Here is another update for chapter 2. I dont think I'm going to be updating chapter 1 and 2 anymore, I really need to work on more chapters. Thanks for all the supoort and feedback so far!

Reviews are much appreciated, your feedback helps shape the story. Please let me know what you think of A) the story, and B) the writing itself (detailed descriptions, grammar, spelling, is it easy to follow, etc). Enjoy!

Chapter 2:

Wake-up Call

Fenrir woke early in the morning, before the sun had risen. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and stepped out into the crisp morning air. He began collecting his things, knowing he had to keep moving. Suddenly he caught a flash of movement in the corner of his vision. He rolled to the side and whipped around to face his attacker but there was no one there. He had come to assume everything was a threat, and it had kept him safe so far. He steeled his mind in anticipation of a mental attack, while also going through all the spells he knew.

A searing pain shot through his leg. He let out a yelp of agony and looked to see what it was. Wrapped around his right ankle was a barbed rope, its tiny needles piercing his skin. Before he could follow the rope to its thrower, his legs were yanked from beneath him. He released another cry of pain as the needles dug deeper into his flesh. He could hear movement in the trees as his attackers coordinated their attack. At last he caught sight of a white cloaked figure concealed in the branches of a nearby tree.

Fenrir shouted "Kverst", meaning cut, and the rope snapped.

He slipped free and looked back to where he had seen the White Fire Hunter.

Once he found him again, Fenrir yelled "Jierda", break, and the branch that the hunter was crouched on broke, sending him falling to the forest floor.

Fenrir's vision blurred as something hit him hard from the back. He tried to turn and fight but he was hit again from his left. He whipped his leg around in a blind kick. He felt it connect and heard a hard thud as the hunter hit the ground. Fenrir used the brief pause in the assault and whispered a quick healing spell to stop the bleeding in his leg. He heard boots hitting the ground as someone ran towards him. He ran to the soldier he had just defeated and pulled the man's shortsword from its sheath. He slashed at the soldier running towards him and was met with a clang of metal. The soldier snarled at him and tried to slash under Fenrir's guard. Fenrir anticipated the attack and leapt back, narrowly dodging the whistling steel. He immediately countered with a furious stab at the man's stomach. The soldier saw it coming and knocked Fenrir's blade to the right. Fenrir used the momentum to his advantage and spun around to slash at the man's left side. His sword connected with the man's shoulder. Fenrir followed with a slice at the man's neck and ended him mercifully quick.

Fenrir walked towards the soldier he had kicked earlier, who now lay crumpled on the ground. He reached down and lifted the soldier up, propping his limp body against a tree.

Fenrir checked the man's pulse. There was a small heartbeat pulsing in the man's neck, faint but it was life nonetheless.

He's still alive, but just barely. Now's my chance to get a few answers.

After a few minutes, the soldier came to. "Wha- where am I?" the man stuttered, struggling against the ropes Fenrir had tied him with.

"Your attack failed, and you're not going anywhere until you answer a few questions" Fenrir said in his most menacing voice.

He knew most of these soldiers were much older than him, and it would take a lot to intimidate them.

The man's eyes wandered until they focused on Fenrir. He took on a confident look, but Fenrir still saw a hint of fear in his eyes. "I'll do no such thing, mage filth" the man said, spitting at Fenrir.

Fenrir did not take the insult lightly, but he knew these men would not break under physical harm. He also knew they were well trained in defending their minds, so attempting to probe his memories would do no good either. He had to try simple reasoning, which no training could protect a soldier from.

"Mage filth, eh? If mages are the threat you believe they are, why do you take orders from them?" Fenrir questioned, attempting a persuasive tone but not too sure of the effect.

"The Archmages are wise and protect us from those who abuse the power of the Ancient Language" The soldier replied, though he didn't sound confident in his answer.

Fenrir allowed himself a quick smile, glad to see he might be able to seed doubt in the man's mind. Though it was small, this triumph meant he had at least one weapon against the Dominion, and he was elated to have that at least.

"You don't think its wrong for the Archmages to command around normal soldiers like you? It sounds to me like you are nothing but their puppet. You aren't loyal to them, you fear them" Fenrir said, putting emphasis on "fear" and watching the man's reaction.

To Fenrir's surprise, the soldier looked genuinely afraid. Fenrir could see there was something much deeper looming over the soldier.

"N-No, the Archmages are wise, they p-protect us!" the soldier repeated.

"Is that all they tell you?" Fenrir questioned. "Do you know what it is they are doing? Why they send you after mages?" Fenrir paused, letting his words soak in. "They've forced you into an oath haven't they? You couldn't leave their service even if you wanted to" Fenrir continued.

Fenrir was stunned, for the soldier looked to be on the verge of tears. "Y-You're right, I can't leave their service" the soldier wept. No tears escaped his eyes, but his breathing was irregular and he spoke with little confidence.

Fenrir couldn't believe this man was actually crying, though he was glad to have gotten through to him. Still, this kind of reaction meant that there was something seriously wrong with this man.

"But we are not sworn to them" the soldier continued. Fenrir was confused. How could the man not leave their service if he still had his free will? He was about to ask what he meant, when the soldier broke in again. "It's our families. They have our families." Fenrir had not expected this at all. His heart skipped a beat at the revelation. "They tell us if we enlist, our families will be safe. They move our loved ones into a heavily guarded district, but then once they are moved in, they lock us out. They tell us that our families will be perfectly safe as long as we perform our duties well."

Fenrir was surprised. He'd known the White Fire Dominion was harsh, but he never thought they'd resort to something like this.

"Does the Queen know of this?" Fenrir demanded.

The man chuckled solemnly. "Oh, mage, one could fill many libraries with things the Queen does not know" the man replied. There was a darkness in the man's humor that unsettled Fenrir greatly.

Fenrir suddenly felt sorry for the man, knowing he was being forced in the cruelest way. He began to untie him as he told the soldier "if you tell me where they are, I can help you free them" though he had not the slightest idea how he could rescue anyone from a White Fire Citadel.

He couldn't imagine the guilt this man must have felt, leaving his family in the hands of the Dominion. He tried to imagine what it would be like if Evalette or his father were being held, forcing him to capture and kill his fellow man. He saw his father and sister sitting in their prison, White Fire guards watching their every move.

It's barbaric.

The soldier spoke again, tears streaming down his face, "I am sorry mage, but for the good of my family, I cannot return empty-handed."

Then Fenrir saw the man pull a small object out of his pocket, and he took a step back. He'd never seen anything like it. It was a small orb that looked to be made of some kind of metal, with a small lever on the top.

"While I appreciate your concern, my family will not die in your place" the man sighed.

Then there was a deafening roar and a blinding light as the small object he was holding exploded.