“Your father was a tyrant! Unfit to rule the Draebek! Unfit to be your father!” Korin yelled back, cutting him off.
The outburst shocked Thraegar, and he looked around, confused and unsure of what to do.
Wayd listened to the noises outside. The Draebek were retreating. The Wolves were getting closer. If we can continue to distract Thraegar for a few moments longer…
Then Thraegar’s demeanor changed. “You want me to be weak,” he finally said. “Because you want it all for yourself. But I am done with you being my advisor. I’m done with you being my friend.”
The axe shifted slightly in Thraegar’s hand. It was more focused now on Korin.
“Thraegar,” Shadmay pled. She had her hands pushed forward and her face was filled with passion. “Don’t do something you will regret. Korin is like your father. Please,” she begged.
Thraegar’s face grew darker. “He was like my father,” he said. “But you are right, I shouldn’t hurt Korin directly. I should hurt those he loves,” he said.
And then his axe began falling toward Gauden.
“No!” Wayd yelled. But he was too far away to help. He was too far away to do anything other than scream.
The axe descended. But then Korin leapt. He crashed into Thraegar and they both tumbled to the ground. The impact caused Korin to lose his hammer, but he wrapped his arms around Thraegar’s torso and they rolled together as one.
Thraegar brought his axe up and used the shaft of it to pound against Korin’s head. Eventually, Korin’s grip relaxed and Thraegar pushed him off. Then he stood up, exuding anger.
“You dare attack me?” Thraegar spat.
Korin had a streak of blood from a wound on his head where his helmet had fallen off and Thraegar had struck. He tried to get up, but he was disoriented from the blow, so he resigned to resting on one knee while steadying himself with a hand on the ground.
“Thraegar,” Korin pled. “Just take time to regroup, find the white dragon, unify the right way. Lead the right way! You are better than this!”
“Find the white dragon?” Thraegar shouted. “I have found it! Didn’t you hear the Horn of Grind sound? It only didn’t come, because, well—ahh! It must have been busy! Occupied in the war. Yes, that is it. But the horn sounded. And I will sound it again. Every time I enter a clan. I will demand them to join me. Or I will kill them. Kill them all!”
“You sound like Shraegar!” Korin yelled. “Don’t let your passion blind you and lead you to destruction!”
“The prophecy states—”
“The prophecy says for you to unite us! Not to destroy us!” Korin interrupted. “That!” he pointed outside of the tent. “Is destroying us! You…are…destroying…us!”
Thraegar opened his mouth to rebut but then stopped. “Enough of this, Korin. You are no longer my advisor, my friend, or my father. From this day forth I banish you from my presence. You will watch me kill your friends, and then I will give you the dishonor of retreating.”
Korin looked ashamed and defeated. “Thraegar, please—”
“Silence. Now watch me kill your friends.”
Thraegar turned toward them.
Gauden had tried to move, but his exhaustion and injuries had overwhelmed him. He slumped back in a resigned position.
“You first, Gauden Thyme,” Thraegar said as he stepped forward, ignoring the pleas from Korin and Shadmay.
“They’re here!” someone shouted from outside. “Everyone! Come to me!”
Wayd recognized the voice.
Owen Delmsmith stood in the doorway to the tent. He looked a battered mess. His helmet was missing, he wasn’t wearing armor, and he had several wounds on his head that were bleeding profusely. His face was covered with dirt and grime, and the sight of it matched his battered armor. In one hand he held his sword a little lower than trained, evidence of his fatigue. His other arm hung gingerly, obviously dislocated or worse. But he stood firm, and Wayd saw that Owen wasn’t asking others to come to him, he was commanding them.
Owen was a leader, and he looked fierce and powerful.
Soon other soldiers rushed into the tent. General Fadden appeared. Then Malithan. Soon the entire tent was surrounded.
Owen looked at Thraegar.
“You’re surrounded, Draebek scum, surrender or die.”
Wayd had to stop himself from laughing. Draebek scum? Really Owen?
But he could tell Owen was being serious. When Thraegar didn’t move, Owen shifted his feet slightly and Wayd had to stifle another laugh.
