It wasn’t just a life-threatening wound that could possibly be saved. Instead, I noticed the sword’s blade to have been coated by a deadly poison. I could see it by the strange tinge of colour the blade had. And I swear, I could almost smell it.
Besides, the poison was so strong it was already eating through the metal and withering the sword. Now it’s coursing through Commander Rowan and I knew the answer to the outcome, even though I didn’t want to admit it to myself.
Terrowin’s lips quivered as he looked upon his dying father. He couldn’t take his eyes off the terrifying amounts of blood welling from the wound – blood now staining his own hands as he tried to cover up the life-threatening wound for his father.
“Father…” he swallowed back the tears, but his levee was only that strong. Their eyes met.
“Father, don’t leave me. I can’t– I– I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for being so stubborn and never listening. Dad, don’t-”
“Terrowin…” Rowan tried saying.
“No. You can’t-” His eyes were red, tears flew down his cheeks.
Rowan doubled over coughed up a lot of blood. Terrowin looked like a hollow shell, his heart sunken down to his very boots. He tried to help his father as rested him in his arms.
“I’m so… proud of you… I… love you,” Rowan said with his last dying breath before his heart stopped.
His death was like a sucker punch to Terrowin and Terrowin burst out into tears. He bent over and hugged his father’s body tremendously close to him, clutching him with a tight, unbreakable grip. Never in my entire life have I seen Terrowin cry.
Never.
Not even the slightest, but this… this was just heart breaking. He truly wept over his father’s death and mourned the loss of the only person he had left. He couldn’t contain himself. All those years of sadness, loss and rage all came pouring out.
It felt like I’ve swallowed a marble. Thomason continued barking out orders and giving a victory speech of how he finally managed to kill the Great Rowan Belanos whilst Terrowin grasped his father’s lifeless body, tears flooding from his eyes.
I sagged down to the ground.
How could I have been so… useless?
“Take him away!” Thomason finally ordered, as cold as can be, “I don’t want to see his face again.”
Two soldiers approached Terrowin from behind and grabbed him by his arms.
They dragged him away to only goodness knows where. For the first time in forever he didn’t fight back. With eyes deeply fixated on his father, he allowed them to carry him away. His legs looked numb and his eyes red with tears. His expression was nonchalant.
No emotion.
He was finally broken.
CHAPTER 33
SON OF THE DEVIL
CARLAYLIN
I TRIED TO BEAR WITH myself. Why the hell didn’t I do anything to stop it?! Now Terrowin’s father is gone. Terrowin is gone. Cassius, Murray… Why does everyone have to go? I can’t stand it!
I sat on the fountain’s stony rim with my face buried in the palm of my hands.
The soldiers had all gone.
It was somewhat serene out here. I could finally take a deep breath, soundly listening to the running water, having a chance to let my heart calm down… though it didn’t help me much. I was absolutely enraged. I was completely depressed. I was horribly… guilty. I felt so… guilty.
The moon’s pale light reflected off the rippling waters of the large fountain, beautifully dancing on its surface.
As I sat, lost in my own grieving moment, there was a gentle voice that spoke rather softly. I heard it calling out my name.
“Carlaylin…”
I was quick to gasp and whip around at the sound of the voice, almost hoping and praying it to be Terrowin.
No, it wasn’t.
Instead, it was a ghost of my past – someone I thought I would never see again.
The moment I saw sight of that tall handsome boy with short thick dark hair, I knew who it was. I stood from the fountain and practically fell backwards at the sight of him, my expression bearing sheer surprise.
Yet, I felt so happy to see him again…
I hopped to my feet.
“Adrian?!” I gasped, somewhat out of breath, “What are you doing here?”
With a faint contented smile, he replied with, “I was invited to the ball. I never knew you were too.”
I thought I was able to answer, but my emotions got the best of me and my gaze gradually sank to the ground as my quick moment’s smile disappeared. I grasped my one arm, finding it rather hard to face him.
