“Claiming it was an accident, he brought me to this cave. He removed the arrow and dressed the wound as best he could before leaving under the pretense of fetching some help. As soon as he left, I knew he would never return. Fever ravaged my body. I became delirious. The minutes slowly ticked into hours and the hours into days. I lost all sense of time. When death finally took me, I refused to leave this world.
“Delion betrayed me. He turned his back on the brother he had sworn to protect. Choosing to succeed where he had failed, I vowed to shelter any defenseless creatures that enter my tomb. Here I have been ever since. Here will I be until the end of the world. This is the path I have chosen.”
Irewen placed her hand over her heart. “I am sorry, Dremond. The elves are well known for their virtuousness. I would expect a human to commit murder over something so trivial, but not an elf.”
“There are disreputable people in every race, Irewen. It is true that the elves are generally more ethical than humans, but we are not exempt from despicable behavior. We have never claimed to be.”
Dremond paused, studying the princess intently. “Do you know what hunts you, Irewen?”
“Aye,” she answered, rather taken aback by the question. “They are men of my cousin, Elthad. Now King of Dargon.”
“They were once men. But no longer. They are the Drulaack, men who have been united with the spirits of evil kings and warriors of old. While their physical bodies can be killed, the spirits can never be destroyed. Like an insect, moving from leaf to leaf after eating its fill, the spirit simply enters the body of another person it deems fit to serve as its host. Many times it is the body of a male warrior, strong and muscular. But not always. There are women, as well as children, who have become Drulaack. For in order for their leader to fulfill his purpose, he must infiltrate people of every walk of life.”
“How can this be?” Irewen gasped. “How is it that neither my father nor I were aware of their existence?”
“Because your cousin Elthad was the first of them.”
“What!” Her voice came out in a high-pitched shriek. Her first instinct was to deny the shade’s accusation, though she couldn’t fathom why. She had absolutely no reason to come to Elthad’s defense. He’d destroyed any sense of loyalty she had towards him. Not even a thin shred of trust remained.
The more she thought of it, however, the more she came to realize Dremond’s words were true. Even now, she could sense the evil lurking in the depths of Elthad’s soul. The memory of their last meeting flashed through her mind. She was surprised, and rather ashamed, that she’d relied upon him for her safety. How could she not have seen? Was she really so blinded by her grief that she’d lost all sense of reason?
She shuddered to think how long Elthad had been plotting against her and her father. How many years had he spent calculating and preparing for their murders? Had he used his absence to protect the southern regions of Dargon as an excuse to further his cause? More importantly, was the supposed threat from Thaurod even real? Had Elthad simply needed a reason to roam the lands and amass supporters?
Cold chills ran down Irewen’s back.
How far was Elthad’s reach? How many men and women had secretly joined his cause? How many of Dargon’s citizens lived their daily lives like Trapper Spiders, lurking in the shadows of their homes, ready to jump from beneath the brush and pounce upon their victims the moment their backs were turned?
“How?” Irewen whispered, not sure she really wanted to know the answer. “When?”
“I cannot say how or when it happened, simply that it did. You must discover the answers to these questions on your own, for doing so will guide you towards fulfilling your destiny.”
“I do not understand.”
“Follow your heart, Irewen, and you will. I will protect you this day, but once the battle is over, you and the elf prince must leave. You are no longer safe here. The Drulaack will return. The next time they do, I will not be able to come to your aid.”
“But where shall I go?” she asked, the intense anxiety and distress evident in her voice.
“Seek the blood of the four races. There you will find your way. Farewell, Princess Irewen Donríel. We will not meet again.”
Dremond vanished before Irewen could respond. Once again, she was left on her own and very much afraid. She pulled Laegon’s cloak even tighter around her body, wishing instead that he was holding her close.
Gradually, her surroundings returned to normal. The strong floral scent dissipated, replaced by the crisp, dry scent of the cave. The nearly incomprehensible cold vanished, leaving the cavern’s familiar wintry air. Save for the hypnotic sound of rushing water, all signs of the elf shade’s visit had disappeared.
