“If they see her—” Glanen started to say.
“—it won't even matter!” Adsuni argued. “They already know what she is, and they were already planning on killing her. We've nothing to lose. Glanen, my father is up there, and he might still be alive!”
Glanen shook his head. “After all this? It's a fool's hope, prince! Think of your people!”
“I am! We're not strong enough on our own, Glanen! We – we can't do this by ourselves. We need her strength. We need...”
Aasimah's eyes narrowed.
“What do you need?”
Glanen grabbed Adsuni and pulled him away just before an arrow could strike him.
“Not now!” he roared, dragging the prince away. But Adsuni had enough of being dragged around. He had enough of being told what to do, of being forced into situations not of his choosing. He wriggled out of Glanen's grasp.
“Stop!” Adsuni yelled, fuming.
“What were you about to say?” Aasimah demanded.
“Can't we do this later?” Glanen asked, then cursing as he tried to shield them all from their attackers. They were out of the fray – for now, but they would definitely be pursued if they revealed themselves trying to flee. He scanned the area, looking for more places to take cover. The broken down wagon they currently hid behind would not protect them for long.
“Fine, I'll say it! We need someone powerful. We need—”
“—you need a monster,” Aasimah finished for him. “To fight monsters, you want me to become one, don't you?”
Her expression was unreadable, and that unsettled the prince far more than if she were openly infuriated. He couldn't blame her; she was almost executed just for being what she was, and she passed for human up until then. As far as the prince knew, she hadn't committed any crimes severe enough to warrant such a punishment.
“No,” Aasimah said at last. “I won't do it.”
The prince hung his head in shame.
“All right, Aasimah. I – I accept your choice.”
“What are we going to now?” Glanen asked, looking about nervously.
“I have to go back for my father! I can't just leave him at their mercy.”
Glanen looked at him incredulously. “Your father would want you to escape with your life, my prince! Think of the kingdom! Think of what were to happen if both of you should perish!”
“This isn't about the kingdom, Glanen! This is isn't about the king at all, it's about my father!”
“Let's go,” Aasimah said, already starting to leave their hiding spot. She withdrew her knife. It wouldn't do much at all against their enemies, but it was a start.
Glanen nodded his agreement, however much he might otherwise disapprove. He would follow the prince to the very ends of the world. He would lay down his life for him without a second thought. His best friend, his family... Yes, Glanen would stay by his side to the very end.
“You know, if we survive long enough to get up there, we're going to be facing up against Konrad,” Adsuni reminded him.
“Let me worry about that.”
“Glanen—!”
But the knight would not be swayed.
“Listen, I'll clear a path for you,” he said, determination burning in his eyes. “Just stay behind me, and I'll get you back to the king! Are you ready?”
Adsuni knew he could never truly be ready for what they were about to do, but he wasn't about to tell his friend so. He bobbed his head up and down frantically, terrified and certain that his bladder was about to burst.
“On the count of three! One – two – three!”
Glanen took off, with Adsuni and Aasimah close behind. He darted between combatants here and there, stopping only when attacked. After felling a few attackers, Glanen continued on toward the palace. Try as he might, Adsuni could not match his pace, and found himself being distanced from his friend.
“Damn!” he said, stopping and gasping for breath.
“Prince!” Aasimah called, standing anxiously beside him. “We missed our chance! We have to fight our way through!”
Soon, they were surrounded, and the prince knew a fear unlike anything he had ever experienced before.
“Aw, and I here I was hoping you'd make it out of this,” said one man, one of the few remaining Dinavhene guards. “I was pulling for you. Well, no hard feelings, then. I've got my orders!”
He lashed out toward Adsuni, striking him hard across the face. The prince staggered back. He remained standing through sheer force of will. He tasted blood and was dimly aware of it trickling out of the corner of his mouth. He coughed and reached up to wipe it off with the sleeve of his robe.
The man struck out again, but this time, he was unable to make contact, for Aasimah came to his defense. She held him off with her dagger. Slowed as he was by his heavy armor, he was unable to keep up with her; she had him on the ground in a blink of an eye.
But this man served Dinavhek for two decades, and he had no small amount of experience in fighting for his life, and the royal family's – even if he did switch sides. He brought Aasimah down with him, and soon, the rest of their attackers were joining in.
“Stop! I surrender!” Adsuni called out.
One of the men seized him by his upper arm. “That is wise of you, lad. If you'd said that a bit earlier, we might've spared your little lady friend. Now, you've forced our hand.”
“Aasimah!”
His friend did not answer. Adsuni couldn't bear to look. He averted his gaze when he saw the first axe swing, grimaced when he heard a pained cry.
Then, there was a scream of terror, and it came not from her, but from a man. Following that, he heard the sound of snapping jaws, and a deep growl.
Aasimah.
“Father!” Glanen shouted upon reaching the entry hall. “Father, this is madness! Just come out, I beg!”
“Are you sure that's what you want?” Konrad's voice called from above.
Glanen looked up, seeing his father leaning over the railing of the third floor, looking down upon him coldly.
“Well, you're out now, so what does it matter?” Glanen asked.
