Aiden's Quest

by Dane Bagley

  ###

  Terrence and his men began to make gains on the wolves. The wolves’ reinforcements began to slow; though he didn’t know it, he could thank the armies of Cardsten for this.

  As the battle raged and as the heat of the day rose, some of the men began to drop through heat exhaustion. These the wolves pounced on and quickly annihilated. King Drake’s anger grew as he saw his brave and weakened men get slaughtered before his eyes. There had been no sign of Dromreign and the king’s thirst for its blood increased. A brave soldier who had cut down many a wolf dropped to his knees after a kill. Drake, who didn’t have a wolf at him then, saw the man drop. He saw a small pack descend upon the man. The king ran and yelled with all his might. They wouldn’t get this soldier! The wolves turned on the king as he slashed at one of them, only mildly injuring the wolf. The king was out of position and the wolves pounced, knocking him over. The king held onto his sword and fought from the ground. The soldier crawled towards the king willing to sacrifice himself for his beloved monarch. The wolves ignored the soldier, barely able to move and of no threat to them.

  Drake rolled and blocked, swung and thrust. The snarls, the growls, the claws, and the teeth were upon him. He was able to thrust and slice through the throat of one of the wolves, killing it instantly. But the others pulled at the armor on his arm, the one brandishing the sword. In no time flesh was exposed. As a wolf’s teeth sunk deep into his flesh, King Darron Drake screamed out. Jack heard the cry and ran to his king. He began to slice at and through the wolves. Two wolves stayed at Drake while the others went at Jack. Jack tore through the small pack but when he knelt at his king’s side he saw that the wolves had removed the kings helmet and bitten through his throat. The king lay dead with blood oozing from his throat and his eyes wide open.