by Ed Montalvo
“Aye sir,” he rode off.
When attention lacked on Dregous, he focused on the road traveled. Seconds later he floated above everyone’s head, then shot after the young Knight. He surveyed the familiar grounds.
Gunthar addressed the mage, “Repeat how you came by this information,” as he motioned his men to continue. Dregous didn’t respond, “I address you Drouwen,” he stared at him, “What is wrong…?” He waved his mailed hand in front of Dregous’s face. “Is he stunned.”
“Uh oh,” Rem stepped back expecting something.
“What do you mean, uh oh?” Gunthar grabbed his sword and scowled at the mage.
Tatiana shielded Dregous giving part of her back to Gunthar, putting her arms around the prince, “Please… do not harm him… allow me.” Gunthar was surprised by her reaction and agreed. She scanned Dregous’s eyes, he lazily stared passed her. Tatiana’s Heart skipped, “Dregous, what is the matter?” the princess whispered. People’s murmurs, the demon should be slain, made her uneasy.
“Stand back,” shouted a man pressing through the crowd with priests in tow.
“He is riding fast,” Dregous said lazily, he stared past the princess.
“What?” Gunthar asked roughly.
“Please…,” the princess gently waved Gunthar, “Who is riding fast?” when he didn’t answer she addressed the Knight, “He gets like this when he sees things.”
“See things…?” he inquired.
“Things that are about to happen,” the princess replied.
“He has the sight?” surprised the Drouwen possessed the rare gift. Nearby witness’s muttered.
Dregous face scowled, “The Knight,” he whispered.
Gunthar barely heard him over the crowd. “Silence, you sound like hens waiting for a cock to show!” he bellowed. The guards fell silent, “Now keep it so, so I may hear.”
He annoyed Tatiana, “Dregous…, what do you see?”
All nearby fell silent waiting his reply, “He is riding too far,” Dregous answered, the gentle chill of the coming winter’s breeze rustled the trees. The people gathered silently.
“He can see my Knight?” he asked, Tatiana nodded. He whispered, “Who is he?”
“He can tell you himself,” she replied.
Lord Knight Gunthar noticed Rem’s edginess, “Why is he weary?”
“Because danger is near,” she hoped her confession wouldn’t damn Dregous.
“Gratification…, wait, danger?”
“He can feel it coming… like what is behind us,” Rem through in.
“If true, he must have save you a time or two.”
She thought of what Dregous had done to keep them safe. It seemed more like a curse. It tore at her. A somber expression masked her lovely features, “He has,” the princess answered. It rips him apart… and me too, she thought.
“He sees a few,” the mage said.
“Sees who?” Gunthar looked at Tatiana.
“Lord Knight please,” she said patiently.
“Who is…, Dregous?” she paused, “Dregous?”
“The horde.”
“Truly?” Gunthar said skeptically.
Tatiana tempered her anger and glared at the Knight, “He is no fraud,” she said softly. Gunthar continued staring. “Dregous…, tell me what you see?” he saw through her.
“You are mistaken…,” Seeker said as guards carried Tuke away.
“Is that so?” he mused.
“You have no idea,” Rem emphasized. “I thought the same.”
Their ominous warning concerned him and readdressed the princess. It’s clear she has a strong connection with the Drouwen. “Very well, I will give him the benefit of the doubt. What does….”
Dregous unintentionally picked up Gunthar’s thoughts and interrupted, “He likes to ride fast,” The Knight looked at him sternly but silent. “He stands while riding… he feels free, like the birds,” Dregous continued. His interest piqued, his face unchanged. Gunthar knew the young knight well. The Drouwen focused on the rider, drawing closer, till he was in front of his face. He had sky blue eyes and sandy blonde hair. A scar sports his ear lobe from a practice match. The Lord Knight was astounded.
Chapter 14
Legends, myths, history, his people were cast in dark secrecy. All creatures hate them. When confronted with hate, how do you destroy it? How can thousands of years of loathing be eradicated? You must walk the obscure road to make changes that will certainly be your demise. He walked that desolate path forming transformations, at a terrible price, a grievous loss in which I lost my dear friend….
