The Grim Legion

by Kindred Ult

  A guard came up and unlocked her, and Brand scooped her up in his arms and began to walk her out. As soon as they passed the gateway, though, she slipped out of his arms and dropped to the floor to walk beside him. He made no comment save to morph down into his normal werewolf form.

  After they were out of the jail, Nasoren was the first one to speak. She turned to him, and her face was a mask of confusion.

  "So, you saved the Queen?"

  "Yes." Brand noticed that she seemed more morose than she had when she first saw him, and wondered why she would change.

  "And what about D—The vampires?" She stuttered, and Brand did not miss it.

  "Two were killed, while the third one, their leader, escaped."

  "Damn." Her ferocity gave him pause, and for the first time he wondered what had happened to her.

  "What did they do to you?" He was worried, having just barely saved Lupine.

  Abruptly she spun around and wrapped her arms around him. She buried her face in his fur and began weeping. "I…I thought that he was different. He saved me so long ago, but then, he used me, just like all of the others. He invaded me, made me do his will, when I trusted him. I gave up my life to follow what he told me. His words were everything to me, but now I know that he's just like all of the other vampires, just like the werewolves." She was sobbing now, and her body racked as she shoulders heaved against him. "He's just a scum."

  Brand could not help but feel sorry for her. He had no idea that Demenn was so entangled in this girl's life, or that he had made such a profound impact on her. He knew he was risking something in telling her this, but he knew it would be best for her.

  "The truth is, Nasoren, I let Demenn go."

  She stopped crying and looked up at him with an expression of pure rage. "Why?! Why would you do that? How could you do that? After what he did to me? I thought you were different from them, I know you're different from them." She tried to break from holding onto him, but now he held her, gently but firmly. She needed to hear the rest of what he had to say.

  "I let Demenn live because he did the same for me."

  She stopped struggling and looked back up at him, confusion was in her eyes.

  He continued. "I was the first one there when they found the lair, and I killed one of his allies before fighting him. We fought fairly, even with him knowing that I killed his ally. I was defeated, but he did not kill me. He risked capture and death simply because he thought that I should live since my eyes were blue. After that, I could not bring myself to kill him when in the same position. I think that he is different from the others, Nasoren."

  He could see her trying to process that information, but eventually she buried her face in his chest again. "Just take me back home, Brand."

  ________________________________________________________________________

  "You cannot be serious." Aaron sounded incredulous.

  "Would I joke about something like this?" Victoria looked terrible, and she sounded like hell. "Brand not only defeated that Dragon, brought it with him, beat Demenn, killed those two with him, and then let Demenn live."

  Aaron cursed. "How was he even able to kill that dragon?"

  "I don't know." Victoria put her head in her hands. "That dragon has killed every werewolf we sent after him, even first classes. He was like our disposal system. We didn't think it was possible to defeat him. We did not know about his druidic powers, and I think that played a large role."

  "Damn, so not only do we not start our final battle, but both of our problems lived?" The mere thought of such failure made Aaron's head ache.

  "Well, yes." Victoria sounded contrite.

  "And why didn't you just kill both of them then?"

  "And then what? Kill her too? And then the dragon? And then say that Demenn killed them and her but that I got away safely? There's far too many holes in that story."

  Aaron growled. "Why can't anything go right for us?" She obviously thought that he was talking about the war, but he had just wanted to see her for once.

  "It's okay. I have a plan. I hadn't wanted to do this, but I guess I'll have to. I think I might know someone who can convince the King to take the battle into the open."

  For the first time in awhile, Aaron laughed. "Yes, you do that. Meanwhile, the vampire council of war will be convened soon and I'll be there. Events are moving swiftly so make sure that Lueke is informed."

  "I will. Goodbye, Aaron." She had never said his name that way, and it sent shivers down his spine.

  "Goodbye, Victoria." He savored the word more than fine blood.

  "I will not endanger my people like this. The vampires know that we are here, and if they try to assault us we can easily defeat them within our caves. But if we march out we will be subject to whatever twisted treachery the vampires can think of. It may very well cause our destruction." The King's voice was firm, but it held a note of desperation. He was not used to arguing with anyone, least of all his own Queen.

  "You are a fool!" Where is your courage? You're acting like one of the vampires with such cowardice!" The Queen shouted back at him.

  "But dear—."

  "Don't "dear" me, I was captured from within our very walls, made to watch my handmaidens slaughtered before my eyes, and almost raped. I demand that, if you have any honor, you will destroy those vampires."

  "My dear," he said, in a voice that brooked no interruption. "I understand your feelings, but you must understand that I must weigh your pain against that of our people. If we do this, thousands of them will undoubtedly die."

  "Your people are stumbling over themselves to express their zeal to destroy the vampires. The best gift you could give them would be to release them on our foes. They've been cooped up in here for far too long. Release them on the world once again. Let them be free to do what they were meant to do. What they were made to do. You must do this, not just for me, but for our people, our forefathers, and our creator."

