Defiled

  "Aye. It sounded neat at the time. I received a promotion to captain, and naming the sword seemed a good idea." She shrugged sheepishly. "I'm a dolt."

  "You are not a dolt. You will make it past this, Bell. I promise." Laelliandir smiled and bumped against her shoulder to ease the mood. This time she smiled at his touch. "I know how it is—losing everything. I lost you too. That isn't easy for me. Harder now seeing you didn't really hate me." Bella was glad he understood, although she still didn't herself.

  "At least you got out of the madness of Divox. How long did you stay out in minotaur land until you came here?" Bella again changed the subject to block out her troubling thoughts.

  "A long time now." Laelliandir looked up to the sky, remembering. "A while. I traveled there after everything happened. Came back and failed to collect you and Lumi, but brought Akelda with me." Bella’s eyes widened, remembering the lady she’d met years ago in Garroth.

  "Your aunt? Your mother’s close friend-person?" asked Bella. Laellaindir nodded. "Sarding. Wolf wrecked everyone’s lives."

  "Fortunate to have her alive and safe, but aye, the wound remains deep."

  "So that’s that? You’ve both hung around minotaurs and all these years waiting to get bold enough to come home?"

  "Not exactly. Akelda remained and begged me not to come. I had to." Laelliandir sighed and attempted to explain himself. "Early in my stay in Lamisdoria, I joined the minotaur fight against centaurs. Wasn’t all too peaceful there either. Once it ended, I stayed in the area for a couple more years before the timing seemed right to do something about Tragmont. The minotaurs would not involve themselves after the catastrophe in Magwhen."

  "You lived with minotaurs all that time? In their pyramids? Did you smoke funny things and ride on the backs of elephants and horned beasts?" Bella tried to imagine what his life must have been like; how lonely he must have been.

  "Oh, I met plenty of strange and exotic animals. I saw creatures I didn't even realize existed. Also smoking of strange herbs, odd rituals and plenty of pyramid explorations." He laughed at Bella's worried look. "But there are mortals down there too. In the jungles, there are tribes of native mortals, men, and women that live off the land in tents. I spent a long time in one of those tribes. Learned other languages outside of the common tongue and ate funny foods." Bella gave him an odd look trying to imagine what he experienced.

  "You lived with people that didn't use the common speech? Barbarians?"

  "Barbaric for you, but just their way of life. They are good folk."

  "I would prefer the minotaurs over savages."

  "For someone who has moved around throughout your life, I find it peculiar how sheltered you've been." Bella didn't argue but also didn't change her opinion. She had been around southern mortals with prejudiced views for years. What did he expect from her? "I moved back and forth between the two cultures finding friends and a home with both groups of people, and I was fond of each. I suppose I spent more time with the mortal natives, though. There are comforts with my own people that can’t be found in minotaurs." Laelliandir said.

  Bella eyed him, Comforts? What is he talking about? Women? She wondered. The Lae I know wouldn’t dare speak of such things, at least without blushing. Her growing curiosity prompted her to ask. "Oh?" Bella pried. "Like?"

  "Women, of course. What? You imagine I fancy minotaurs? That would be disturbing." Bella smiled despite her surprise at his answer.

  "I suppose so. Not an ideal bed mate." Bella couldn't help imagining Laelliandir with a woman. The image of him with another woman gave her a jealous twinge, and she grew quiet for a moment as she scolded herself. I’m married and share no relationship with Lae. Still, she huffed as she continued her inner-battle. He’s been gone for years. Of course, he isn't alone. I’m not.

  "You all right, Bell?" asked Laelliandir, drawing her attention.

  "Aye," she covered. "So, you were with someone for a while? Or are you still now?" she questioned. Laelliandir shook his head.

  "Not now, no. But I grew out of my reserve, and after a while, I met others. Those people don't believe in unions. They see love and the act of pleasure differently. They don't mate for life but share one another with, well, many people throughout the tribe. It is a different world," Laelliandir explained, without shame.

  Bella's face grew bright red at the idea. "You slept with the whole tribe?" she asked, appalled and angry.

  "Oh, no. By Xio, Bell. Who do you think I am?" Laelliandir asked, pretending to be offended. Bella sighed in relief. She realized he'd changed, but not how much. "Just the women near my age." Bella gasped and looked at him shocked. On impulse, she slugged him in the shoulder hard.

  "You sarding shite!" She yelled before realizing her jealousy was inappropriate.

  Laelliandir felt it this time as she intended to hurt him. He jumped a little, looking to her angry eyes before she shifted to an awkward expression. "I'm sorry, Bell."

  Bella looked away, breathing heavier. Overtaken by jealousy, Bella was enraged, yet also realized she had no right to be. "Forget it. That was unacceptable of me. No clue why I did that," Bella said. It was hard to be around him, given her feelings.

  "Part of your mind is still that girl in Garroth?" he asked as she shielded her eyes.