Tuke Flaring Memoires, witness of confessed actions
“Yeah, I know that look,” Rem commented.
No one could see the boys’ hair or scar with his helmet on. He was certain Dregous couldn’t unless he had the sight.
Tatiana saw the look on his face, “Do you believe him now?” Gunthar nodded with a blank expression.
“Should have listened,” Rem murmured.
“No…, stop…,” Dregous said.
“No what, stop who?” Gunthar asked.
Tatiana’s heart raced, “Dregous, what is happening?”
“He is riding toward them… hundreds are hiding in the woods.”
“What?” the knight questioned.
“No, turn around…,” Dregous’s voice fell to a strained whisper.
“Please Lord Knight!” Tatiana shouted over Dregous.
“My man is out there, alone!” he declared.
“Had you listen…,” Tatiana stopped.
“Run you fool, do not stop,” Dregous strained, his eyes glazed. He wanted to help the young knight, but he was helpless, “Run, run!” He desperately tried to pull away, he stumbled against Tatiana.
“We must go!” Gunthar said.
“No,” Tatiana countered, “By the time you reach…” she trailed. “We can save the people.”
He raised his hand to the others as he considered her counsel, “Get these people inside, now!” he barked.
“My lord!” one Knight started.
“You heard him… move!” shouted his second in command. They urged the people in the gates.
“I will not lose another for my error. Now is no time for vengeance.” His heart ached and turned to Tatiana, “Can he tell how far they are?”
“I do not know,” Tatiana answered. Dregous struggled with his vision, “Dregous?”
He fell to his knees. The sunlight made his eyes tear, “Do not lie there… run,” Dregous pleaded softly. The weight of his death plagued him. His pleads dug deep into the witnesses.
Gunthar cleared his throat, “He cries, why?” Witness’s wept hearing the news. They blamed the Drouwen, his appearance was a bad omen.
Tatiana stood over hugging him, “He hates violence.”
He surprised her, “You jest?” the look on her face stated otherwise. “I never thought I would see this day…,” he said feebly. “Who is he?” Gunthar whispered, expecting no answer. “Can he walk?”
She leaned to Dregous’s ear, “Come…” she refrained from addressing him familiar, “…we must go.”
He scanned the field they traveled and spotted an armored figure on a war steed. The figure’s face turned to him raising his hand. The mage gasped straightening, astonished, his eyes wide, “Great hells… I see him! I see him!” he whispered and was blinded by a flash and groaned, roughly turning into the princess. The flash made the witness’s gasp.
Tatiana dropped next to him, “Dregous, what happened… who did you see?”
The mage groaned from the sting, “The Knight,” he breathed heavily.
Gunthar looked where the flash faded as he kneeled, “Who man? Who is it?” he addressed Dregous.
His comment annoyed the prince, “Lord Knight…,” he thought better of correcting him, “He magically blocked me.”
“Is it a price?” he asked. Tatiana was shocked.
“No, he cast a spell barring me.”
&nb
sp; “Very well, if not a price, what?”
“I wish to prevent a nightmare…, nothing more,” Dregous sincerity was clear.
“Forgive me…,” he forgot his name.
“Dregous Von’Negrous, Ducal prince of the Empire,” he sighed softly for the Lord Knight.
“Lord,” Gunthar was surprised. An Ayrian and a Drouwen lord. “…Lord Dregous,” he finished. The Knight’s code required him to extend courtesy to all nobles.
Rem assisted the Knights and constables to organize the people. The city bells alerted the town militia. Collecting taxes and fees ended abruptly.
Tatiana felt proud Dregous had won the Knight over. She then wondered of Tuke and Angelique and requested a constable of his condition. Mesmerized by her beauty, he did as she requested.
The people marveled witnessing the return of the legendary Ayrians. They believed her presence was a good omen. From a dark empire was a Drouwen, another legendary creature was known as nightmares stood opposite her.
Seeker heard the people, “He is no monster…, Tuke will confirm,” they ignored her due to fear running high.
