Wraith King 3

by Jack Porter

  I raised an eyebrow. “I’m not too interested in Maelon’s seconds,” I said. “Especially those who helped him murder the men who followed him. But I release you to go to wherever and whoever you want. It just doesn’t need to be me. I have no use or desire for harem of women whom I win in combat.”

  One of the warriors stepped forward then, a big man with a long beard. “You are insulting these elves who have given their lives for our cause.”

  “And since I don’t agree with their cause,” I said, turning toward the man, “then I have no need for their pledges, or oaths that can be so easily broken, even in death. What would happen if I hadn’t killed Maelon? Would they still have come to me? And then, if someone were to best me or show that they were stronger than me? Would they abandon me for him?” I shook my head. “No thanks, I’m good with the companions I have.”

  I shot Sarina a look, telling her that I was ready to leave.

  The bearded man acted as if he wasn’t going to let me go, and so I walked over to him and used his sleeve to wipe the blood of his warlord from my sword.

  Then I looked into his eyes. “If this cause means so much to you, then you can have the harem. However,” and this time I raised my voice, “any of you found raiding, pillaging, raping, kidnapping, or killing the innocent people of Hell, know that you will make an enemy of me. And there will be no justice for you except death.”

  And with that, I began to walk out of the ring.

  In the next moment, I heard everyone murmur and a few screams, and I turned to see Sarina had shifted into a Hellhound. She was growling at two of the men who had strode forward, one of them the bearded man, and both of them carrying daggers. They looked at her, but instead of being intimidated and backing down, they lunged for her.

  Sarina towered over them, though. She dodged the first man and sank her teeth into his arm. There was a sickening crunch of bones. She shook her head, and the arm ripped completely free from his body. The man began to scream. The next man, not learning from his asshole friend, tried to stab one of Sarina’s eyes. But in a swift move, she shifted out of the way, dropped the arm that was in her mouth, and took the man’s head in her jaws. Before he could even try to stab her, she had sunk her teeth through the flesh of his neck, and he went limp.

  She let the man’s body fall on top of his companion, who was still screaming as the blood pumped from his shoulder.

  “Anyone else?” I asked. I really didn’t want to battle. I hoped that without a leader, many of them when slink off and disband. Perhaps the threat would be somewhat neutralized, and I wouldn’t have to worry about them harrying our backs as we attacked the Wraith King or anyone else.

  And that was exactly what seemed to happen. A few hurried forward to grab the bodies of their dead, including their warlord and his severed head, and they backed away. Within a few moments, the camp had become almost deserted. I knew better than to think they had gone very far, but as long as we were allowed to leave in peace I didn’t much care.

  If any of them turned up again, I swore to kill them. But I was giving them the chance to do the right thing. Hopefully, following Maelon had just been the result of being hoodwinked by a master manipulator.

  I looked at the elves who had come with me, at Ilana standing next to Kali, and at Wren standing with the elves.

  Raven didn’t speak to me, but she did give me a look that was one of betrayal. She hadn’t known exactly who I was, and I purposefully hadn’t told her before we’d come here. But that was okay. Everything had turned out fine.

  I looked to Kali and nodded. “Are you well enough to go home?”

  She gave me a faint smile, and her blue eyes glowed more brightly than ever. “Yes, Jon-man. I have been ready ever since I got here.”

  35

  Our walk back to the city of the wood elves was a quiet one, and we actually took a different route than we’d taken to get there, just in case some of the warriors decided to circle back and try to find us. The wood elves looked happy, and I caught smiles and whispers as they walked. They were happy to have their Queen back, and I was happy to have helped.

  But something was bothering me, and so halfway through the evening, when the red sky was fading, I caught up to Kali and walked beside her.

  “If you’ve come to ask about Maelon the Deceiver and what I told him before your battle, that is not information I can provide,” she said.

  Shocked, I turned her. “How did you know?”

  She smiled demurely. “I have been doing this a long time, Jon-man. But others’ fortunes are not for me to tell. And anyway, I was only bound to tell him because of the magic they had placed around me.”

  We began walking again, and I asked, “But if what you said is true, and he was satisfied with your answer, then you must have been able to tell him something that satisfied him. Do you always tell the truth?”

  Kali nodded. “Always. I am bound to tell it, even if it means my death. However, that does not mean I cannot keep portions of the truth from the wrong ears.”

  She glanced at me, and I smiled.

  “So that’s why he thought the battle would end in his favor,” I said.

  “Yes,” Kali said. “There have been a few times in the years that I was his captive, when I was able to convince him to take an alternate course by only showing him part of his future. It is how I have been protecting you for several weeks.”

  “You have?”

  “When you first entered Maelon’s village, he had already decided to put you to the death. The plan was to murder you in your sleep. But I convinced him that he shouldn’t.”

  “I assume the information told him something about his future that suggested I should be alive?” It didn’t make any sense. “But you can’t tell me…”

  The elf queen shook her head. “No, I cannot. Since he was convinced that I couldn’t lie to him, he allowed you to go free.”

  “And Ferlenna?” I asked. “Why was she killed for helping me?”

  “I convinced him to send out a band of warriors to kill her.”

