“Did you hear the claims, that Dracon has returned,” A man next to the Green Vipers said.
“Yeah, I heard that shit, and that’s just what it is, shit,” Ramus said.
“Yep,” One of the Green Vipers said right away.
“What’s so hard to believe about that?” The man asked.
“If King Dracon was back, it wouldn’t be a rumor. He was not a man to sneak around, he would have returned, circling all Ganlin on his way to Urixis,” Ramus said.
“What do you mean, was?” The Green Viper asked.
“Do I have to spell it out for you? The outer region?” Ramus said shaking his head.
“You don’t think there’s any chance?” The other man asked.
“It’s been two years, I think…” Ramus’s attention was drawn suddenly to the front door, the men at the bar across from him followed his gaze, looking to see what he was looking at. It was Sevum, slinking in unnoticed through the crowd. He and Ramus had locked eyes from across the bar, “Oh, you’ve got a lot of nerve.” He growled just under his breath.
“He’s with us.” One of the Green Vipers said quickly, then tossed a few more coins on the bar for Ramus. He looked at the Green Viper, then at the coins as Sevum made his way to the bar next to the men.
“Where’s Dark Hawk?” Sevum asked, “I’ve got something to sell.” Ramus looked back down at the coins, then slid them off the bar into his hand. Ramus looked again at the Green Viper, who raised his eyebrows and shrugged. Ramus nodded his head to the other end of the bar where the serving girls were putting drinks on trays, to take out to the tables, then started over in that direction. Sevum followed him, making his way through the crowd, meeting Ramus at the far end of the bar furthest from the door. Sevum walked around the edge of the bar to join Ramus behind it.
“You’ve got a lot of balls showing you face in here, Sevum,” Ramus snarled.
“Hey, that was not my fault, I tried to warn him, you want someone to blame, blame those Green Vipers, not me.” Sevum said quickly, trying to keep his voice down.
“They followed you here, what if they come through again? Tonight?” Ramus asked.
“They aren’t following me, they’re following a rumor.” Sevum said. Ramus didn’t know what to say, “Look at this, how much do you think I could get for this?” Sevum pulled out an Amulet of Ayana. Ramus took it from him admiring its craftsmanship.
“Where did you get this?” He asked holding it up in the light. Two of the serving girls stopped in their tracks and gasped looking at it. Ramus spotted them then lowered it quickly, “Get back to work,” He barked. Sevum looked over at the girls, smirking, then raised his eyebrows and nodded. One of the girls paused, smiling back at him, “I said get back to work.” Ramus barked again, she hurried off after that. He looked back to Sevum, “You want a girl for the whole night?”
“For this? No, it’s worth more than that?” Sevum said shaking his head and reaching for the amulet. Ramus held it out of reach.
“Hang on, just a moment,” Ramus said smiling, “Let’s talk some more, that wasn’t my final offer.” He looked at the amulet again, it was warm like someone was just wearing it, he wrapped the chain around his hand inspecting it, “What are you looking to get for this?” he asked. Sevum considered his question while chewing on his own lip.
“Its worth, at the very least, a fist full of gold?” Sevum asked watching Ramus for his reaction. Ramus was unfazed by Sevum’s request, still examining the amulet. “And, a girl for the whole night?” Sevum added, Ramus still didn’t bat an eye, “And, free drinks as long as I’m in town?” Again, Ramus said nothing, “Ramus?” Sevum said trying to get his attention. He took the amulet from Ramus, unwrapping the chain from his hand and replacing it under his vest. Ramus walked away from him, to the center of the bar, then crouched down taking something from under the bar. He came back toward Sevum, calling over one of the girls on his way back to join them. She quickly came over. Ramus handed Sevum a bag of coins.
“Take him up upstairs,” Ramus ordered, she smiled at Sevum, taking his hand. Sevum smiled back at her then looked over at Ramus who slid two mugs of ale over to him. Sevum took the two mugs as the young woman grabbed his elbow and led him upstairs. Ramus was in a daze, and Sevum still had the Amulet of Ayana. It took Ramus a while to act normally again, and by then, he had forgotten all about Sevum and the Amulet of Ayana.