As Adrian’s traits would have it he was quick to notice my misery. He stepped closer, gradually and carefully taking me and wrapping me into his arms. I buried my head into his shoulder and allowed his comforting embrace. I didn’t cry, not even a tear, but Rowan’s death was eating me alive.
“Look, this isn’t your fault,” Adrian comforted.
“There’s so much I could’ve done…” I said, thinking back, looking at all the other doors I could’ve taken instead of the easiest one.
“There was nothing, Carlaylin.”
Adrian was being strictly truthful. I could hear it in the tone of his voice, in that confidence of his. I gave a sniff and meekly pulled away.
“I’m sorry,” I continued, feeling a bit bad for including him in my personal problems, “It’s just that the moment Thomason killed the commander, it makes me think of the exact moment he killed my father too. Same person, same ruthless glare in those eyes.”
“Thomason is a loose cannon. There’s not much to do about it. I should know.”
He said that last bit so softly, almost mumbling it to himself. For the moment I decided to drop my sadness, instead pondering on the thought. I grew somewhat more suspicious of him, staring at him with narrowed and inquisitive eyes.
“Wait.” There’s more to this, isn’t there? “Why are you really here? Don’t take this personally, but the king won’t invite just a mere monk.”
“Priest. Father Deodonatus finally promoted me.” Adrian looked quite proud of his new title. I’d cheer him on, too, if I wasn’t so lost in thought. I was quick to pass over his remark with the swift wave of my hand. “Whatever. What are you doing here?”
Adrian was starting to suspect my uneasiness, but as calmly as ever, trying to get the point, he said, “Like I said, I came by invite.”
A silent moment passed before he added a bit more detail to his story.
“And it might probably have something to do with the fact that Thomason is my father,” he said with a soft tone, almost hoping I didn’t hear it, but I heard it clear as day. I had never felt a bigger shock in all my life. It felt as though an arrow hit my heart, somehow causing all the paranoia to rush to my head.
“What?!” I exclaimed, yanking myself out of his arms and shoving him away, half taken aback by the sheer idea of it. I was gaping, probably driven into panic mode.
“I can’t believe it! Get away from me!”
“Carlaylin-” he tried, but I was quick to cut in.
“Don’t Carlaylin me! Do you know how many people I’ve lost because of your father?!”
“You can’t blame me for his actions!”
“No, but you’re his blood. You’ll probably be just as messed up as he is. Besides, I don’t see you doing anything about it!” I struck back, whether it is insulting and highly offensive or not.
It was an open secret that Adrian was fairly disappointed, but he could understand my reaction... even though I now admit it might have been more of an overreaction coming from my side…
He was one of the few people who understood.
He stepped forward and reached a hand out to me, but I pulled away, spluttering, “Don’t-”.
As I hugged myself I kept a frown firmly planted on my face, looking away.
And like an irate little girl I said, “I’m still angry.”
Adrian sighed, really trying his best to con
vince me that he wasn’t like his father.
“I really have no fault in this. You have to believe me.”
He almost had me convinced… The kindness in his voice was too sweet for me to stay mad at him. My expression turned grim and needy as I looked at him once again, “I’m sorry. I just really need a hug.”
And so I received one, being embraced lovingly by a dear old friend. We pulled away.
“I am not my father, Carlaylin. That I can promise you,” said Adrian, as calm as always, yet with a slight sense of grimness hidden within his eyes.
I wanted to believe him, but for good measure I just wanted to make sure before I play myself into the hands of evil. I was sceptical as I gave him that distrustful look.
“You sure you’re not one of those evil priests?”
Adrian did not look amused, not happy at all. I might have started driving him over his limit. Even a calm good-hearted priest (or monk) can only take as much before submitting to anger. I should know, for I have once experienced father Deodonatus myself.
“Sorry,” I apologized, feeling somewhat awful for being so distrustful. I admit, again, that I was completely overreacting.
