by Ben Hale
She smiled, the expression wonderfully sickening on her diseased features. “My plague is yours to command.”
She turned and ascended the steps, and Draeken listened to the cries from the guards above, pleased by the sweet melody. He did not notice Serak standing near the Gate, or his expression. Rather than triumph or pride at his creation, a different emotion flickered on his features.
Regret.
Chapter 26: Betrayal
Draeken basked in the sensation of riding a giant dragon, the beast soaring above the landscape like a god. He had no allusions to Gorewrathian’s allegiance. The dragon would obey until the moment he saw a chance to retaliate, and in that moment Draeken would have to kill the beast. But for now, he relished the wind on his face astride the king of dragons.
Behind and lower, Serak rode his own mount. Draeken caught several lingering looks from the Father of Guardians, but ignored them. Serak would learn their destination when they arrived. Draeken fleetingly considered if his plan was sound, but discarded the doubt. He’d seen the truth in Serak’s gaze after the battle at Xshaltheria, and the horror on his face had been unmistakable. Serak had raised Draeken to his position and called him master, but he would not remain a servant for long.
Draeken spotted their destination and directed the great red dragon downward. The beast did as ordered, but his mind conveyed an air of seething hatred. Draeken smiled, pleased that the king of dragons knew his place.
They passed through giant peaks and descended into a hidden valley, a shelf of rock surrounded by mountains. A great chasm marked the east side of the city, one surviving bridge reaching to the opposite side, where a canyon cut through the mountains, the narrow passage the only point of ingress to the ruins. Once a mighty fortress, the city had long since fallen to decay.
Verisith.
The city had inspired wonder and mystery among all nations, the stronghold at the heart of the powerful guild of Verinai. Few non-Verinai ever set foot in the city, and fewer still survived to speak of their experience. Since the fall of the Verinai, many had sought its secrets, but none returned, the adventurers falling to the hands of the guardians still tethered to the city foundations. None were as strong as Draeken or Serak, but they were powerful enough to protect the city. Even if they were going mad.
“Why are we coming here?” Serak called as they landed.
The two dragons alighted on the city battlements that overlooked the gorge. Draeken dropped from Gorewrathian’s neck and surveyed the decaying city, a small smile on his features. He recalled exploring its alleys and buildings as the fragment of Shadow, relishing the dark recesses.
Verisith was just a few miles from Cloudy Vale, the place where the fragments had spent the bulk of their youth, and where Draeken recalled so many memories. The fragments remembered the Vale with fondness, but Draeken remembered the Vale as his prison.
“There is one secret we must unearth.” Draeken strode to the stairs and pointed to the keep at the back of the city. “It lies within Elsin’s own chambers.”
Serak’s eyes clouded at the mention of Elsin, and Draeken turned away so Serak would not see his smile. The fragment of Mind had discovered a great deal about Elsin, and her relationship to Serak. The woman had been guildmaster of the Verinai, brought Serak to Lumineia, and turned him into the Father of Guardians. She’d also spent much of her life experimenting with magic, creating numerous spells that many of the guilds still feared.
Draeken descended the steps of the battlements and advanced up the main throughway of the city, marveling at how he’d feared the denizens in his youth. The guardians had been forged from beast and man with various magics. As Shadow, he’d escaped their clutches on countless occasions. Light had disliked the ruins, while Fire had occasionally tested his mettle against the guardians. Now, Draeken walked among the legacy of the Verinai, and knew that he was the greatest.
He advanced up the center of the road, unhurried. One guardian barred the way, a man imbued with the magic of fire. The statue turned to flesh as Draeken and Serak approached, and fire spilled into his hands. Then he caught sight of Draeken and did not strike. Draeken smiled as he passed the guardian, and it turned back to stone. Even they sensed his superiority.
“What do we seek?” Serak asked.
“Did you know that I was originally bonded to a human youth?” Draeken asked.
“I know everything about you,” Serak replied.