  “But why?” I asked.

  “Perhaps you are not ready to hear all of this yet, Jon. Yes, I was able to manipulate Maelon that way sometimes.”

  I was trying to respect her wishes, trying not to overload her with questions, but I had many, and I was slightly infuriated that after rescuing her, she couldn’t be bothered to answer a few of them. However, all I said was, “That sounds risky.”

  “It was. I had to be very careful. Because if things didn’t end up working out for Maelon, then he would know what I was doing to him. He wanted me so that he could gain more power.”

  “So that’s how he ended up with so many men and women under him?” I lowered my voice. “But what attracted his harem of elves to him? His magic was powerful, true, but it didn’t seem as powerful as most of the elves.”

  “You have allowed your brief interactions with him to cloud your judgment,” she said. “He was named Maelon the Deceiver for a reason.”

  Finally, Raven strode forward, keeping pace with us and walking on my other side. “You have bothered our queen enough for tonight,” she said. “Do you ever stop asking questions, human?”

  I laughed. “Probably not. But I’ll leave you alone. However, I would like a chance to speak with you before I leave.”

  “And when will that be?” Raven asked. Her tone suggested that she couldn’t wait for that to happen, and I was slightly puzzled.

  “Did I do something to offend you?”

  “I thought I’d already made that clear,” she said. “You deceived us, Jon. You did not reveal who you were. For all we know, you could have been fighting Maelon so you could have taken over his title and his warriors. Jon the Deceiver. It has a terrible ring to it.”

  “I’m not sorry for not telling you who I am. It is not something many people know, nor is it something that I generally announce to the public.”

  “But you enjoyed announcing it, did you not?” Raven aske
d.

  “Hush now,” Kali said. “I knew who he was, and considering your reaction, I suppose it was wise that he kept it to himself. And anyway, I am tired. Can we not walk the rest of the way in peace?”

  I nodded to Raven and then fell back to walk again with Sarina and Ilana. After telling them about the conversation, neither of them seemed surprised by Raven’s reaction. We passed the rest of the journey in peace, as Kali had requested, and soon after dawn, we arrived at the city of the wood elves.

  36

  Before I could even go check on my horse, a raven arrived from Nya, the first one in weeks, and when I saw it, it filled me with both relief and dread. Nya was alive. But the message must have been urgent.

  It was short—one sentence.

  Riding for Crowmore.

  That’s all it said. What was I supposed to make of that? I showed it to Ilana, who took it and turned the paper over multiple times before sighing.

  “I guess she just wanted to reassure us that she’s okay?” she asked.

  “I don’t know,” I said. “But the humans and elves should not be fighting. I’ve spent too long away, and too much time looking for this ridiculous Elfstone. Nya and Syn may need me.

  “But Jon—” Ilana began.

  I shook my head, “Talking with Kali will have to wait. The pursuit of the prophecy can wait. We need to get our horses and get ready to leave.”

  I began to walk away, thinking to saddle my mare right away. If we left then, we were only a few days’ ride to the plains, and perhaps we could intercept Nya before she reached Crowmore.

  But Raven turned up then, and it was as if she had been listening. And maybe she had been. “Please stay with us one more night,” she said.

  “I can’t,” I said. “I’ve already spent too much time here.”

  “So you think we are a waste of time? You think that saving our queen was beneath you?”

  “I didn’t say that at all, but now I believe I’m needed elsewhere.”

  “Please,” Raven said, taking my hand. “I regret my harsh words earlier. After talking with Kali, she has reminded me. Please eat our evening meal with us tonight, one last time before you leave. We will make sure that you have provisions to get you where you need to go. And Kali would hate for you to leave without saying goodbye, and she is currently sleeping.”

  I remembered the last time I stayed and ate a meal with the elves, and although it had led to a bonding that I wouldn’t soon forget, I couldn’t afford to be delayed much longer. Still, Raven had a point, and perhaps I could use the evening meal as an opportunity to talk to the wood elves about coming with me.

  As soon as the thought hit my head, I grew faintly excited. If I could convince them to come with me, or even to send some warriors, it would go a long way in helping unite the peoples of Hell.

  So I nodded. “All right, one more meal, and we will stay the night. I know we are all tired and need rest anyway. Thank you for the invitation.”

  Raven smiled and let go of my hand, and I watched her walk away.

  Next it was Ilana’s turn to look confused, but I nodded toward the stables, and she followed me. As we walked to the other section of the city, I told her about my plan.

  “Do you think they owe this to you?” she asked when I was done.

  “Not exactly,” I said. “But it would benefit not only me but them as well.”

  “Says the man who has nothing to lose and everything to gain,” she said. Ilana looked at me sadly.

  “You are wrong,” I said. “I have everything to lose.” I pulled her into a hug, kissed her forehead, and then went to check on my horse.

  The evening meal was even more elaborate than the previous one. As was to be expected, the elves were joyfully having their queen restored to them. She was led to the head of the table, and I was asked to sit across from Raven, beside Kali. My companions sat in a row to my right, and it seemed the rest of the city had come to dine with us as well, and many had brought cushions, blankets, or were sitting on the ground.

