by M. Walsh
“You could’ve gotten yourself killed. And for what? You shouldn’t have even been here.”
“Yeah … but what was I supposed to do? If it wasn’t stopped, that thing would have killed hundreds—”
“That’s not our problem!” she snapped. “You didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask for this! You should’ve just left it for the Sentry Elite or the Guardians.”
“But we were a part of this. I couldn’t just—”
“This wasn’t our fault!”
She turned away, cringing and tugging at her hair. For some reason, the image of the Enforcer—the mindless monster that killed, indiscriminately—came to her. She thought of the hate she unleashed on Kader and Daredin’s cult, remembering the blood and death she left in her wake, and saw that blank, masked face.
She looked at Lily and thought of their travels through the woods. She thought of taking up the sword again and trying to keep her safe. She remembered that old life—the life thrust upon her in Vigor. That of the noble defender of the innocent—the great hero who fought for justice against the ongoing hordes of evil.
“I can’t keep doing this,” she grumbled under her breath. “I can’t ... I …”
As long as she stayed on either path, there was no control over her life. She would always be marked, drawn into constant battle, and no matter how hard she tried, people—innocent or not—would suffer on account of her.
There was one option though, she realized. One way out.
Take neither path.
“There are Sentry Elite here. Go to them. They’ll take care of you.”
Lily hesitated. “What..? What do you mean..?”
“I have to get out of here. I …” She trailed off, grimacing and unable to look Lily in the eye. Shaking her head, she finally grumbled under her breath, “Fuck this.”
Lily stared at her as she mounted the horse, still not looking at her. “You,” she said. “So you’re leaving..? Just like that..?”
“I can’t stay here. I ... we ...” She sighed, feeling tired, agitated, and trying to ignore her own shame. She needed to get away. She needed to be alone. She needed a drink. “We’re done.”
She started to ride off, leaving Lily behind. Lily looked confused, upset, and like she was trying to think of something to say. But no words came.
After riding a few yards, Katrina stopped and looked back. “Lily,” she said, and after a long pause, simply muttered, “You should’ve left me in that river.”
32
Final report by Major Drake Garrison:
“It has been a few days since the incident on the Blind Cliffs. It would appear Krutch Leeroy’s claim some sort of sacrifice would take place under the Devil’s Moon was true to some extent after all. We’ve learned that a Jacob Daredin was the leader of the cult and at least partially responsible for the theft of the Dragon’s Fang dagger that Captain Deacon Marcus and his unit were investigating.
“Tragically, it seems Captain Marcus, Privates Adam Nelson and Janis Brooks, and the Guardian Mage sent to join them, Elijah Warren, were in fact killed by the Enforcer and not Leeroy’s pirates as initially believed. Having known Captain Marcus personally, I can say he will be missed, and I’m sure he went down fighting.
“It is believed the Dragon’s Fang dagger was lost in the destruction of Daredin’s tower. The sorcerer himself has disappeared. Whether he escaped or was killed during the chaos, we cannot say. No body has been found, and those among his surviving followers still will not speak, but based on their behavior, it seems likely we’ve seen the last of Jacob Daredin, one way or another.
“Krutch Leeroy has also disappeared. I would lie if I said I was surprised he took advantage of the Enforcer’s attack and the subsequent fighting to escape. He has not been seen or heard from since the incident, but if I know Leeroy, he’s laying low until the heat dies down. We’ll meet again, I’m sure of that.
“Those of my team wounded during the gargoyle attack are mending, and no casualties suffered from the rest my unit or the reinforcements sent from Bevy—although I consider that a stroke of good luck more than anything else. By the time the rest of our people arrived, the dragon that appeared was already destroyed, and the majority of Daredin’s followers were killed in the tower.
“Unfortunately, the demon hunter that joined us in Bevy, Benedict Vogel, was found dead after the battle. He was apparently stabbed from behind, although we can find no evidence of by whom. There appears to be no sign of demon involvement—not even orc—and we can only assume he was murdered by one of the fleeing cultists.