“Elsin was the boy’s mother,” Draeken continued as if he had not heard. “I have a few scattered memories of him and know what Elsin looked like. What was most vivid in those child’s memories was Elsin’s determination.”
“It was her defining characteristic,” Serak said.
Draeken swept a hand to the ruins of Verisith. “This city is a testament to her greatest triumph, the power of the guild of Verinai, and her greatest failure, believing she was invulnerable.”
“It was not her fault she failed,” Serak said. “She fought against Elenyr, the most powerful oracle in ages, perhaps in our entire history.”
Draeken flew them up the face of the keep, elevating to enter through a windows on the fifth floor. From there he made his way to the stairs where he ascended to Elsin’s private office. The keep had been carved directly from the cliff face, with the base level a great, open hall. The second hall also contained large windows and a wide promenade, a place for receiving kings and dignitaries. Vines now grew across the ground, and dust and grime coated the surfaces.
Above the halls, the rooms were split, with the front chambers overlooking the city, and the rear chambers set inside the mountain, the windowless rooms providing a secure place for masters to teach apprentices more damaging magic. A corridor separated the back and front sides of the keep, and Draeken led Serak to its topmost level.
Passing the once elegant bedchamber that had belonged to Guildmaster Elsin, Draeken stepped to the office. He swung the door open and came to a halt, where he surveyed the chamber. A desk sat at the back, and a handful of books were placed neatly on a shelf. Paintings had once graced the walls but they were covered in dust and grime, the images worn away. He stepped to one of the paintings and caught the latch, swinging the secret door open.
Draeken advanced down the dark corridor. Light orbs had long since gone dark, so he gestured upward, infusing them with light. Serak strode in his wake, his step hesitant, reserved, but he did not again ask about their purpose.
Draeken reached the chamber at the end and breathed deep of the cool air. Bowl shaped on the ceiling and flat across the floor, the circular room contained a large hole at the center. An enormous sphere of swirling water hovered above the hole, perpetually fed by four small waterfalls trickling down from above.
“The room where you were created,” Serak said, coming to a halt at his side.
“And the one where you professed your love to Elsin,” he replied.
“What secrets lie in here?” Serak asked.
Draeken advanced to the sphere of magic and gazed upward, recalling the moment he was separated from the boy, the first time a guardian had been parted from the flesh that had been its host.
“The secret was not present before,” Draeken said.
“I don’t understand,” Serak replied. “I thought you said it was here.”
“It is,” Draeken said, and turned to Serak. “It just arrived.”
Serak stared at him, and understanding ignited in his eyes. “You think I have kept a secret from you?”
“Of course,” Draeken replied.
“Master,” Serak scoffed, “I created you. I will forever be your most loyal servant.”
“Even when I do not follow your plan?”
A touch of doubt appeared in Serak’s eyes as he shook his head. “I serve you.”
“Even when I use the fiends to destroy the people of Lumineia?”
“Always.”
Serak retreated as Draeken began to advance. “Even when I want to conquer the kingdoms of
Lumineia and become their king?”
“You are my master,” Serak insisted.
Draeken chuckled, the sound echoing in the confines of the chamber, a dark reminder that Draeken knew the truth. Serak swallowed and looked away, unable to hold Draeken’s gaze. Then suddenly his jaw clenched and he came to a halt.
“I did everything for you,” he growled. “Everything. I prepared the Gate and manipulated the fragments to Blackwell Keep, trapped them so you could become the fragment of Power. I studied and learned, built an Order for thousands of years to bring about a singular opportunity, the chance to protect Lumineia from the Krey Empire.”
“You assumed I would want what you desired,” Draeken said.
“How could you not?” Serak shouted. “That is what Elenyr taught you to do!”
“I was never her puppet,” Draeken snarled.