Rem wasn’t surprised how the people regarded the Dark Elf. “If you knew him, you would not say such things,” he muttered. Dregous appeared immune to their stares and comments. It is best we keep Angelique’s identity secret, Rem thought.
A woman commented, if it sought sympathy. Someone shouted, he should be left to the horde. Another yelled, he must have brought them. Dregous addressed no one, their words hurt more than expected. His stoned face showed no signs of injury. Tatiana wished she could shield him.
A little girl made her way to the Dark Elf Prince, “Hello,” she smiled innocently.
Surprised an adorable child greeted him, “Greetings little princess,” he said gently.
“Do you eat children?” Tatiana gasped at her question.
It was like a brine dagger rammed into his chest. His eyes fell to her feet as he reached for the child, “No dear one, I…”
A woman screeched, “Oh Gods Alice! Get away!” she drew attention and snatched her daughter, “You will not eat my baby!” slapped him and retreated to the constables demanding it in chains or slay it.
Her strike had little effect compared to her words. Wounded, Dregous stared blankly passed her. The princess wanted to rip the woman apart. Tatiana saw the pain in his eyes and it crushed her. “Will you bless my baby?” The Ayrian beauty’s rage cooled when she saw the child.
The little girl smiled, “Mama said you came back cause you are an angel.”
The child was innocent to the mother’s ignorance. If she agreed, she would injure Dregous. “Certainly,” her eyes pooled and prayed, “I beseech Ukko bless and unveil you to see the truth,” Tatiana whispered hoarsely biting back her tears.
The woman mistook Tatiana’s emotions for her and her Daughter. “Bless you for returning to us…,” then kissed the princess’s hand.
She dreaded turning, gazed through her hair like a shy child. His stony eyes met hers, then stepped away. She glanced at Rem, he motioned her to follow him, “Dregous…,” she pursued.
“It is as it should be…,” he said over his shoulder and continued. He knew no one would accept him. “…I understand, truly,” he smirked. The pain in his voice was like stabs at her heart.
An emptiness within peeled open, it was an alien feeling. The first person she’s ever loved, was growing distant. It tore through her and watched in silence. Every step he took was a brick laid on a wall separating them. The gap between them was beyond her reach.
Tatiana shifted through the crowd as she fumed towards lord Gunthar. They observed her with shy smiles, “Lord Knight, words please,” she said sternly.
A guard motioned behind Lord Gunthar as his men continued, “My lord?”
Gunthar’s smile faded when he saw her face. “My lady, what is the matter?”
“The matter, sir Knight, is most unpleasant,” barely maintaining an even tone. “Your good citizen,” she gestured, “struck my dearest… friend.”
He noticed her discretion and saw mother and daughter. “What happened?”
She took a deep shaky breath, “As I said. In fact, your good people have gone out of their way to make it unpleasant for him.”
He looked between the people and Dregous, “He is Drouwen. If not for you, he would be dead.”
His comment infuriated her, though kept her composure, “How can you say such a thing?”
“There kind spares no one…, he should count himself fortunate.”
“There are no bases…”
Gunthar interrupted, “Forgiveness my lady, but it is true.”
“Since you are being truthful, I too will pay you the courtesy,” she said blandly. “It was HE that discovered this plot…. And it was he, a Drouwen who wanted to warn your town. I was doubtful for what HUMANS have done to my people,” she measured her pause, “So, when you say it is because of me, you are erroneous Lord Knight! It is because of HIM, your people will be spared,” she walked away glaring at the Knight. “Dregous.”
Lord Gunthar weighed Tatiana's words. Witnesses were surprised how she spoke to him. Ayrian’s are benevolently peaceful. Her unwavering support for him carried great weight. He must see the Drouwen’s perseverance. “Lawrence!”
“Sir!”
“Ride up to the bend and keep watch. I need to know how far they are.”
“Aye!”
“And no damned heroics!”
“Aye my Lord.”
Gunthar muttered under his breath, “I already lost one.”
Rem wasn’t surprised of Tatiana’s determination to defend Dregous. “As I said, those two have it bad,” he whispered.