Chapter Thirty-Four
The battlemages returned to the circled wagons, carrying Leonid and Dangelo. Soldiers ran to their injured comrades to assist carrying them to safety. Venalina had already ordered everyone but the soldiers into their carriages. She ordered the men to be brought to the half-made firepit. She examined them, quickly determining that Leonid needed her help first, being most severely injured. Two of Tasar’s men were tending to Leonid and Dangelo. Venalina could tell they were the medics of their unit. She knelt next to the one working on Leonid, gently urging him to let her help.
“My lady, please return to your carriage, it’s not safe out in the open, we are trained to tend to wounds of battle,” he said to her.
“Let me see him,” She said putting her hand on his shoulder, again urging him to move aside. The soldier reluctantly moved aside. Venalina looked over his wounds. His legs were both broken and there was a gash to the bone on his head. Venalina considered whether to heal him or not. Dracon was still out there, battling those creatures, what if he needed her healing? Venalina took a deep breath, then blew at Leonid’s injuries, they healed as she aimed her lips at each of the wounds, blowing gently. Leonid looked at her in awe, then grabbed his legs in disbelief, they no longer felt any pain. Venalina moved over to Dangelo and did the same. The soldiers were extremely thankful. “Where is Dracon?” Venalina asked.
“My lady,” Her battlemage responded, “Lord Dracon went after the creatures, further into the ruins.”
“Ruins?” Venalina asked standing again.
“We discovered ruins, my lady, Lord Dracon took us to investigate, that’s where we were set upon by those gargoyles,” Leonid explained. Venalina looked around the camp as she paced in a circle thinking about what to do. All the carriage windows and doors were filled with the faces of the occupants watching everything from the safety of their carriages.
“Stay close to the carriages, watch the skies,” She ordered then started toward the ruins. The battlemages followed her, hot on her heals.
“My lady, you should stay here,” Dangelo said, “You are a queen, you should be protected.”
“My lady!” Talila yelled from her open carriage door, “Don’t go!” She pleaded. Venalina stopped and glanced back to see Talila, it made her smile at her concern for her. She told the battle mages to wait a moment then walked across the camp to Castien’s daughter’s carriage. She leaned in the door of the carriage, looking around at the girls.
“Stay in the carriage. I’m going to find Lord Dracon,” Venalina ordered.
“No, my lady,” Talila grabbed Venalina’s arm, her sisters joined her in trying to stop Venalina, “Stay with us!” the girls all pleaded.
“I will be fine,” Venalina said trying to reassure the girls, she whispered to them, “This is the world we live in, my sweet darlings, I am from this wild land, I know it well,” They settled down some, but were still agitated and scared, “If you serve me, you will learn why I do not fear the world. Stay calm, don’t let any of these men see you afraid, stay strong, worthy to serve my king,” Venalina put her hand on Talila’s cheek, “The world is full of horrible and terrifying things, never shrink away from it, embrace it, become its mistress! And you will begin to see the beauty in it.” She smiled looking into each of their eyes, one at a time, with a smile that was reassuring to them.
Venalina rejoined her battlemages and hurried through the jungle to the ruins, guided to the last place they saw Dracon. The battlemages spread out in the ruins where they tended to Leonid and Dangelo. Venalina moved about the wall-less structures looking for s
igns of her king. One of the battlemages directed her to the area where Dracon headed off in search of the creatures that assailed them. “Return to the camp, see to the people there.” She commanded.
“My lady, our place is with you, for your protection,” One of the battlemages said.