Dremond had said he would protect her this day. She believed him, but she was terrified to think of where she would go once the battle was won. The young elf had implied she and Laegon needed to leave immediately. As of yet, the journey into the depths of the cave was the first time she’d walked in five days. Needless to say, it’d been shaky at best. There was no way she’d have the strength to move at any decent pace.
For whatever reason, Laegon had refused to leave her in order to hunt for food. Although he’d tried to disguise it from her, she knew their provisions were almost exhausted. Now, they couldn’t wait for the rider sent by Lord Brandir to refresh their supply. They had no horse and no means of acquiring one. Not that it would make the slightest bit of difference. With this much snow on the ground, even a fool would be able to track their progress. At the slow pace she knew they’d have to take, they had no hope of outrunning the enemy.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t imagine a scenario in which they would succeed. Perhaps it would best if I simply remained here. If I am going to die, I would rather it be by the warmth of a fire than in the harsh coldness of snow and ice.
Shaking her head, she immediately rejected the idea. Laegon had already made it quite clear he wasn’t about to leave her. Dremond’s news wouldn’t do much to change his opinion. If she stayed, so would he. She couldn’t ask him to sit idly by and wait for death to take them.
Of course, this all depended on Laegon surviving the pending altercation. She started at the realization that she’d never given serious thought to the possibility he would die. Dremond seemed to think the prince would live, but how could he be certain?
Irewen’s eyes began to water at the prospect that she’d never see Laegon again. What would she do if such a scenario proved true? Almost immediately, she had an answer. No matter the outcome of the battle, she’d do everything in her power to make her way to Silverden. After all Laegon had done for her, she owed him that much at the very least.
The sound of angry screams abruptly wrenched her from her musings. She stiffened, realizing the battle had begun. Holding her breath, she strained to hear the commotion above the sound of the water which had drastically increased in volume. Curiosity took hold. Keeping close to the ground, she crept forward in hopes of gaining a better view of the entrance. She’d covered about half the distance of the cavern when she noticed three Drulaack standing just outside the mouth of the cave.
Their eyes locked on her and wicked smiles spread across their lips. Evil seeped from their bodies like the venom of a snake, slowly poisoning everything in its wake. One of the men unsheathed his sword with deliberate slowness, and the unmistakable ringing of metal resounded through the air.
She was alone, weak, and defenseless. They knew it.
One Drulaack took a step forward. A scream caught in Irewen’s throat. She shrank back into the shadows, praying that Dremond’s shade would hold true to his word. The enemy’s next step brought him just inside the mouth of the cave. Irewen’s heart jumped when a violent stream of water fell from the ceiling. The man struggled to break free, but the extreme force of the waterfall kept him pinned beneath its merciless onslaught.
Irewen desperately wanted to turn away, but she couldn’t. Her eyes remained glued to the
horrendous sight. The Drulaack finally fell still, and the waterfall disappeared as quickly as it had come.
The dead man’s two companions stared at his body, their expressions a mass of confusion and disbelief. For a moment, Irewen thought they might retreat, but her feeble hopes were dashed. The Drulaack returned their attention to her, looks of unmitigated hatred plastered on their faces.
Apparently deciding that caution hadn’t served their partner, they ran inside the cave. Roaring furiously, they drew their swords. They only made it a few steps inside the entrance. Water instantly shot up from the floor like a geyser and burst forth from the walls and ceiling. Both Drulaack stopped dead in their tracks, watching Irewen incredulously as the water passed harmlessly through her body. Admittedly, until the water reached the men and their eyes widened in fear, she herself had believed, for one terrifying moment, that Dremond had failed.
The men turned to run, but it was too late. The cave quickly filled with water, trapping them inside. They struggled helplessly against the strong current. Thrashing desperately to keep their heads above the surface, they tried to swim towards the entrance. The waters swirled violently, snaring the Drulaack in the whirlpool.