“Mind your tongue, boy!”
“I don't think I will, thanks.”
“My dear, foolish son, you were always impulsive. Ever have you followed your heart, so much so that I often wonder if there is even a mind to pair with it!”
Glanen scowled.
“Come down here!” he demanded.
“And if I do? What will you do, then, I wonder? Will you strike your own father?”
Glanen paled. He had no answer for that question.
“That's what I thought. It doesn't matter either way... King Zaeem is dead.”
“No!” Glanen roared. “You're lying, you must be! This is – this is a trick, a lie. You're protecting him, aren't you? You're still a Knight of Dinavhek, damn it! There's no way you could betray the King – our families grew up together! There's no way!”
Konrad began descending the staircase, taking evenly measured steps.
“I did betray my friend, son. What I did, I did for the good of Dinavhek. His rule was weak, and even weaker still would be the prince's. I could not allow them to continue destroying the place I've come to see as a home.”
Glanen backed away as his father drew near. He couldn't believe what he was hearing – he wouldn't! He couldn't...
There had to be more to it than this.
“How can you say that? How many bodies litter the ground right now – friends! People we've known for years! How can you say you're protecting your home when you're the one invading it?”
“I should have known you wouldn't be able to understand. Sometimes, we have to make sacrifices for the greater good.”
“And you think imprisoning children is for the greater good?” Glanen asked accusingly. “I saw the boy, father! I freed him. How could you? How? After everything you taught me... a knight's honor! Our family values! Are they meaningless? Were you lying to me about those, too?”
>
At last, Konrad reached him. He stood a few paces away from his son, his face solemn. For a moment, Glanen thought he detected a hint of remorse in his father's eyes, but it quickly vanished. His features hardened, and the man that stood before him now no longer bore a resemblance to the kindly father he once knew.
“I was.”
His answer was short and abrupt, and it cut deeply into the young man's heart. He always thought he'd know if his father was lying, that he would be able to detect it easily, but this time, he wasn't sure, and that frightened him.
Without warning, Konrad lashed out, striking Glanen across the face with an open palm. In his other hand, he held his sword. Though he did not attack Glanen directly with the weapon, his intent was obvious enough.
“Fight me!”
Glanen yelped and fell back, holding a hand up to his burning cheek and staring at his father in horror and confusion.
“What? No!”
Konrad rushed forward, striking at him again. This time, he slammed the hilt of his sword into Glanen's side. The younger man sucked in a breath, shocked by the sudden excruciating pain. Konrad was relentless; again and again he struck out.
“You must fight,” he urged. “If you truly are the great knight I raised you to be, then you must prove it, here and now! Fight!”
Glanen took his next blow, and the one after that, without so much as raising a hand. “What game are you playing?”
“Game? You think this a game? This is your life, son! This is the prince's life! The lives of all of your friends! If you think we will not pursue you – all of you, to the edge of the world, you are gravely mistaken. If you want to live, you will fight!”
“To Hysia with you,” Glanen swore, spitting blood at his feet. “Damn you, I don't want to do this!”
But Konrad would not back down. He continued to strike out at his son, and Glanen fumbled, clumsily blocking each attack.
***
Adsuni's heart fluttered.
“Aasimah?” he called, voice thick with concern.
He could not see her, at first. All he saw was soldiers and guards striking out with their swords and axes. He felt something sharp press against his lower back.
“Not another word,” his captor warned. “I think I've heard enough out of you for the night. The Queen will surely understand if I dispatch you here and now. After all, it was your man that shot her.”
The prince considered his captor's instructions. No matter what he did next, he was bound to die. If he could possibly save Aasimah, or at least be a thorn in his enemy's side, that would be enough for him.
“Aasimah! If you're still here, get out! Run!”
“Hey, I told you—!”
A thundering growl pierced the air, causing the man to falter.
This time, Adsuni knew there was no mistaking it. He definitely heard it this time! So, too, did his captor, who let the prince go with a shriek as a large black creature hurtled toward him.
Could it be?
A large black wolf leaped toward Adsuni's captor, catching him by his upper arm. Her fangs closed about him, and she thrashed violently, shaking him with such ferocity that she took him right off his feet. He shrieked and struggled against her, but her grip was strong. She tugged, and Adsuni heard the snapping of bones as she broke his arm.
Adsuni couldn't bear to watch her do this. He thought he could stomach it, thought he could handle watching her become the monster he feared her to be. He was wrong.
“Aasimah!” he shouted.
The wolf stopped short of finishing the injured man off, turning her head to the side to look fully upon the prince.
Though she was the same size as she had been in her human form, Aasimah seemed far more intimidating in this one. Her bushy black fur made her appear much larger than any normal wolf. Her eyes seemed to glow, just as they had that night he and Glanen found her. The prince could no longer recognize Aasimah, could not see the woman he'd come to know and trust when he gazed into the monster's feral eyes.
“Beast! It's one of them!” shouted one of the guards, raising his lance.
“No!” Adsuni cried out, not even sure anymore who he was speaking to. He just wanted the bloodshed to stop.
