bringer of hope. Nightmare to you." Well he's an utter badass.

The shade reared his horse, and all four drew their swords as one.

Before any of the could dismount, Aurius created a wall of golden flame guarding me and the carriage. The first shade screamed as it charged at him, weapon drawn forward to impale. Aurius blocked with ease, spinning his sword up, slicing through it. The second and third shades could not strike, they were cut down before they drew their weapons.

"Aurius! Behind you!" I roared. My heart stopped as the last shade, who had managed to get behind him, stabbed him through the chest, and dropped him to the floor.

The golden flame disappeared. And I stood. My heart raced increasingly fast. Karkat. There is a problem. He is dead. And now the shade approached me.

I drew my scythe, putting myself in a guarded stance. The shade knocked me aside. It's strength was astounding. It continued toward the carriage. I knew that soldier didn't stand a chance. Getting up, I roared. Cursing with every word within my mind I charged, focusing all my strength on this one strike. I struck it in the side, and it blocked with its hand. Shit.

My mind grew fuzzy as an explosion of pain erupted from my head. I had been smacked into a tree, 5 meters away. The shade stalked towards me, drawing my own scythe up to finish me off. Out of desperation, I raised my hands, waiting for the end.

It did not come. I looked up in amazement to see a ruby glasslike object protecting me. Some parts where solid, and others where writhing like a serpent. I pushed forward, and the glass shattered, sending the shards into the shade. It screamed and dissipated. The crystalline liquid also disappeared.

I didn't have time to wonder what it was. I ran to Aurius' side. But to my surprise, he was glowing. Slowly turning to ash. As soon as he had completed, the ash burst into flame, and his body with armor returned. He no longer had a wound. His eyes opened, and he shot up. He drew his sword, only to see the shade dead.

"How... Only a fully trained spell-blade could have defeated that shade."

He kneeled, examining a small portion of the crystalline liquid. He tasted it, then spat it out.

"Blood." He said.

My thoughts turned immediately to the arcane. But Aurius simply grabbed my wrist, and put his arm across my veins. Within it showed the color of my blood. Before I could pull away, his powers pierced further. And there was the strange power. A crystalline blood. My blood, by combined with power, making it crimson in color. My power.

"Karkat. You control blood. You are one of us."

From behind him, a man in silver armor and blonde hair stepped out of the carriage. He had listened to the conversation.

"Alterian, knight of blood, welcome. Welcome to the Unsung."

"Brother." Aurius replied to the man.

"Aurius. It's been too long. I take it you will return." Asked the blonde man.

"Griffon, you know why I stand aside. I cannot help you. I will not help you."

Griffon turned and looked at his brother. The expression was pity. In its finest form. And Aurius expressed a thorough hatred toward the sentiment. His rage diminished almost instantly.

"I have my job, you have..." He was looking at the carriage.

Vriska had just exited it. I was quite surprised to see her completely healed. And alive.

"Aurius. We cannot keep pretending that you don't have a responsibility! When general Cyphus died and promoted you to General of the Legion, my ranks where dissolved. We need you back."

Aurius looked his brother in the eyes. Griffon suddenly gave him a look of utter exasperation, and turned around.

While looking at the ground, Griffon spoke. "At least come with us for the time being."

Aurius dawned his cowl, and jumped aboard the carriage.

I was confused. Why did Aurius have such hatred toward his brother's attitude?

I followed Aurius. Vriska started to talk, but I muted her out. I didn't have time for her attitude.

She sat in the back with Nepeta, who I also ignored. I was just not in the mood. But before I could go and talk to Aurius about the plan, Griffon pulled me aside.

"I need you to give me a description of the trolls we have here."

"Why the fuck would I do that? I don't just hand out résumés about my attitude."

"I need to know if anyone here would betray us!"

"Ok, Ok. Don't your panties in a knot. Nepeta is just... Well... Animalistic. And she is too innocent. Vriska is a bitch. She would betray us if it benefited her. I, well, I'm a pissed off psychotic bastard who will just as easily help you as rip your head off. So don't mess with me, you ungrateful peace of shit!"

Griffon's face was priceless. It looked like he had been smacked. He turned without a word, and sat down. I went to the back of the cart to join Aurius and Nepeta. He looked at me with a thankful eye. He knew what I said was about him. Nepeta turned to me and began to talk. I wanted to mute her out, but I couldn't bring myself to be so rude.

"Are you ok, Karkat? You look a little angry."

I wanted to tear through her. Chew her out for her stupidity. But I was tired. Very tired. Almost...

The last thing I heard was Aurius yelling in surprise, as darkness consumed me.