“You’ve all seen my succession to rise as your queen,” Venalina said looking at them from one to the other, “I am no feeble human girl!” She paused letting them think on her words a moment, “Now, do as I say.” The battlemages bowed then returned to the camp. Venalina turned back to the jungle, where Dracon had gone. She spotted a trail of depressed grass and broken branches, a sign that her bull, Dracon, had barreled through that way, unceremoniously. She shook her head, smirking at his inability to be subtle, or quiet, she imagined. She followed cautiously, listening intently for any sounds of distress or battle. She could only hear a faint whisper on the wind. It chilled her in its familiarity to her, she had heard it before. Venalina quieted her movements magically, hiding any audible evidence of her passage through the jungle, deeper into the ruins. The whisper became louder, yet indecipherable. It sounded like a language she had never heard before, yet had. Venalina came upon a stone wall that once belonged to a building, she put her palm on the wall feeling the rough stone. It seemed to vibrate almost indiscernibly, like some earth quake, miles away made it move. Venalina closed her eyes with her hand still on the wall. Her mind envisioned the past of the ruined city, once grand and very populated by elves. She opened her eyes returning to the present to continue her search. She rounded the edge of the wall to an open area that was once a town square, and there, in its center, a fountain. To her horror, she spotted Dracon, bent over backwards on the edge of the fountain with his head back, helmet removed, and a woman sucking on his neck. Venalina screeched like a wild animal, instinctively inhuman. Something inside her raged and she changed forms without even thinking about it, her species natural reaction took over and she became something else. Wings sprouted from her back, flapping immediately, carrying her at the pair, with speed, fury, and rage. Her legs became taloned claws, and she resembled a giant half raven, half human creature. She flew, claws first, screeching all the way like a predator diving own at her prey on the ground from high above. The woman, looked up from Dracon’s neck at Venalina, flying toward her with deadly intent. She let Dracon slip down to the ground at the base of the fountain, unconscious, limp. The scene enraged Venalina further, her claws sunk into the woman, one on her shoulder and arm, the other on her hip and upper leg. Venalina beat her wings with all her might, in reverse pulling herself and the woman, up and away from Dracon, all the while trying to tear the woman to pieces. The woman screamed in pain, then a light flashed, twice, blinding Venalina momentarily. The woman changed forms, helping her shake free of Venalina’s claws, then dropped the twenty feet back to the ground. She landed hard, with a thud, still unfinished in her transformation. Venalina hovered over her until her sight returned then dove again at the newly formed creature below her, she was now a creature that was covered in hard, armor like scales, still humanoid in nature. It raised its arm at her and a shield was created between the two, Venalina bounced off it hard, almost causing her to fall from the sky. She flew toward the fountain, landing between the creature and Dracon. It spun to face Venalina, still on its knees unable to stand yet. It still held its hand up keeping its shield in place. Venalina hissed and crouched ready to launch another attack, she was animalistic and acted only on instinct. She didn’t even consider her magic; she had become so base and feral. The creature across from her, rose to its feet, returning to its human form. Her hair was long and blonde. She wore a white gown with a flowery tiara on her head. She panted as the two eyed each other saying nothing. Venalina thought to speak, but could only hiss at her, unable to regain her own humanity. A smile slowly overtook the woman, eying Venalina.
“He is your mate, isn’t he?” She said cocking her head, Venalina lost control of herself and doubled her size, then flew at the woman, hitting her shield so hard it made the woman slide backward within the protection of her shield. Venalina, again, bounced off after her attack hovering in the air in front of the woman and her shield. “You are strong!” she admired Venalina’s strength, causing Venalina to again screech at her in anger. The woman laughed at her, “You can have him, sister, I only wanted a taste. You can have what’s left.” The woman whipped her hand in the air and she disappeared in a white wisp. Venalina dropped to the ground becoming her human form as she hit the ground running to Dracon. She slid on her knees, to his side grabbing him up in her arms, cradling his head to look in his face. He had aged years, his hair was white, he was an old man on deaths door. She cried out in agony and anger, pulling him in to her breasts then wept. She caught her breath, still panicked, then steadied herself.