  "I sardingly don't know what is going on in my head. I'm here, and I'm stuck eleven years ago. It is all shite! You here. I tried telling you. Sard! They ruined my mind. Raped it. I can't keep what is real straight! And don't tell me that stuff anyway! I don't want to hear that, Lae. Would you want me to tell you how Markus and I get bare, rough and sard? I will!" She threatened, glowering at him. Riddled in jealousy, the look in her eye took Laelliandir back years. He didn't want to imagine it, but he also knew he would not have hit her had she told him as much.

  "No, Bell. I don't. I was uncouth."

  "You learn how to talk around me, Lae. This isn't easy, and you need to accept it if we are going to be working together. I must slog through this. I need you to understand, I need Markus to understand, and I need to understand what’s happening to me."

  "I will do my best," he promised.

  Bella smiled. "That's all I ask. But first. We free Lumi. She's suffered worse than anyone." After seeing such disarray of emotions from Bella, Laelliandir wondered which of the sisters had been tortured worse. To him, they were both captive for so long and left terribly wounded.

  "Agreed. I've missed you, Bell. I'll be here, and I won't leave this time." Bella's discomfort only grew, and she didn't know how to respond. She was overwhelmed. Along with the jealousy, she was also scared she was hurting Markus with her inappropriate thoughts. She questioned if it was safe for her to be near Laelliandir. She wanted to grab and kiss him so much. Disgusted with herself, she went quiet.

  "We need to keep our eyes open. I don't want to talk about anything personal, Lae. My life. Your life. What we had was a long time ago. We know little about each other anymore, and we shouldn't be pouring out so much like we're- like we're something we aren't. Stick with the task. Keep it simple. Lumi. That is all." Bella insisted in a huff.

  Laelliandir respected her feelings, but despite the many ways the two of them had changed, in other ways, they were still very much the same. Only now just more lost. Their situation had grown beyond complicated.

  Nevertheless, they pressed on and spoke about many things, but Laelliandir stayed away from the past or anything too personal. This worked to Bella's liking, but her guard was down around Laelliandir. It didn't matter what they talked about, she liked his company. She felt safe. Even amid worrying for her sister, her husband, and dear friend, Fern, her fears were not as great knowing Laelliandir was by her side. He had always had this power over her. She couldn't explain why. Laelliandir was content to have her back in his life. He had missed her.

  ***

  As the hours went by, and the sun began its descent to the horizon, Laelliandir and Bella noticed movement in the eastern fields of Tarrith. The Divoxian go
lden army emerged from within the thick forest and headed towards Crusayla’s walls.

  "Here they come," Bella said as she picked up the pace into a jog.

  "It appears they've brought siege weapons," Laelliandir added. It was hard to tell from this distance, but some of the soldiers appeared to roll large foreign objects into the fields.

  "Aye. If it is like the rest of Tragmont's defenses, it will take a couple of hours to bring down the gate."

  They still had about two hours before they would arrive in Crusayla, so time was on their side. What worried the two more than the Divoxian army's advance was that they had not seen Neighraellium or Luminear. They had not expected to be so far behind them, but hours dragged on with no sign of anyone else walking upon the high walls. Even though the walls dipped up and down, they were sure they should have glimpsed them along the way.

  "Let's push ourselves a little more," Laelliandir said as he began running. Bella eagerly joined him.

  They were closer to Neighraellium and Luminear than they realized. Although ahead, the two were slower and had just ascended into the city of Crusayla, alone and vulnerable.

  Chapter Six

  Brink of Chaos

  Albatros, Markus, and Fern backtracked through the small patch of forest near the riverbank with the Divoxian soldiers in heavy pursuit behind them. At some point, the soldiers would give up the chase and turn back, but until then, they had no choice but to flee.

  "Couldn't stay hidden?" Albatros had asked the two men. Fern apologized for he blamed himself, but it didn't matter whose fault it was anymore. Instead, the three focused all their energy on racing away from the soldiers.

  In time, their pursuers did give up and turn around, but only to return to their camp. The trio’s path to Crusayla was blocked again, stuck between the wall on one side and the river on the other.

  Shortly after their pursuers retreated, sensing they’d fallen victim to a ruse, Fern asked the question on his mind. "What was your plan to meet up with us?" They had stopped to rest the animals a few miles outside of the patch of trees while still monitoring the woods.

  "What?" asked Albatros.

  "You told Laelliandir you had a plan to find us." Markus reminded him.

  "I told him that, but hadn’t figured it out yet," he admitted.

  "Seriously?" Markus crossed his arms in disbelief.

  Albatros shrugged, but Fern already had an idea. "Your ax cuts through anything?’

  "I’ve found nothing it cannot puncture," Albatros said as he glanced at Fern and rubbed the side of his rhino's face. Markus and Fern studied the shining ax which hung upon Albatros’s armored back in awe.

  "Where did you get that, and what's it made of?" Markus asked.

  "Family heirloom. I don't know what it's made of, but I suspect it is one of the ancient magical weapons of the old world—probably made by a mage, witches or warlocks from fables. It cannot be dented. It shall never show wear."

  "That's like saying the fables have truth in them," Markus argued. "Are you sure a master smith didn't just make it?" The account of the magical medallion was incredible enough for Markus to believe without introducing more magical elements of the unknown into his reality.

  "Maybe. I don't know its origins, so you might be right. But that would be one true master smith, and he would have forged it using indestructible metal which I've never seen."