“The battle is over, Thraegar,” General Fadden said as he moved next to Owen. “We give you an opportunity to surrender. Wayd, help retrieve Gauden.”
Wayd did as he was commanded and rushed over to Gauden. Gauden’s injuries were worse than they appeared. He put his hands underneath Gauden’s arms and began pulling him away from Thraegar. He looked at Thraegar and saw the Draebek clenching his fist. He knew Thraegar was trying to comprehend what to do next.
Wayd didn’t wait to find out, he started dragging Gauden away from danger and toward Owen, where his friend and a few other Alderidon Wolves gathered.
“Wayd,” Owen said, relieved. “You’re safe.”
“Not quite yet,” Wayd said as he looked back at Thraegar.
“Drop your weapon,” General Fadden said as he stepped forward.
Instead of dropping his weapon, Thraegar stepped back. Then Shadmay stepped forward and stood at Thraegar’s side. Finally Korin, first grabbing his hammer and then forcing himself to stand up, stood on Thraegar’s other side.
They were going to fight.
“What are they doing?” Owen whispered to him as he helped Wayd pull Gauden to safety. Wayd was grateful for the help because Gauden was heavier than he thought humanly possible.
Wayd saw the formation they were standing in. It was a defensive formation. They were ready to fight. Korin had his hammer raised. Shadmay had her hands placed in front of her, and Wayd was certain that he saw wisps of smoke escaping from her fingertips, and Thraegar stood with his hands gripped on the Thornclaw axe.
“I will give you one more chance to surrender,” General Fadden repeated.
Then Wayd remembered. The Thornclaw axe. Almost all of the weapons in this part of the world were made of draestl.
He started to cry out a warning when Thraegar raised his axe.
Swords and axes flew into the air as soldiers screamed in surprise. But it was too late, Thraegar had caught them by surprise.
As the weapons fell to the ground around Thraegar, he took something from around his neck—a whistle—and blew into it. Wayd didn’t hear anything, but he figured he knew what it was. A whistle to call a dragon. Thraegar’s only means of escape.
The thought of a dragon made him think of something else. The Horn of Grind. If he could get it prior to Thraegar…
He looked around the room, trying to locate where it was. Then he saw it. After blowing it, it had been put back in the case on one of the war tables, but the table had been overturned and now the horn and its case lay strewn on the ground, a few feet between Wayd and Thraegar.
Thraegar must have been thinking the same thing, as he located it the same time as Wayd.
Wayd didn’t hesitate. He rushed toward it at the same time as Thraegar. But Wayd was quicker. He dove, grabbed the horn and its case, and pulled them closer to him, wrapping his body around them to shield them from Thraegar.
The commotion caused the others to move into action and they rushed forward, grabbing their weapons and raising them.
But Thraegar raised his axe again. There were shouts as everyone tried to hold onto their weapons.
Thraegar smiled, and Wayd knew something else was happening. Something no one had seen before. Something that no one could be prepared for.
Thraegar lowered his axe, and a sudden push emanated from him. Anyone holding a weapon flew away from Thraegar instead of the weapons pulling toward them. They flew into the air, ripping through the
tent and exploding it outward.
The Thornclaw axe could not only pull weapons toward him, but also push them away.
Wayd looked up at Thraegar and feared for his life.
“I would ask you to give it to me,” Thraegar said viciously. “But I will enjoy prying it from your dead fingers.”
Then he raised his axe and struck.
Wayd watched in horror as the axe descended. He heard screams of protest from his friends. But he knew they could do nothing. He was trapped, defenseless, and would die on the cold earth of Draestl.
But then he remembered what was in his hands. The Horn of Grind. He could have it destroyed at the same time he was dying. If he did that, then the prophecy would be destroyed.
He thrust it into the air, bringing it above his head at the same time the axe crashed into it. They hit with tremendous force, and a thunderous explosion sounded. There was a rush of air and then everything was thrown up and away from the axe.