“My love, this will not be our fate!” She said putting her forehead to his, then kissed his lips. Dracon groaned, “Shhh, my love,” She sputtered, weeping, “I can…” she started, her eyes darted around, considering what she could do. Who was that woman? She was like her, feeding on her mate, sucking the very life out of him. What could she do? She thought hard scanning the area as she considered her next move. Venalina whipped her hand above her in a circle hard and fast, the world around them changed. They were suddenly in the temple of the Priests of O’on. The priests in the temple were startled and scurried away from her like rats. She lifted Dracon from the ground easily and placed him on a nearby table. Venalina stuck her hand out at the nearest priest and he slid across the floor, his neck fitting neatly into her hand. She squeezed his throat as she turned her head to face him, “Get me books of spells or taste my wrath!” she said in a low growl. He nodded as best he could and she released him. He ran from the room, she could hear him calling others to his aid.
“Your Imperial Majesty, if I may,” Another priest in the room approached her cautiously. She glanced at him still in a rage and snarling. “What is it you are looking to do? We may be able to help you narrow our search?”
“Restore him!” she yelled and almost fell to a crying whimper, but caught herself, doubling down on her anger and resolution. The priest winced, stepping back a step, “He has been drained, aged!” She again yelled to stop from crying. She panted trying to catch her breath, she turned away from Dracon and began to pace around the table glancing down at him, examining him closely. Venalina was on the edge of transforming uncontrollably, and screeching in her rage. The priest approached the table, also examining Dracon, Venalina watched the priest ready to kill him if he did anything to her love. Of course, he would not, his only desire was to serve his mistress.
He looked at Venalina and could see death for him in her eyes, “I only wish to assist you, your grace,” Venalina relaxed some, “You have all our knowledge, can you not access our texts?” he asked her.
Venalina grabbed her head with both hands, “I cannot think!” She said, “I can’t seem to access any of it, I am not in control of myself! It did not stay with me!” she turned away, walking in a circle next to the table.
“My dark queen, it appears that he has been fed upon, as your kind is known to do,” He pointed out, “Did he displease you? My queen?”
“No!” She shouted at him appalled that he thought she did it to Dracon, “He is my mate! I cannot do this to him!” She said pointing at Dracon.
“I beg your forgiveness, dark goddess, but yes you can,” he said. Venalina paused, stunned silent, “There is much you still don’t know about your kind, I can help you. If the knowledge did to stay with you, you are going to need help?” The priest walked around the table to Venalina, who glared at him as he approached, “If you have not absorbed the texts, it might be because you are not human?” She looked at him curiously, “For a human, it has always been scorched into the mind forever, torturing us, many go mad, but you, my queen,” He said kneeling at her feet, bowing his head, “Your kind wrote the text. Perhaps, because it did not affect you so?”
“Rise,” Venalina said and he obliged her, still bowing his head, “What is your name?” she asked.
“I am called Janouc, your grace,” He said.
“Help me Janouc, and you will be rewarded,” Venalina said.
“I am rewarded by being a service to you, my queen,” he said quickly. Venalina eyed him a moment.
“He was fed upon,” She started, Janouc stepped to the table and looked down at Dracon, “I came upon a woman, in some ruins north of our camp.” He shot her a look.
“The ruins of Uz Grigzun?” Janouc asked.
“I don’t know it,” Venalina said irritated.
“It is dead, there should be nothing there, it was once a city of elves?” Janouc said almost asking.
“I know what it was! It had life, gargoyles and… a Kina,” She snarled, “Like me!”
“I doubt that,” he said smirking, “My lady, you are no Kina.”
“Orist said the same thing, how are you all so sure?” Venalina asked.
“May I?” Janouc walked over to her and asked, she nodded. Janouc reached up to move her hair from the left side of her head, over her ear, “When we first encountered you, we too thought you were a Kina,” He folded her ear, looking closely behind it, “When you first took over, and spent time with us, I noticed this, here,” He moved his finger against the skin behind her ear. She jerked away from his touch, it made her skin crawl to have anyone other than Dracon touch her. He held his hands up, showing her both palms, meaning no offense, “You have the mark of the Vordalyn.”
“How can that be?” Venalina asked in annoyed disbelief, “The Vordalyn have been dead for a thousand years,” She spat at him.
“My lady, forgive me, but we have studied your kind, your magic, your history. It was why the Priests of O’on were formed, to know all there was about the Vordalyn,” Janouc said again bowing his head, “Then kill them.”
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