The water churned harmlessly around Irewen where she huddled against a wall. She watched the enemy’s hopeless battle against death as they were thrown about the cave like rag dolls. Without warning, the water vanished. The lifeless bodies crashed to the floor with a revolting thud.
The ensuing silence was more deafening than the rushing of the whirlpool. Sitting motionlessly, Irewen waited for the sound of Laegon’s footsteps.
Laegon’s aim was just as true on his second shot as it was on the first. He watched with both satisfaction and relief when the force of the blow careened his victim backwards, sending him plunging heavily into the snow.
«And another.»
«Well done, Protector.»
Screaming with rage, the remaining two men ran towards Laegon in a fury. Casting his bow aside, he expertly drew the two short swords strapped to his back.
«This is where I will need your help, Brégen. My accuracy with the bow has left them in a frenzy. These two are the weakest of the four but will still easily overpower me. They expect me to fall quickly and will not hold back. Their armour is heavy, and their weapons are larger and more cumbersome than mine. I need lightness and agility.»
The lion’s reply was swift. «Of course, my friend. What is your strategy?»
«Whatever possesses these men,» Laegon noted, «they are still at least partly human. Though their armour and weapons would serve them well in a quick fight, the same will not hold true for a battle that lingers. Laden down by the weight of their gear, they will tire more quickly than I. I intend to let time become their downfall.» His lips spread into a sly smile. «I will be the fly they cannot catch.»
«Your crafty mind has warmed my heart, my cunning prince,» beamed Brégen. «Do not worry. We will keep you as light as a feather and as quick as a mouse laughing at you as it skitters away from a trap with a mouth full of cheese.»
«I sometimes think Silevethiel’s reflexes are even quicker than those of a mouse,» Laegon retorted. «Especially when disciplining you for your endearing remarks. Still, I suppose your simile will work just as well.»
«If you don’t watch your tongue, I may decide to make you move as though you were trying to run through a giant pool of molasses.»
«No you won’t. Drell and Silevethiel would never let you.»
Brégen’s playful giggle danced through Laegon’s mind when the intruders finally reached the top of the hill. Both men lunged at him with drawn swords. The power of the three Guardians was immediately apparent. He effortlessly parried the first swing and nimbly pivoted clear of the second.
He knew he’d guessed correctly when the men turned and rushed at him once again. Despite their towering frames and awesome strength, they were no match for the combined power of the three Guardians. Even taking into consideration whatever evil they’d aligned with, the men weren’t going to be difficult opponents.
Laegon was content to remain on the defensive and continued to outmaneuver his enemies, noting their mounting frustration with smug satisfaction. Irate that their opponent was proving more formidable than they’d expected, they became reckless. One of the men abandoned all sense of composure and lunged towards Laegon in desperation. The elf quickly took advantage of the opportunity. With the Guardians guiding him, he swiftly stepped to the side. He homed in on the exposed area beneath the helmet and drove both of his swords into the enemy’s neck. The man convulsed in shock before falling still, his blood turning the pure white snow a brilliant crimson.
The remaining enemy’s death quickly followed.
Laegon sensed Brégen’s ferocious hunger. After allowing the Guardian to control his movements, he rushed towards his opponent with shocking speed. There was no time for the enemy to react. The prince jumped in the air, spiraling in a whirlwind of fury. His left sword crashed down upon his adversary, causing the man’s weapon to hurl from his grasp. Quicker than the blink of an eye, Laegon’s remaining sword sliced through the warrior’s neck, cleanly severing the man’s head from his body.
Without waiting even so much as a second after Brégen relinquished his control, Laegon jumped over the corpse and ran down the hill towards the entrance of the cave. His heart stuck in his throat at the consideration of what he might find. He and Brégen had trusted the elven lore completely, placing their hopes—and the hopes of the entire world—upon the belief that Irewen would be protected. But what if they’d been wrong? What if Dremond hadn’t come to the princess’s aid?