Wayd was disoriented from the blast and tried to regain his composure. He looked around. There was no sign of the tent. No sign of soldiers. A moment later they began picking themselves off the ground. He saw Owen, Malithan, General Fadden, and even Gauden trying to get to their feet. They still surrounded what remained of the command tent.
He turned to look at Thraegar. He stood with a smile on his face. Wayd was confused. Why didn’t he get blasted? How is he still here?
Then he saw what was in his hands. In one hand was the Thornclaw axe and in the other, the Horn of Grind. Somehow through the commotion he had obtained it. And the Horn was fully intact.
Wayd felt defeated. “Stop him!” he yelled.
A dragon appeared in the sky above them, its powerful wings pushing air at them as it descended to the ground.
Wayd heard shouts as Templars appeared, Templar Arthron at their head. Arthron rushed forward, but the dragon blasted a series of fire bolts that kept him back.
The dragon landed, and Thraegar mounted it. Then he reached out a hand toward Shadmay and pulled her up beside him. Korin moved after them and extended his hand, but Thraegar pulled his away.
“You have betrayed me for the last time, Korin Blackthorn,” Thraegar said menacingly. “Enjoy your fate with your newfound friends!”
And with that, Thraegar pushed Korin’s hand away and grabbed the reins of the dragon. The dragon lifted off as crossbow bolts fired after it. A few moments later, the dragon and its riders were a mere speck in the sky.
There was a momentary lull as everyone watched Thraegar and Shadmay escape. Disappearing as any remaining Draebek fled after them.
Then there was commotion. “Get him!” soldiers shouted as they moved toward Wayd.
But Wayd realized it wasn’t directed at him. They were after Korin. Korin stood staring after the dragon. He looked exhausted, his head the only part of him looking up. The rest of him sagged. Suddenly his hammer fell to the ground as he dropped it, and Korin dropped to his knees.
They locked eyes, and Wayd saw tears streaming freely from Korin’s eyes. He was in deep pain, and Wayd knew why. He was forsaken by one he considered to be his son. One he loved more than any other. One he tried to help.
Soldiers rushed forward.
“No,” Gauden pled as he tried to intervene, but soldiers pushed him out of the way and grabbed Korin roughly. They pulled his hands behind his back and then pushed him roughly onto his stomach. One soldier grabbed bindings and tied his wrists tightly. Then they began kicking him. Taking the anger of the day out on Korin. Gauden tried to interfere but he was pushed to the side.
“Stop!” Wayd yelled. He couldn’t believe how quickly everything had happened, but as he stared at Korin being pushed onto the ground and treated like a criminal, he remembered that none of them knew what Korin had done. Korin had saved them all. They needed to stop. He can’t be hurt. Not after what he has done…
He yelled at them to stop again, but no one was listening. General Fadden was giving commands. Something about not taking any prisoners. He didn’t want any reason for the Draebek to return, and he wanted to send a message to them in case they decided to attack again.
Wayd couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He shouted at them to stop. But they were too busy following orders. Wayd and Gauden shared a look. Gauden was gesturing at him to do something. Pleading with him to interfere.
Why is Gauden looking at me like that? What can I do that he can’t?
Then it hit him. He was the highest-ranked person in the entire army. I am a prince of Ardonor. Fourth in line to the throne.
He cleared his throat, and when no one regarded him, he raised his voice.
“As prince of Alderidon, I command you to stop!” Wayd yelled.
The force of his command was powerful enough that the area grew still. They regarded him, and Wayd felt dozens of eyes staring at him. Everyone except Korin and Gauden.
Gauden looked relieved. Korin looked grateful. He mouthed something that Wayd could barely decipher due to the dwarf’s thick beard. Something about Grindhold law. And deserving it. Wayd was surprised at how wonderful it made him feel to earn Korin’s respect and gratitude.
“What is this?” General Fadden asked. He turned to Malithan, who looked at the dwarf warily. General Fadden pointed directly at Wayd. “You may be a prince, but I’m the one in charge here. What is the meaning of this?”
