Story 21. Sparks.
Living in the castle for so many years, Gryvon learned a lot. And he tried to learn even more. He compensated the unavailable knowledge perfection with his own stubbornness and striving for this perfection. His character, split into tiny particles that were put together later and polished, became different. As the time passed, Gryvon almost stopped having a sense of fear, considering this emotion as something unwanted and out of color. No, sometimes, of course, he did remember it was there, but only for appearance's sake. However, the very moment Correon appeared at the doorstep of the hall of the Council, dirty, exhausted but alive, and Ashka, almost caught lying, had no better idea but to challenge the Regent, the sense of fear came back. Who could say the old fool, escaping all the obstacles will get free from the Marauders camp? Or that the Spellbinder will remember the Honor Code nobody had thought about for ages?
"Do you understand what you have just done? – Gryvon hissed when they left the hall and shocked Regents behind. - Ashka, it's not a duel with me. Maybe I had been daydreaming once, but Correon won't do it!"
"So you think I had to keep silent while he was talking to the Council about the journals? – the woman stopped suddenly and turned around so Gryvon almost ran into her. - Is it something I had to do?"
"Of course not, but…"
"But what?"
Gryvon sighed.
"Ashka, you have to understand, Correon is very powerful. Some years ago I saw what powerbolts he can generate. Do you want to the Wastelands? Fine. Because in a fair fight you have no chance against him".
"Who said this fight should be fair? – the Spellbinder smiled cunningly. - Gryvon, do you really think I'm such a fool?"
"What are you talking about?" – the young man was surprised.
Looking around in order to prevent their conversation to be witnessed, the woman took his hand and led him to the window.
"About the fight. I don't need a fair duel, - she repeated, - you'll take a small knife and make sure Correon's powersuit play a bad joke on him. You got it?"
He did. And he nodded, agreeing. What choice did he have? Either that, or she won't be a Spellbinder any longer and will be banished. And so will he, very likely. Correon, becoming a winner, will deal shortly with the ones who tried to overthrow him. And the Wastelands… Gryvon didn't want to go to this terrible lifeless desert at all. But he didn't want Ashka to be sent there even more… If they fail nothing will help, this fact was absolutely ruthless in its obviousness.
He took the necessary action, waited for the proper moment, did his best, cutting the wire on Correon's powersuit. No one noticed, neither the Council, nor Correon himself, entering the hall along with Ashka. The duel started…
…As the time passed, Gryvon almost stopped having a sense of fear, but the first powerbolt Correon fired, made him squeeze the balcony handrail with a death grip. This damned hopeless situation they were in… This pride of hers…
The second spark reflected with a shield, made Ashka sway. Taking a step back, the woman touched the duel circle line. Gryvon felt his heart performed a strange somersault and fell somewhere… His grip on the handrail became even stronger…
And then… Then the disheveled wires on the belt of Correon's powersuit finally entered into the action. Understanding nothing, the man looked at his hand, where tiny lightnings were shining chaotically. Gryvon understood that only now he was able to take a breath. He played his role perfectly. All Ashka had to do was just to finish it masterfully…
Nothing interrupted them. Even Paul, appearing out of the blue and shouting about the sabotaged powersuit was helpless. Gryvon smiled, already celebrating their victory and watching Ashka going to the flying ship. Very soon there will be one Regent less. Or more? In a broader sense it was the first time they could take a breath during the last year. The year passed after that story… Well, her dream came true; she became a step closer to the goal. Ironically, it was Correon who was the weakest link in the Council, so it was easier to start from him. And speaking about Gryvon… The young man grinned. There will always be a place for him, next to the Spellbinder, to enjoy her glory beams…
… For quite a long time Gryvon considered the sense of fear as something unwanted and out of color in his emotions armory. But before the day was over the young man realized he was to quick to have such thoughts. No, he didn't have time to get scared, hearing Ashka's screams from the dungeon, he didn't get scared seeing her hanging on the power station grating, where the electric sparks were rushing in their violent dance. In the blink of an eye he put his powersuit off, thinking that normally it would have taken more time, and ran closer. He wasn't scared. At all. And only the endless long seconds when other Apprentices appeared in the dungeon, when he caught the Spellbinder, made Gryvon realize how scared he really had been. Images of all the previous years, when some unpleasant fright hidden inside him showed itself, became now pathetic and colorless. The fright he felt now was prominent and bright. Just some seconds… Gryvon hadn't have any time to think about the situation in the dungeon, he looked at the woman anxiously, and then – at the silent power station. He might have been too late…
It was about Paul and Riana, he had no doubts. Taking several steps of an old stair at a time, he rushed outside. But then he turned around. Ashka was standing several steps lower, with her eyes closed and one hand resting against the wall.
"What happened?" – worried, Gryvon went to her.
"Nothing, - the woman said quickly, - it will be all right soon".
Seeing the Apprentice didn't believe her words, the Spellbinder went upstairs first.
"Gryvon, I can take care of myself, for now we have to catch those two".