Adrian gently took hold of my arm and pulled me along to sit on the fountain’s rim next to him. “Look, if it makes you feel any better… I was never completely raised by Thomason. As a child of six he left me at the chapel. He felt it would be safer for me. From his enemies, from him… And so father Deodonatus was more than a mere monk to me. He became an uncle. A father. I was raised in the chapel until I made some bad decisions concerning the law and theft. I’m sure you remember the mines of Santaria?”
I was listening intently with my gaze to the ground, but as he mentioned those mines I replied with a faint smile, “Godforsaken place that.”
“Yes. Been there for two whole years until you freed me. After you and Terrowin had left to guide the bandits away from the chapel, Deodonatus managed to calm down after his… uh… fallout. Everything became so much better after Governor Du Perron was arrested and brought here to Krea, to serve out his days in imprisonment. It appears even his own guards were fed up with him.”
I finally met him eye to eye with a grin. “Good to hear at least something worked out.”
Adrian was just about done with his tale, holding out his hand for me to shake. “We good?” As hesitant as I was to agree, I still felt the need to wander further and say, “Well, you are the son of the devil…” Adrian gave me a smile that clearly stated seriously? in a most playful way.
I chuckled as I finally grabbed his hand and shook it with a firm grip. “Yeah.”
Not long and my frown was back, and so to say my grim thoughts.
“Something’s troubling you,” he said.
I looked up at Adrian with knitted eyebrows. “I’m worried about Terrowin. It pains me to think that I just left like that, no goodbye. And now he’s probably locked up in some dungeon… or worse.”
Adrian’s gaze wandered away. “Like, you mean death?”
I couldn’t help but look at him with complete disbelief, my mouth hanging open. If I was incontinent I wouldn’t be able to control my breathing.
Adrian saw his flaw and tried to make up for it. Rather hesitant and somewhat ashamed he managed to apologize.
“Apologies.”
“I just, don’t know what to do. I still have so many things to do, but I can’t just leave him like this… I don’t even know where he is!”
“Calm yourself. Leave it to me, I’ll find Terrowin.”
I raised my eyebrows and all of a sudden it felt like a heavy burden being lifted from my shoulders. “You’d do that?” I asked, rather relieved.
“Of course, Carlaylin. You continue with whatever you need be and I’ll inform Terrowin once I have located him,” Adrian said with that famous reassuring grin of his.
“Thank you so much, because I really have to get going. Zeldin… he’s giving me a hard time considering time. I have one left to go…”
At this rate I was mostly talking to myself, trailing off from the main topic. Adrian knew about Zeldin, but not about the fires I had to collect in order to stop that bastard. Even though he clearly had no idea what I was blabbering on about, he did say, “I know you’ll get what you’re after. You always do, no matter how impossible.”
“Oh,” I finally remembered, “Can you please do me one more favour? Just one.”
“Of course. Anything. What do you need me to do?”
“Uh, my uncle, Fargo, he lives here in Krea.”
“Oh, you mean the hunter near the dock district?”
“Yes, that’s him. Once you’ve found Terrowin, I need you to send him to go and fetch the others.”
“Others?” Adrian seemed more than surprised, for the last time we encountered, it was only Terrowin and I.
“Nothing to worry about. Look, I just want you to make sure Terrowin knows that I’m off to find Gravis’ fire and that he and the others need to return to Elimor. Oh! And that they shouldn’t come after me. I can handle my own. I have magic. Besides, I just need some alone time for a bit. I can do this on my own.”
Adrian raised his eyebrows alongside a warm, accepting smirk, “Your wishes are my command. I’ll make sure every last bit of that gets through to them.”
“Thank you!” I said, almost with a deep sigh of relief, shaking his hand most gratefully as I let go of the breath I had been holding. It felt as if a great burden had been lifted off my shoulders. All was fine and under control… well, mostly, but you get the idea.
It was almost as though I felt a sense of excitement.