“No word on the ‘Katrina’ woman Leeroy spoke of, or the ‘Lily Blackthorn’ Vogel was seeking in relation to the demon he was hunting. We cannot confirm if either of these women were present for the chaos—or if they even exist, to be honest.
“My unit and I were too occupied outside the tower to witness what exactly happened. I can only assume whatever prophecy or sacrifice Daredin was hoping to fulfill backfired horribly—resulting in the emergence of the dragon. Said dragon proceeded to annihilate the tower, killing most of Daredin’s followers in the process. My unit and I were able to take cover when the dragon started spraying the land with fire—only Private Hemley suffered some minor burns.
“As for what destroyed the dragon, I cannot say. I was preoccupied with rounding up Daredin’s fleeing disciples, when I heard the creature shriek and then fall into the ocean. Lt. Dillon claims he saw something or someone clinging to its chest—but I cannot confirm. If someone slew the dragon, we can find no evidence of who it was or what has become of them.
“It would appear Jacob Daredin was in fact responsible for the sickness in the forest spreading beyond the swamp. Although the darkness there is not receding, it is also no longer spreading or growing in strength—which gives further credence to the belief Daredin is gone. Anything beyond that is Guardian business.
“In the final analysis, sirs, all I can say is—if I may be perfectly blunt—I have no idea what the hell happened or why. All the key players that would know the full story are dead, missing, or escaped. I can only surmise it as a freak series of events that collided and combusted.”
Such was another bizarre happening in Graylands.
* * *
It was the last day of the Autumn Festival by the time Lily Blackthorn made it to Bevy. The major events and games were passed, and most of the celebrating had died down. As the sun began to set, all that remained were a few bands, children running around, and people drinking. The crowds were feeling especially merry this evening, as by then, news of the dragon’s appearance and death reached the townsfolk.
Despite the festive mood and her own original plans, Lily did not feel particularly cheerful. She ordered some mead—drinking it slowly so she wouldn’t get drunk—and kept to herself. As expected, drunken men taken in by her looks and succubus nature would attempt to spark up chat, but she brushed them aside. There was too much on her mind since the battle at Daredin’s tower.
After Katrina left her, she considered burying Vogel. Even if he was hunting her, the idea of just leaving his body in the dirt made her feel even worse about his death. She thought better of it when the Sentries found him and figured it was for the best—they would give him a proper burial, as opposed to some random spot in the middle of nowhere.
Afterward, she found a place to rest and recuperate. When she was confident enough to move, she slipped away unnoticed and headed north—avoiding the main roads so she wouldn’t be spotted by Sentries coming and going. She was worried whether she would make the return trip, as the battle with the dragon had weakened her, and she would need to feed again soon.
Fortunately, she discovered she wasn’t the only one avoiding the main roads. She came across a few stragglers of Daredin’s cult who managed to elude capture and fed well.
Many times on her way north, Lily replayed her last meeting with Katrina. Even if the sacrifice was stopped—essentially—and they got out alive, it seemed somet
hing was lost. She didn’t understand what had changed, but she hated to think their experiences only left Katrina worse off than she was before. Looking back, she wished she could’ve thought of something—anything—to say that might’ve helped.
If I had told her, she wondered. If I told her what I really was, would it have helped? Or made things worse?
Most of all she thought of Krutch, and every time, she came close to weeping. She couldn’t say she loved him, and she didn’t know if his actions were because he genuinely cared about her or if he’d just been caught by her succubus charms, but for better or worse, he stuck by her through it all.
Despite barely knowing either of them, in the end, she did see Katrina and Krutch as her friends, and she wished things had turned out better for both of them.
Lily wandered the streets of Bevy that evening, taking in the sights of the town. She wasn’t sure if it had more to do with Daredin’s disappearance or simply leaving the south, but the land near Bevy was rolling hills of green. She was reunited with the normal colors of leaves, unlike the unnatural grays that plagued the southern parts of the land.