  Kali was dressed in a simple green dress that fell to the ground. It wasn’t pulled up by a sash and seemed to hang from her shoulders, but she looked elegant in it nonetheless.

  After the poison and the berries, I felt the same effects take hold, only this time they seemed much stronger, and lasted far longer. Kali herself seemed tired, and I wondered if this had something to do with how quiet she had been that evening. I’d heard that she’d slept most of the day, and wondered if the dark magic that had kept her bound was finally wearing off.

  Still, communing with the elves had emboldened me regarding my request. And I was determined not to let her leave the table without bringing it up.

  “Kali,” I said, “and Raven, I want to thank you for your hospitality once more. And I think you know why I can’t stay after tomorrow, and why I feel like it is the right decision to return to the dark elves and try to help them. The last thing we want is war, but if it comes to that, we need to end it as swiftly as possible so that few die.”

  I think they knew what I was about to ask, for Raven frowned, and Kali looked even more tired.

  “I would like to ask you to go with me to help. To reunite with your kin and join with me in uniting the races of Hell against the Wraith King. I know it’s a big ask, and I wouldn’t request it of you unless I thought you were needed.”

  Kali said nothing, but continued to stare into her goblet. Raven, however, looked like her anger would return.

  “We just got our queen back,” she said again. “But even if we could leave her, or even ask her to march us into war or battle, we can’t risk leaving our homes unguarded. If we leave, the warlord’s rogues can still raid and pillage. Perhaps, since he is dead, they will be even bolder about crossing into our lands in their search for food. And what would that mean for our children?”

  At this, Kali stood and raised her goblet once more. The rest of us followed, and drained our cups of whatever was left.

  When she set hers down, she looked at me, and there were tears in her eyes. “If you will not seek my counsel on this, then I cannot help you. For that is the only aid I can provide.”

  “With all due respect,” I said. “I don’t really have time, unless you wish to give it here.”

  Kali shook her head.

  It was something I had been thinking about, but if she was able to lie by omission to Maelon, couldn’t she do the same thing to me? I knew she had kept me safe, or so she had said. And I had no reason to disbelieve her. However, I still didn’t quite believe in all the hocus-pocus. Predicting the future seemed to be a nebulous sort of magic. After all, Maelon had believed in her so much that it had led to his death. And I knew what my course of action needed to be.

  “I am sorry,” I said finally. “Maybe someday. And I do understand why you can’t leave your home. I wish I had a solution for you, but I don’t.” I looked at Raven again. “Thank you again.”

  “We owe you much, Jon,” she said. “And maybe someday we can repay you.”

  I nodded, and then left for my quarters, with Sarina, Ilana, and Wren following. We would leave at first light, and I knew I wouldn’t dine with the wood elves again.

  37

  Once we reached our quarters, Sarina set about removing the clothing she had borrowed from the elves. Ilana and Wren were already getting ready for bed, which for them meant to shed their clothing completely. My eyes lingered on Wren for a moment before Sarina spoke.

  “We won’t need to keep watch tonight,” she said. “The elves do a fine job with that, and it will allow all of us to get some much-needed rest.”

  I could tell there was something else on her mind. “And?” I asked.

  Sarina balled up the dress before tossing it onto a low table next to the cave wall. “I agree that Nya needs help,” she said, “but I feel like it’s my duty to remind you of your goal the past few months and what’s at stake.”

  I sighed heavily. “Don’t you think I know that? I hav
en’t forgotten, and maybe there is something to the prophecy. But we have no leads, and I had thought or perhaps hoped that saving Kali would provide some new insight. But she is unable to help us with the prophecy any more than anyone else has.”

  “And whose fault is that?” Sarina asked, her eyebrow arching. “If you would stay and talk to her one-on-one, maybe she could—”

  “We don’t have time,” I said, interrupting. I rarely interrupted one of my girls, and I knew I was being rude, but I was tired of going around and around about this. “Maybe… Maybe I’m the wrong man. Maybe we can’t find any information about the prophecy because there isn’t one, at least about me. Maybe I’m going to turn into a monster. But if I do, I’d at least like to do some good in the world first, instead of chasing around imaginary leads.”

  “You have done good in the world,” Sarina said softly. She moved toward me, ran a hand around my shoulder, and then moved behind me to begin untying my hair. “You’ve changed countless lives already, Jon. I thought you knew that. You are not a monster. If anyone is a monster here, it’s me.”

  I laughed, took her hand, and pulled her back around to face me. “That’s impossible,” I said. And I smiled. “Look, let’s just go see if we can help Nya, help everything get calmed down, and then we can resume the search if that’s what needs to happen.”

  “I only hope that you will continue toward your destiny, Jon, and that you are not trying to run away from it. That you are not afraid of finding out more about who you are.”

  I recognized the small, infinitesimal flash of anger that rose up at her words, but at the same time, I realized she was right. What if finding out more about myself was even more horrible than what I’d already learned? I didn’t know how much more I could take. I wasn’t a coward, but I was also tired of learning what type of monsters I had been surrounded by at birth. And what if the prophecy said that I was going to kill everyone else, along with the Wraith King? That was another fear as well, one that I hadn’t voiced to the girls.