It was a chance to get away from everything that burdened me – a chance to have some me-time for a change. Almost like a vacation, so to say.
Besides, there was a lot I had to think about, and a lot to deal with.
To be honest, if I had a choice, I knew I’d rather want to stay here and find Terrowin myself. There was a lot I had to say, and a lot I had to do, but Zeldin’s plans weren’t exactly giving me the chance or opportunity to freely do so.
I had to go and collect those last few fires before Thorodan could destroy everything we knew…
I was thinking of visiting those old ruins in the jungle to find Gravis, which was completely in my element. I was on the verge of leaping to my feet, but, hesitant of what I should do, I quickly gave Adrian a tight and happy hug before jumping up and taking my leave. I’d change on my way out. There’s no way I was hunting dragon fires with a dress!
All I needed now was the fire of Gravis and Thorelnius, though I had no idea how I could get my hands on Thorelnius’ since he’s gone and probably inside of me… Does that mean I can breathe fire? Nope. Not yet anyways… My fire breath shall be unlocked! But… probably not. No matter, I’d worry about that later. Next up: Earth’s fire.
As I walked away, I noticed Adrian to be staring at me with a faint longing smile. That hug had really lifted his spirit and I could tell that he would stop at nothing to help Terrowin. He would stop at nothing to help me. I knew. I knew… he was in love with me. That much had been clear and I speak the truth, but my heart belonged to another...
Sorry, Adrian, but I guess I’m just more of the serious, loner, hot-headed type.
CHAPTER 34
AN UNDERSIZED PRISON BREAK
TERROWIN
THE COLD OF THE DUNGEON air stung the skin of all these that were held captive. They cried out for help, gasped for some fresh air and a chance to redeem themselves, but Krea’s dungeons were just a step too cruel to allow it.
Heavy armoured boots marched down the stone hallway until approaching the cell at the very end of the dark hallway. The entire lower dungeon grounds were masked in darkness, adorned by the blue tinge of night and blessed by slight rays of moonlight falling in through the barred windows.
I was being dragged down this corridor. I didn’t have the strength to walk or fight back. The moment the Brendwinian guards reached the last cell, probably on
e of the largest, they tossed me inside as though I was no more than a useless sack of nothing.
The guards took the liberty of taking a quick moment to stare at me before taking their leave. I lay with my back turned to them, not even daring to move the moment I had rolled into the cell. I was somewhat curled on the floor. Curled into a sad little ball of melancholy. I wasn’t trying to be spiteful, less so trying to guilt trip them. I just… I mean… It just felt impossible to, impossible to so much as flinch a single muscle. My heart wasn’t broken… It was shredded, thrown away and locked in a cold cell just like I was.
All I wanted to do was to just lie there, and forget about everything. Hiding myself from the world was a cowardly decision, I knew, but I didn’t care. I absolutely didn’t care.
I listened as the guards’ footsteps echoed off into the distance the soon as they slammed the door close with so much force that it almost seemed brutal. There I lay, cold, alone and emotionless on the freezing stone floor, amongst the single strips of straw spread across the cell.
There was no light, not even the single dance of a torch’s flame. There was nothing more than the pale moonlight that lanced down to kiss the floor, not even daring to touch me.
With trembling and feeble hands I tried to push myself to my feet, but managed to crawl towards the hollowed out window instead. The moment I stood, I faltered and fell forward, grabbing the bars of the window, with my face as pale as ever against the moonlight.
I looked out across Krea, seeing the castle standing tall and proud in the distance on the cliff. It still seemed pretty occupied, full of life. I didn’t know what was going on out there, but it sure didn’t look like an evacuation. The lights still flared inside the ballroom in the far, the guests still wandering the castle grounds.
A wild guess.
I swallowed heavily. I tried to force back the tears, but before I knew it, my eyes started watering up and tears ran down my cheeks. My lips quivered and my mind clouded up. All I could think of was my father, his face and the way we used to spend time together in both good and bad.
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