  Still he hesitated, but eventually he bowed his head and slumped back in his chair. "I know that you are right, my love. I'll have the council convene today. I just hope that we are not making the biggest mistake in our history."

  She smiled and kissed him before leaving. When she left the chamber, followed by Lupine, who was her impromptu maid for now, her head drooped and she leaned against a wall. "I just hope I'm doing the right thing."

  Lupine came up behind her and placed her hand on her shoulder, smiling. "Don't worry, highness, you did."

  The Queen smiled back behind her and covered Lupine's hand with her own. "Thank you."

  The King came out soon and called out to his closest guard. "I want to have a council meeting immediately. We are going to prepare for war. Oh, and make sure that Deathbreak is called as well."

  Both Brand and Nasoren had been rather wary of the summons for him to meet in the council chamber, but when he entered, Brand saw that this was not a punishment. Although he was forced to wonder just how this event would have gone had he failed to retrieve the Queen, and he shuddered to think of what would have happened to Nasoren.

  Regardless, things had worked out, this time, and here he was standing before the King, Queen, and all of the council members, including the generals. The first thing Brand did was bow as low as he could. He did not come back up until the King recognized him, but when he looked up he saw that the King was smiling, and he was relieved.

  The King spoke to him first. "Welcome back, Deathbreak. Between being the first werewolf to capture a dragon and also saving my wife, your actions of late have been nothing short of heroic, and we are not the kind that do not reward heroism. As of today, you are one of our generals. You may have command of any number of warriors under one thousand. Please take a seat along with the other generals.

  Brand felt strange sitting next to those individuals who, in his short time with the werewolves, had been made out as legends of their time. He wondered if he was even worthy of being associated with them.

  When he was seat
ed, the King addressed the entire council. "As I'm sure you're all aware, we will be having a war soon. The final war, and hopefully the one that will spell the end of the vampires. We have hidden ourselves in this lair for far too long, and I believe that our plans have finally come to fruition. The vampires have never seen our forces, and as such do not know how many of us there are. They will be overconfident, and we will crush them. Now, I am here to ask all of you to lend us your aid in this battle. First, I ask the generals. Scar, as the eldest and greatest of our warriors, I ask you first. What will you do?"

  Scar, his fur gray, and covered with his namesakes, struggled up on what seemed unsteady legs. When he stood, though, his body seemed to lose years, and his voice spoke with a vibrancy that belied his great age. "My King, myself and all of the warriors under my command will join you in your war."

  The King nodded to his old friend. "Now, Blood."

  Blood stood, and to Brand, it seemed as if he were even larger and his muscles stronger than before. He bore no scars of his previous fight, and his visage was calm. "My King, myself and all of the warriors under my command will join you."

  "Good, Ghost."

  The only werewolf of great renown that Brand had yet to meet, Ghost stood. Like Scar, he seemed very old, but his fur was completely white. He seemed rather translucent. It was hard to just look at him, since right where you looked suddenly was blurred, but he appeared normal when one's attention was away from him. His voice flowed from him, even though his mouth barely moved. "My King, myself, all of my wizards, and all of the warriors under my command are at your disposal."

  It was the same for all of the others until the King called on Brand. Brand stood and, instead of agreeing had to ask. "My King, may I ask why we must fight this war?"

  The King seemed surprised, but not entirely angry at the question. "Because honor demands no less."

  "Someone who I hold in high regard once told me that, while individuals can afford honor, it is not something kingdoms can have if they wish to survive, sire. Why can we not try some other alternative to a full scale war?"

  Scar stood, and was recognized. He turned to Brand and Smiled. "Your question is wise, Deathbreak, and I hesitate to call you child though you are new to us. However, we are werewolves, and most of us did not show restraint during our first bloodlust." Interestingly, Brand just then noticed that Scar's, Ghost's, and the King's eyes were all colored. "See, our brothers are bloodthirsty, and if they do not have war, they would eventually turn on one another. The vampires know this, and would undoubtedly blockade the entrance to our lair, where they could bottleneck us. Within weeks, the vast majority of us would be dead."

  Brand conceded the point and gave the affirmation like all of the others before sitting down.

  Other council members, those who were not generals, but were still either wealthy or powerful enough to have a large number of followers, were called upon. Some seemed to be mighty warriors, while others looked obese, if that were even possible for werewolves. In the end, all of them gave their consent, though some less willingly than others. When all of the formalities were over, the King smiled.

  "I thank you all for your support, now, we will begin our discussions of the war." But before they could to so, the council chamber rooms opened, and three figures walked through. The guards at the door came to attention immediately, but relaxed when they saw who was there. The three figures walked up to the center of the room, and Brand recognized Nightwing as the largest of the three, but the other two were strangers to him.