Serak reached to the source of water and the liquid burst forth, but Draeken incinerated his magic with an explosion of fire. Serak cried out and gathered the stone at his feet, striking at Draeken. Stone rose in needlelike spears, but Draeken shattered them with a clench of his fist. Then he leapt, using gravity to fly over Serak’s head and land at his back. Serak spun but a burst of light temporarily blinded him, causing him to stumble. Serak reached for the earth again but Draeken drew power from the light. The light flowed inward, wrapping around Serak’s body, binding him fast. Both guardians growled as they fought for dominance, but the light continued to thicken, forcing Serak to his knees.
The floor of the cavern trembled but Draeken reached to it, using gravity to hold it fast. Veins bulged on Serak’s neck as he fought, his fury gradually turning to desperation. All the while Draeken regarded him with contempt.
“You cannot do this!” Serak cried.
“You know I can.”
“The people of Lumineia will always fight. They will resist you.”
“Then I will kill them all,” Draeken said.
Serak’s eyes widened. “You would slaughter the races?”
“I am the fragment of Power.” Draeken spoke with such vehemence that Serak flinched. “I was born to rule, not to serve. Why would a being of such greatness allow the kings of Lumineia to retain their thrones? You wanted a master, but you wanted me to be their servant.”
Serak’s eyes widened. “You’re just like the Empire.”
“No,” Draeken said. “I am greater than the Empire, and my power will be endless. After I’ve conquered Lumineia, I’ll use the fiends you have given me to strike the Empire. If they, too, will not yield, I will release the Dark on their worlds. I’ll open a Gate to Kelindor and watch them destroy each other. For every world that refuses my reign, my fiend army will grow, until the emperor himself kneels at my feet.”
Serak stared at him in shock, his features frozen in horror. Draeken used his distraction to press the portion of magic he’d gotten from the fragment of Water to bind him to the water source. Serak screamed, the sound echoing and reechoing as the water cut deep into Serak’s soul. Draeken hooked the magical tether and then released his power. The water splashed away and Serak fell to his knees, gasping for breath.
“What have you done?”
“I’m not heartless,” Draeken said. “After all you’ve done, you deserve to see for yourself what you have created. Of course, I cannot have you interfering, so this chamber will be your home. You are now chained to this source, and not even your significant magic will permit you to break free.”
“Don’t do this.” Serak lifted his gaze to Draeken. “Please.”
“You have my gratitude,” Draeken said, “but you must understand. Elsin did not perish because she faced the oracle. She perished because she was betrayed by those she believed loyal. You claim that you’re my servant, but we both know you would have one day turned against me. And so I ask a final sacrifice. Enjoy your solitude, Father of Guardians, and bear witness to what you have wrought.”
Serak remained on his knees as Draeken turned and departed. A glowing chain of water leashed Serak to the source of magic. Broken and alone, Serak screamed and struck the floor in his anguish, sending cracks all the way to the walls. But Draeken was already gone. As Draeken exited the keep, he turned his gaze forward. He had an empire to build. His attention focused on his dragon and the future, he failed to notice the shadow flitting out of sight.
Chapter 27: Serak’s Shadow
As Draeken emerged from the keep of Verisith, one figure dropped from under Gorewrathian’s wing and darted into an alcove of a structure, disappearing from sight just as Draeken climbed onto the dragon’s back and barked an order.
Bendelinish swung its head towards the keep. Where is Serak?
“Serak has a new assignment,” Draeken said. “You will come with me.”
Even you cannot ride two dragons, Bendelinish growled.
“I’ll need you if I have to kill Gorewrathian,” Draeken said.
Both dragons snarled, but did as requested. From inside the darkened recess of the ruins, the visitor watched as the two dragon’s rose into the air, a smile on his face. When the dragons were gone, Shadow stepped into the open and made a rude gesture at the departing beasts.
“And you thought you were mighty.”
He turned and threaded his way into the ruins, avoiding the host of guardians chained to their sources. The darkened streets and alleys loomed above his head, vines and brush growing against the molding stones. He shivered in delight. Let the elves have their bright cities. He preferred the ruins of a forgotten city, where powerful guardians lurked.