A constable looked at him, “What?”
“Talking to myself,” he glanced at Dregous. Being around humans would be a walk in the meadows for you my friend, Rem thought, and hoped no one would discover Angelique.
Gunthar waded through the crowd and barked, “Hurry, the city gates will be closing.” Merchants clamored what was happening. Some wondered of the taxes. “All is suspended,” answered Gunthar. “We are curfewed until further notice, move with haste!” The Knight continued before anyone else called him. He studied the far road at the tree line. He thought of the prairie field and how dormant the ground seemed. Farmer’s livestock grazed the fields and spread their dun for next spring. Gunthar wondered if he would see the fields bloom.
***
It was a serene view, as people came over the slope a thousand meters away. Something caught Laurence’s attention in the distance behind the crowd. He looked back for his commander, but the trees on the bend obstructed his sight. “You there.”
“Aye milord?”
“I require your aid,” he announced.
“I am here to serve.”
“Inform Lord Gunthar, I ride that crest,” he pointed, “Understand?”
He looked then addressed Lawrence, “Aye milord,” he replied, and the Knight rode off.
Dregous saw the Knight pass the bend. Where is he going…, the horde, he focused on a quickening spell, enabling him to move 5 times faster. The people jumped aside, some screamed at his frightening speed and heard them murmur.
Tatiana never seen anyone run so fast, “Where are you going?” she whispered. “Are you…, leaving me?” she ached and leapt above the people after him.
“Look mama!” shouted a little boy as others followed. The witnesses were in awe of her flight. Some cheered, others giddy seeing this for the first time.
A man shouted, she is going to slay the demon. The comment injured the princess. Dregous stopped, turned, the people cowered. “Ignorant fools,” he sneered, then saw Tatiana, she stole his breath. In his eye she looked divine. A woman said, the demon does not fear her.
The princess glanced at her as she landed. “Why should he? Friends care deeply for one another,” she masked her frustration, then addressed Dregous. The spectators looked confused. “As for you, lord hardh
ead,” she whispered. “Why are you leaving me?”
He looked perplexed, “Leave you? What gave you that impression?”
She blinked at him, “Well, I thought… and since… Oh, never mind,” Tatiana surrendered.
“I could not leave you… abandoning my,” he thought of the word, “friends, is not in us,” he wondered if he used it correctly. “Besides, you require my assistance to guide you and to assist you in staying warm in this awful coldness,” he tried again his hand on humor, and gave her a broken smile.
Tatiana masked her blush, “Good. If so, I would follow you and fan you till you froze to death,” she warned, “Then where do you head?” He pointed at the Knight riding the first hill crest. “Who is that?”
“Another seeking death…,” Dregous replied. “Your eyes are keener.”
She saw people frantically fleeing, “They are running…, the horde,” she guessed.
“I would say so princess,” he whispered.
“Gods, would you stop. It is Tatiana, lord hardhead…, no…, it is Angel,” she demanded.
“As you wish,” he smirked weakly. “Angel….”
“Fly there, I thought the same,” she stepped away as she leaped extending her wings. Dregous marveled at her grace. Why can she not be mine? He knew the answer as he considered the color of his hand.
Tatiana saw the other side of the hill as the horde marched up the slope. “Dear Ukko,” thousands covered the field to the tree line. She dove and landed in front of the knight. “You must rush with all speed,” she urged.
If not for the emergency he would marvel at her, “I cannot leave these people…,” he broke off when he felt the ground, “…the earth trembles,” he said. “God’s help us,” he whispered.
“Take who you can carry!” Tatiana ordered. She addressed a mother with two children, “We must rush to safety, I will take them to the gate,” she said. The mother was surprised to see a legendary Ayrian and agreed without question. She watched the princess fly them away.
He dismounted his horse and placed three children on his steed and sent them off. Laurence sprinted to a man with a cart, ordered him to dump his wares and loaded children in. He barked at others to follow suit. He addressed the people, “Forget your wares. Help who you can and run!” he shouted, “Run!”