The weather was crisp and cool, but it didn’t feel as dreary or dour as it had for the past several days. The breeze coming from the nearby ocean was gentle and soothing, and the sun even broke through the overcast clouds, making the town awash in a warm, orange glow.
She watched the people, drinking and laughing—the children, running around and playing. Not for the first time, Lily felt a strong longing in her heart. She envied them. She thought of the Hammonds’ window and the rainbow-colored beams that shined through it and wished she could find a place to settle down and call her own. A place she could live in peace with friends and loved ones that accepted her for who she was.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she passed a young boy playing with his dog. It was a small, shaggy thing—not threatening in any way. But when she walked by, the dog started growling and snarling at her. Its hairs stood on end, and it crouched, as if ready to pounce and attack.
“Bucky! Stop that!” the boy shouted. He turned to Lily and said, “I, uh, I’m sorry, Miss—er—ma’am.” The dog barked and looked like it was ready to charge at her. The boy held the dog back, saying, “Bucky! Enough! I’m really sorry. He never acts like this.”
“It’s okay,” said Lily. “I’m used to it.”
She continued walking, hearing the boy try to keep the animal under control until she was gone. All at once, she wanted another drink.
She passed the local Pilgrim’s Stop, which had an outdoor bar opened. Tables were set up in the street, and there was a small stage where a band played. The place was crowded and loud with talking and laughter—so Lily decided to find someplace smaller and more likely to have rooms for rent.
She found a small tavern/inn not far from Bevy’s square. It was serving a decent crowd, like all the other bars in town, but more subdued. She navigated her way to the front and managed to get a seat—the man who’d been sitting there obliged her with a smile. She paid no mind, took the seat, and asked for a fresh pint when the bartender came to her.
“You wouldn’t happen to have any rooms for rent, would you?” she asked after he served her drink.
“I’ll check.” Looking through the ledger, he said, “You’re in luck, Miss. One room left. How long will you be staying?”
“Just the night.”
“Sign there,” he said, handing her the ledger before leaving to hand out more drinks.
Lily stared at the book filled with names and dates and thought back to that night in Canton. She never stayed in one place for too long—always wandering, always moving—and she kept her true nature secret. But how much trouble could she have avoided if Benedict Vogel never found out her name? If she just kept her mouth shut, Katrina might never have suspected she was the one Kader was after. If she had left Krutch behind, he might still be alive.
Was it worth it trying to fit in among humans? Any effort to find a connection with someone only got her into trouble or brought harm to others. Perhaps Katrina had the right idea—avoid all contact, never give out her real name, and just close herself off from the world? Did Scifer—or whoever he was—have the right of it? No real name, hiding in plain sight, always anonymous and forgotten.
She was about to write a fake name, when she heard someone say, “I still can’t believe it, though. Aren’t dragons supposed to be extinct?”
Behind her was a small group of men standing around, drinking beers and talking. An elderly man replied, “Dragons ain’t been seen for centuries.”
“I know,” said another. “It’s unbelievable. At least the Sentries killed the damn thing before it could do any damage.”
“I’ll drink to that.”
Lily looked at the people throughout the bar—men and women of various ages. Talk of the dragon and its death was a recurring topic. If it hadn’t been killed, it would have stormed up the coast, burning as it went. This town, and the people in it, would have been among the victims in its path.
I saved these people, she suddenly thought. However it happened—be it fate, destiny, or plain bad luck—and although no one would ever know, she did kill that dragon. That has to mean something. Doesn’t it?
She was a demon. She needed to hide what she was. The risk of being found out would always be there. But she didn’t want to abandon who she was and shut herself away from the world. Katrina had her way of defying fate, Lily would have hers.