Aasimah snarled, baring a set of very long and very sharp fangs. Soon, she was surrounded, with no means of escape. But the beast had no intention of fleeing. Instead, she lunged, knocking the spear out of the first opponent's arms. Her jaws closed around his throat, and Adsuni heard a sickening crunching sound as her fangs splintered his bones.
One of the men from behind her stabbed out with his spear, goring one of her thighs. Aasimah spun around, catching the end of the spear with her mouth. They struggled for a moment before she managed to wrest it from the man's grasp. Aasimah wasted no time in taking him down. Adsuni could not bear to watch her tear his throat out. He closed his eyes and backed away, knowing that he was putting himself at risk. He knew, too, that she would not allow him to perish here.
The wolf's rampage continued. More men rushed out to attack her, and more of them met a bloody end. Adsuni slumped to the ground, taking comfort in the pillar against his back. He held his hands over his face, shielding himself from the horrors of the battle as much as he could. More than once, he heard Aasimah yelp as an enemy laid a successful hit, only to be followed by shouts, groans, and the occasional gurgle. Adsuni was glad that Glanen was not present for this.
I asked her to do this, the prince reminded himself. I asked her to become this!
The fighting finally came to a stop, but Adsuni did not yet open his eyes. He merely huddled on the cold ground, shivering, shielding himself as much as he could.
He heard the clicking and clacking of the wolf's great claws against the stone tiles. Her breathing came in the form of labored panting, and he could have sworn he heard a soft whine as she drew near.
Only when he felt the cold, wet nose of the wolf press against his hands did he lower them. Only then did he choose to look into the eyes of the monster.
Aasimah stood before him, her head held low, staring deeply at him. It was the same intense stare that she'd given him that day in the market. That same look she always gave him.
“Aasimah?” Adsuni asked hoarsely.
Her ears perked at the sound of her name, and her eyes softened. She lifted her head, gently wagging her tail.
This was no monster, this was Aasimah. She stood before him now, covered in blood. She had punctures and tears all around her body, her tongue lolled out of her mouth, and she looked as if she might soon collapse.
Which she did.
Into his outstretched arms.
For a moment, he held her – Aasimah, the monster.
Aasimah, his friend.
“Fight back!” Konrad shouted.
“No!” Glanen cried, his eyes pleading, begging his father to cease his merciless assault. Unfortunately for them both, Konrad was just as stubborn as his son. He struck out, and this time, Glanen did not block his attack. His father's sword scraped and bounced off of his shoulder guard, narrowly missing him. If his aim had been just a bit more accurate, Glanen would be mortally wounded.
“Is this all the fight you have left in you?” Konrad asked, frustrated. “Is this what has become of my son?”
“I won't fight you!”
“You will,” Konrad promised. “Or you will die. Defender of the Prince, come and face me!”
“No! I – I love you,” Glanen shouted defiantly.
Konrad's eyes widened. He fell back a step, stunned. Now it was Glanen's turn to attack, but he stayed perfectly still, choosing not to press his advantage.
“I won't do this. I won't tear our family apart! I love you.”
His father shook his head. Determination took hold of him. “It does not matter. Love has no place in war.”
Again, he struck out.
Again, Glanen refused to fight back. “You're wrong! You're wrong! I love you. Still, father. I love you still!”
“Father... I love you,” he said through gritted teeth, dropping his sword. He heard it clang against the hard stone floor. He felt dizzy; the breath left his body, and he was sure that he was soon going to meet his end.
And by his own father's hands!
“Glanen!” he heard someone call from afar.
He recognized that voice...
Prince Adsuni!
Glanen's gaze darted to the side, and he could see his friend standing in the open doorway with an enormous black wolf by his side. Aasimah! So she did transform for him, after all. Areas of her fur appeared shiny and matted, as though covered in sticky dried blood. It was impossible to tell how much of it was hers from looks alone, but she stood proud and strong, regardless of what injuries she might have suffered through.
Aasimah did not wait for the prince to give her an order. Upon seeing Glanen pinned by his father, bruised and beaten, the wolf bounded forward. With a growl, she launched herself at Konrad. Her fangs closed about his forearm, and she thrashed, shaking her head this way and that, tearing through his bracer and piercing his flesh.
Konrad cried out and stumbled back, but he was a seasoned warrior, a proud knight, and he would not be taken down so easily. He remained on his feet, refusing to let the wolf push him down.
“Aasimah – please!” Glanen begged through gritted teeth. Adsuni rushed to his side, crouching next to him. Dazed as he was, Glanen wasn't even aware that he'd fallen. “Aasimah!” he called again.
The wolf released Konrad, her fangs dark and stained with the great knight's blood. She panted, and her blood-covered fur stood straight out. She gave the knight a warning growl, never taking her eyes off of him.
Konrad backed away, holding his injured arm to his chest. The flesh had been torn apart, and though he was a good distance away, Adsuni could swear he caught a glimpse of bone. He felt sick, and it took every ounce of his strength not to vomit on the spot. He could hardly believe Aasimah was capable of such a thing!
Dinavhek- The Fall Page 29