He quickly pushed the question from his mind. Reconsidering their decisions in hindsight was simply a waste of time and energy. There was nothing he, or anyone else, could do to alter whatever had transpired. He’d simply need to accept whatever horrors awaited him inside the cave.
«Do not worry, Laegon,» Brégen assured him. «I am certain Irewen is quite safe.»
«I hope so, my friend. For I am even more convinced than before that the world of Vaelinel needs her.» Bounding through the snow, Laegon pictured her radiant smile and twinkling blue eyes. I need her.
Sliding down the icy hill, he landed before the cave’s opening with the dexterity of a cat. He spun around, stopping dead in his tracks at the scene before him. Three twisted and mangled corpses were sprawled about the ground.
Without wasting time to investigate how they’d died, he jumped over them. Once inside the cave, his heart leapt with joy.
Irewen stood beside the fire, his dark blue cloak draped casually around her shoulders.
“Irewen!” Running to her, he threw his swords to the ground and gathered her in his arms. Pulling her towards him, he pressed his mouth firmly against hers. The kiss hard and fervent, he dared the combined powers of all the Guardians to force them apart.
Irewen abruptly pulled away from Laegon’s embrace, her eyes wide with urgency.
“What is it?” he asked in alarm. “What is wrong?”
“We cannot stay here! We are in danger! We must leave!”
“Irewen, calm down. Tell me—”
“No, there is no time to explain!” she interrupted. “Dremond’s shade told me we must leave! The Drulaack will return!”
Although it wasn’t due to Irewen’s insistence that they were in danger, worry surged through Laegon’s body. The young princess was hysterical. Her voice rang out high-pitched and shrill. Her eyes darted about the cave as if she were being watched by hundreds of evil spirits. She spoke of things he’d never heard of. Convinced their lives were in jeopardy, she was prepared to throw herself into the harshness of winter, risking her own life as well as his.
Taking hold of her shoulders, he forced her to meet his gaze. “Irewen, I should not need to remind you, but you are still recovering from being shot in the back with two arrows. You were poisoned and left for dead amidst the furious onslaught of a snowstorm. You onl
y regained consciousness yesterday and have had nothing to eat aside from some herbed broth and a meager helping of porridge.
“This is the first time you have stood in five days. Although it is a sight I am happy to see, we both know you will not be able to travel far. We do not have one horse, let alone two. In case you have not noticed, the ground is covered in over two feet of snow. Even I have difficulty moving through it at a decent pace, and I am a head taller than you. Unless you can give me a damn good reason why we should do otherwise, neither of us is going anywhere until you have fully recovered.”
He fell silent. She obviously wasn’t used to being spoken to so forcefully. The anger in her eyes was evident.
Ashamed, he lowered his gaze. “I apologize, Irewen. Though it really doesn’t serve as an excuse, it was only because I care for you.”
She said nothing. The silence between them grew.
Laegon waited, not knowing what to do. He’d never been in such a situation. On one hand, he wanted to beg for forgiveness. On the other, he didn’t want to allow himself to be manipulated so easily. Yes, his tone had been harsh, but his aggressive stance had been necessary. Irewen had been frantic. She wasn’t able to share in calm, rational discussion.
The silence remained.
Finally, Laegon made his decision. When he spoke, his voice was devoid of emotion. “My oath to you remains. Should you choose to leave, I will follow. That being said, it is late. It has been a trying day. We will stay the night here. Take advantage of this time to rest and come to a decision. If you think it best to leave, we will do so in the morning.
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked briskly towards the mouth of the cave to remove the corpses.
8
IREWEN WOKE THE NEXT MORNING WITH A START. Closing her eyes, she waited for her heart to settle before getting to her feet. After wrapping Laegon’s cloak around her shoulders, she surveyed the small campsite.
The elf prince wasn’t there.
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