“To hell with it,” she whispered under her breath and signed:
Lily Blackthorn
* * *
The last thing Krutch Leeroy remembered was fire. When he awoke, he was lying on a cot. His vision cleared, and he was in a small cabin or cottage room. It reminded him of his little bungalow and, for a moment, he wondered if the whole thing had been one long, confusing, aggravating dream.
It was the severe pain throbbing through every inch of him that said everything had happened. Much of his body was covered in bandages, and the parts that weren’t were a variety of colors ranging from burnt pink to bruised blue.
With a groan, he mumbled, “How am I not dead..?”
“Hey, boss!” said Arkady, looking chipper. “Glad to see you’re up!”
“Arkady..? Didn’t you die?”
“Whoo, things definitely turned ugly in that swamp, no doubt about that! The other guys bought it, and I lost track of Hobbs, but I was able to get out of there in one piece.”
“Good for you,” said Krutch, feeling delirious. “So ... what happened..?”
“After I got out of the swamp, I just headed west. I found this old cabin outside Fane and been here ever since. Sentries have been coming and going, so I figured I’d lay low until this whole mess blew over.”
“But how did I get here?”
“I believe you have me to thank for that, Mr. Leeroy,” said Vicar Frost, appearing at the door.
“Oh, come on!”
“You’re fortunate Ms. Blackthorn interfered when she did,” said Frost, smiling. “Otherwise you’d be naught but ash. And you’re especially fortunate I was still there to find you. I picked you up and got you to safety. You’re welcome.”
He groaned, rubbing his eyes and feeling pressure form in his sinus. Arkady left the room after Frost asked him to step outside a moment. The Vicar sat beside him and revealed the pistol, still in good shape, though covered in soot.
“Needs more shells and should be cleaned,” said Frost. “But otherwise, still in working order.”
“So what happened after the dragon blew me up?”
“If you can believe it,” the Vicar said, lighting his smoking pipe. “Ms. Blackthorn managed to slay the beast.”
Despite the pain, Krutch bolted upright. “Lily..? Is she okay? Where is she?”
“As far as I know, Ms. Blackthorn is alive and well. However, I cannot say where she is, I’m afraid. Once the Sentry Elite arrived, everyone scattered.”
He lied back d
own, feeling relieved that at least Lily was okay. He wondered if she knew he was alive and reflected on his failed effort to kill the dragon. That brief moment when he thought he might actually be the hero and maybe ride off into the sunset with the beautiful girl he liked.
The pain in his sinus flared up again, and he let out a harsh sneeze.
“Are you all right, Mr. Leeroy?”
Feeling the familiar scratch in his throat after sneezing, he said, “Just my allergies again.”
“Well,” said the Vicar, standing up. “I must say this has been a most entertaining few weeks.” He paused to grin. “Not to mention profitable.”
Krutch stared at the grinning Frost and tried to put the sequence of events together in his mind. After a long pause, he said, “What the hell is your deal?”
“How do you mean?”
“You set Kader up to find me for his job. You also said you were more involved than that back in the tower. Speaking of which, what the hell were you even doing there?”
“If you must know, Mr. Leeroy, among many things contained within Jacob Daredin’s tower was an impressive cache of gold, silver, and treasure. While everyone was contending with ... everything that was happening ... I used the opportunity to collect a healthy portion for myself.”
Krutch stared at him, dumbfounded. After another long pause, he choked out, “Wait-wait-wait. You’re telling me all this—Daredin’s prophecy, Kader hiring me, Katrina, everything—was all so you could rob Daredin’s tower?”
“Yes,” said the Vicar, as if that was obvious. “What did you think I was after?”
“Are you insane?!” he shrieked. “How could—you mean you—did you—” He paused, struggling to gather his thoughts. “Was this your plan all along? How could you have..?”
He trailed off, trying to go over everything that happened as far as he knew. There was no possible way Vicar Frost could’ve anticipated everything to happen as it did. Unless he could literally see the future, there was no way he could have foreseen what everyone would do.