He recalled the events leading up to his precarious flight under the dragon’s wing. A few hours before Draeken and Serak had departed Xshaltheria, he had infiltrated the fortress. He’d witnessed the rebuilding of the Gate, and the emergence of Mimic in her new form as the general of Plague. Then Draeken had ordered Serak to follow, and on a whim, Shadow had crept beneath the great dragon and turned into his shadow form. As Draeken mounted, he grasped the shadows under Gorewrathian’s right wing, and it carried him aloft.
He caught a glimpse of Elenyr’s astonished face as they passed over the battlements, and he dropped a shard of darkness, a glittering object that she would be able to follow. She’d leapt away, her ethereal form allowing her to speed through stone and tree. She’d kept pace with the beasts on the land below, her Hauntress form streaking across the landscape, a wraith in the night.
Shadow wondered if Elenyr had been able to keep up. The dragons had flown throughout the night and the next day, and Elenyr would not have been able to sustain a sprint for two days. He’d dropped a few shadow shards during the night, but during the daylight hours he couldn’t, so Elenyr might have lost his path.
Shadow ascended the steps to one of the high roads curving across the ruins, and just as he leaned against a support post, Elenyr burst from the cliff adjacent to the city and alighted on the city wall. She spotted him lounging on the roadway and turned in his direction, gasping for breath. Her tunic and armor were wet with sweat, and her hair was wild. Black fury marred her features.
“Have you completely gone mad?” she demanded.
He grinned at the higher pitch to her voice. She must really be furious. It had been many years since he sparked such anger in Elenyr, and he relished the moment. Then he noticed the tinge to her gaze and realized she was close to throttling his life from his body.
“It was a gambit,” he said. “But wasn’t that the reason we returned to Xshaltheria?”
“You were supposed to learn if the Gate had been rebuilt,” she snarled. “Not climb onto his dragon and fly into another country. Do you know what he would have done if he found you? He would have cut you to shreds, and I would have watched the pieces fall to the earth.”
“You were worried about me?” Shadow feigned mock surprise. “I’m touched.”
“Shadow . . .,” she rubbed the roof of her nose. “I love you as a son, but that doesn’t mean I will not kill you.”
“Trust me
,” Shadow turned and pointed to the keep. “When you hear what occurred here, you’ll be glad of the risk I took.”
“What?” she demanded. “What could be worth your life?”
“Victory.”
She regarded him with anger and, he noticed, a lingering fear. He grimaced as he realized she’d just sprinted for nearly a day, because she feared for his life. Elenyr could travel leagues without tiring, but now sweat darkened her clothing, and her hands trembled from the run.
“I’m sorry,” he said earnestly. “I didn’t mean to worry you so much. I saw an opportunity and I seized it.”
She blinked in confusion. “You’ve never apologize like that.”
Shadow cocked his head to the side, and a slow smile lit his features. “Well that’s new.”
“What?”
“I can feel remorse now,” Shadow said, and his expression soured. “I don’t think I like it.”
Elenyr began to laugh, the sound rolling out of her before she engulfed him in a long, sweaty embrace. He hoped that meant she forgave him. He didn’t like the twinge in his chest that made him think he’d been wrong. He was never wrong.
“Tell me what happened,” Elenyr said, retreating a step.
Shadow briefly outlined what he’d witnessed at the base of Xshaltheria, and the completion of the Gate. When he detailed Mimic’s rising, she sighed and leaned against the railing of the roadway.
“We cannot even kill Serak,” she said. “How can we possibly defeat the generals?”
“I think the answer lies in there.” Shadow pointed to the keep.
Elenyr raised an eyebrow. “There’s more?”
“All I know is that Draeken and Serak entered the keep, and only Draeken departed. He looked rather pleased with himself.”
“And Draeken took Serak’s dragon with him?” she asked, looking about as if she’d just realized they were alone.
“Exactly.” Shadow rubbed his chin as he recalled the events at the base of Xshaltheria. “And Serak was acting fishy, like he and Draeken were not on the same terms after the battle in the valley.”