  "Well, maybe I'm reaching here, but why can't we use that to follow them?" Fern suggested. Markus and Albatros looked at him questioningly. "Cut a hole in the wall?" Fern realized how absurd his suggestion would sound if not for such a mighty weapon in their possession. "You say it can rip through anything?" Markus smiled and looked back at Albatros, wanting to laugh off the claim.

  "I'm sure he exaggerated a little, Fern. How could he possibly cut through solid stone that thick? Don't be a dolt." Albatros groaned as he thought it over and studied the base of the wall.

  "My ax could handle it. It would take a long time, and we'd have to hope the wall is sturdy enough not to cave in," Albatros realized breaking through the wall would be neither fun nor quick. "A wall that thick? A hole large enough for us and our beasts to pass through might take a couple hours. My ax can break the stone, but my back is not indestructible. I'd have to break it down into chunks easy enough to remove." Markus and Fern looked to the wall as he spoke and tried to imagine it. Given Albatros's confidence in the ax’s ability, Fern’s suggestion seemed doable to them.

  "Just hack away. We'll help remove the stone if you break it down to a size that’s light enough," Markus said.

  With all in agreement, the three chipped away at the thick stone wall and removed the rubble to allow passage into Tragmont. Markus and Fern saw just how incredible Albatros's ax truly was. It ripped through the stone like it was nothing more than a pile of clothes, causing chunks of wall, in all sizes, to tumble onto the soil below. The men worked behind Albatros, clearing out smaller pieces of rubble for a clear path for their four-legged companions.

  It took three hours to rip a gap large enough for them to pass, and to clear the path of ruin. They were all exhausted by the time they completed the task. Fortunately for them, the horses and the rhino were well-rested and ready to take them as their burden. Into the forests of Tarrith, they rode, avoiding the guards altogether. Headed west, they were eager to arrive in Crusayla and reunite with Laelliandir, Bella, and Luminear.

  ***

  Come night time, as Bella and Laelliandir approached the end of their journey upon the wall, Icaz and Luminear had already descended onto the streets of Crusayla. The two trekked fast down alleyways nearest the southern wall toward the castle. The black mountain behind the city was far darker here, and it resembled what they had seen from Luminear’s vision many years earlier.

  Icaz was intent on getting behind the castle and finding out once and for all the truth. His instincts told him this was the place. Not only were the cliffs blacker, but they also appeared more like a wall of jagged stone. This place was hidden, and the most fortified place in all of Tragmont.

  "This is it!" exclaimed Icaz.

  "You don't even know what lies beyond it. What if what you saw wasn’t real?" Luminear had argued and pleaded along the way.

  "I see what you can do. I know what I saw. This is the place. This is it!" Icaz insisted.

  Along this last leg of their journey, she had continued to rip bits and pieces of her cloak and garments near her wrists or the bottoms near her feet as often as possible. Icaz was seldom aware of his surroundings and had not once noticed her attempts to help those who might follow them. Luminear had seen no sign of anyone tracking them, but she hoped. She hoped for many things. She feared many things too.

  Luminear worried what she was capable of and believed Icaz and Lonewolf must be partially correct in their scheming. What would come from this unsealing of a mystical gate? Would it claim her life? What might it do to everyone else? With time running out, and endless possibilities, Luminear forced her weak legs along while struggling to find an opportunity to prevent this end. She could hope, but couldn’t trust anyone would come to her rescue.

  "Look at that!" Icaz pointed up to either the castle or the mountain behind it. Luminear wasn’t sure which, but she followed his pointing finger above as he pulled her along by the wrist.

  "Aye," she mumbled, trying to be cooperative. She followed him down a narrow dark stone street between homes painted in shades of blue. She had to sidestep papers, trash, and random bags strewn all around and noted how many of the houses’ doors were flung wide open. Luminear imagined the elves that fled Crusayla had been in a great hurry when they left. Even from the street, it appeared the interiors of the houses had been ransacked. Luminear wondered if looters had caused the disarray but found it unlikely if the city gates were tightly sealed.

  "I want you ready. Relax the muscles in your mind! Keep calm, and don't think too much. Just like I've taught you. Beyond this castle awaits your destiny. Your purpose, l
ove." Icaz’s tone was sympathetic; he even stopped long enough to glance back at her. "Hear me?" Luminear nodded and kept her eyes on the castle and mountain as they paced closer.

  "Yes. I do," she finally answered. His lips curled into his normal crazed grin, and he turned around pleased with her answer.

  They neared the back of the city when they heard loud banging and horns from behind them. The sounds startled them both, but Luminear reminded Icaz that Lonewolf and the southern host may have arrived to lay siege on the outer city gates. The explanation made sense to him but did not deter him from his mission. He would neither turn back nor bother waiting for Lonewolf. Luminear was relieved with his decision. She hoped the army in Tarrith fields would not break through the cities’ gates for some time.

  If the soldiers made their way inside, Luminear knew she might as well forget about an escape for herself. Lonewolf would have his eye on her like a hawk on its prey. Remembering this, she picked up her speed, anticipating an end to her captivity once and for all.