“He helped us,” Wayd explained quickly. “It was his idea that caused the disunity among the Draebek. He’s the reason they are fleeing, the reason—”
“That is still no reason for us to keep him alive!” General Fadden yelled. “These Draebek killed thousands of us! And for no reason except greed for our lands. They are bloodthirsty, savage—”
“He saved my life! Twice!” Wayd screamed back. He couldn’t believe the emotions that were filling him, but he couldn’t watch Korin be executed. He had to do something.
“That is very well,” General Fadden said. “But he is still a leader of their forces. He will be tried and then executed.”
“By the power of my station,” Wayd began, feeling his emotions building again. He had to stop this. He knew how a trial would end. Korin would be executed. “I command you to stop. And so help me,” Wayd said as General Fadden began to argue, “I will invoke the help of my family if you don’t heed my words. You may know me as a little brat, but I can swear to you that King Maydyn and Darthyn Scot view me as family. I have never been one to ask much of them, so they will listen if I ask this favor. Do not tempt me.”
There was a rippling silence as everyone recognized the defiant and rebellious threat Wayd had just levied. He couldn’t believe he did it, but he knew this was the only way to save Korin’s life. He could see in the eyes of the defenders that they wanted revenge, and couldn’t blame them. All had lost friends and many had lost family today. He would want the same.
But it wasn’t Korin’s fault. It was Thraegar’s. He couldn’t allow the defenders’ anger to be directed toward the one who had actually saved them all.
He opened his mouth to reiterate his point when Owen stepped forward. He walked over to Korin and drew his sword. Wayd was suddenly terrified. What is Owen doing?
But then Owen sliced Korin’s bonds free and pulled him to his feet. Then he turned toward General Fadden, Malithan, and the others. “I too invoke the power of my stations, as, uh, the son of your commander,” he said, losing confidence with each word. “And curse me and turn me into a dragon,” he said as he gestured his sword in their direction. “I’m tired of hearing Wayd beg, so to get him to stop, I’m with him. If you want this Draebek,” the tone of his voice made it sound like he wasn’t exactly sure why they were protecting him, “then you have to go through me too.”
“And the Wolves,” others said as they gathered around Owen.
Wayd felt such admiration that these men would risk their lives to protect someone simply because they trusted him. Someone who was an enemy. But the Wolves stepped forward as one, and so
on a small perimeter of exhausted soldiers surrounded Wayd and Korin.
Malithan had a proud look on his face, but General Fadden looked torn. He was obviously upset at being defied, but he, too, relaxed after a moment.
“What a day,” he said after a moment. Then he began waving his hand in their direction. “Very well. You say he helped save us, then we’ll allow him to stay, as a prisoner. As with the rest of any Draebek survivors. After all, we aren’t barbarians like them. Let’s act like the humans we are.”
“A prisoner?” Wayd clarified. He felt his anger rising again. Korin deserved more than that.
But it was Korin who spoke. “Prince Waydsyn Scot, you have done enough. I will submit myself to be a prisoner for the pain that I have caused.” Then he turned to General Fadden and held out his arms in a gesture of submission. “I vow I will honor my commitment as a prisoner.”
General Fadden gestured for the soldiers near him to take him away, and they gruffly pulled him to his feet and began to haul him away. Then General Fadden turned toward the remaining soldiers. “After the rest of the Draebek! Let’s make sure they don’t return!”
Wayd watched them go, and a moment later Owen, Gauden, Malithan, and Arthron joined him. They relayed the day’s events, and Wayd listened patiently. He was grateful to see them, grateful that they were all alive, but he couldn’t stop thinking about Korin and the sacrifices that he had made. For them.
But then he caught himself. It wasn’t for them. He did it because he believed the Draebek could be better than they are today.
He told himself that he needed to talk with Korin one day about all of this to help him understand it better.
Then he turned his attention to his friends. They all looked exhausted, and every single one of them had numerous wounds. But wounds heal, and all of them had their lives.
As soldiers began to disperse and begin the massive task of cleaning up, Wayd followed the other leaders back toward what was left of Draestl. He was astonished at the destruction he witnessed. The defenses had been obliterated in less than a day.
Siege of Draestl Page 30