  The one in front, who looked like a strange breed of werewolf, spoke first. His fur was silver, not gray, like Scar's, but shining and beautiful. He was larger than most of them, but he was not bulky, rather, he was refined in a way Brand could only marvel at. His snout was slightly less elongated than a normal werewolf's was, and it ended in a rather flat face. His eyes were pure black and very large, and they seemed to absorb Brand as he spoke.

  "My dear cousin. Surely you were not thinking of having a beautiful war without my aid, were you?"

  The King smiled. "Of course not, Lyke. I had thought to contact you once these proceedings were over, but I see that you have preempted me."

  Lyke bowed at the waist. "Yes indeed, anyway. Myself and all of my Razorclaw warriors are here to fight with our Archean brothers. We will slay many vampires!"

  "Good, good. And I suppose that you are here for the same reason, Rhave." The King turned to the third member of the party, who looked like a diminutive human, more suited to bookkeeping than being included with such warriors. Had Brand been in the vampire slayers still, he would have looked down on this tiny man, but now he had learned stop believing his eyes. The little man spoke in a voice that, while squeaky, held an undertone of ferocity that disturbed Brand.

  "Yes, myself and all Lycanthropes that I could muster shall come to this battle and support you."

  "Excellent. I know of no force on this earth that could defeat the army that we shall bring to the field!" The King looked exultant.

  "And don't forget about me. I'll also pledge my service to you, King." Nightwing flexed his wings and clenched his claws for effect.

  The King was beaming by the time everyone exited, but as he left, Brand looked back with his other eyes and saw that he was very troubled.

  When he got back to his house, Nasoren was sitting on a chair. When she saw him she jumped up and ran to him, wrapping her arms around him like she had before, but this time he had no idea what she wanted, so he simply returned her embrace. While he did, he shifted back into his elf form let go of his eyes so that he could really Look at her.

  "I'm so glad you're back, Brand. It was terrible, the things they spoke of doing to me while I was in jail." She trembled a bit when she said it.

  He let her cling to him a bit longer before gently disengaging and pushing her away a bit do that they cloud look at each other. "Nasoren, there's something I need you to do for me."

  She calmed down, and he knew that she must have felt rejected, but he could not deal with that now. "What is it?" She did not sound particularly enthusiastic.

  "The vampires and werewolves are going to have a huge battle, maybe the last one we'll ever have. I need you to sneak out of here, go to the vampire slayers, and alert them of the circumstances. Make sure you talk to E and tell him that Brand sent you. He'll listen to you, and he'll know what to do."

  She started to nod, but then stopped as her eyes narrowed. "You're not coming with me?"

  "I must stay here. They just made me a captain, and this is my chance to know everything they know about the war, and maybe even assassinate one of their leaders. Besides, they would know if I left, but I can explain your leaving."

  She did not seem satisfied. "You sure this is not just your instinct talking?"

  He grinned rather sheepishly. Well, there may be some of that as well, but I can assure you that this decision comes from me, and not Deathbreak. I'm staying here because it is what's best for both of us."

  That must have satisfied her, for she soon went about collecting her armor, weapons, and gear. She was about to head out of the doorway, with all of her items inside an old rag, when she stopped and turned around. "Uh, Brand, won't you have to tell Stone Wolf that I have permission to leave?"

  He smiled. "Ah, about that. I told him the first day we came here that you were free to leave at any time you wished."

  "Good." She lingered for a bit, as if unsure of what to do, before dropping her sack of gear, running to him, kissing him, and then running out while grabbing the bag. She was blushing, and she left behind a very surprised elf.

  Demenn ducked under the blade as it passed inches from the top of his head and stabbed out with own sword in one hand. The vampire ended his swing by twisting his wrist and slapping Demenn's sword away almost contemptuously. Once the sword was out, the other lunged in and stabbed at Demenn's front leg, making him hastily bend it to dodge, stabbed at his chest, which Demenn blocked, and then once
more at his face. Demenn had to shove his sword in front of his head to redirect the others' sword, but even then, it cut a fine line across his cheek. Demenn pushed the sword out of the way in time to see a fist as it smashed into his face.

  He fell back with the blow, but rolled over his shoulder and back onto his feet once he hit the ground. In the end, he was on his feet, but with a cut on his left cheek and many cuts on the right side of his face. His opponent laughed.

  "Are you prepared to concede the match, Demenn?"

  "Not yet, General Darius. It is custom for only the instigator of the challenge to withdraw it." His bravado was somewhat lost on the General, who could see that he was panting.

  Darius nodded in response and slowly advanced with his blade forward. He took careful steps, determined to not take Demenn too lightly, while at the same time figuring how to crush him completely. He saw that vampires were already beginning to gather and smiled to himself. 'Good, now even more can witness me put this whelp in his place. With this, my generalship is secured.'