by Darren Lee
Elinar took a deep breath. “Lian… how do you feel?”
Lian gritted his teeth. “Grrrr…” Lian grunted and gasped for air. “It… Grrr… It… It hurts!”
Elinar’s eyes widened. “What? How can it hurt?”
Lian let out a scream. Elinar and Kane flew back and rolled upon the ground. Lian’s scream had unleashed enough energy to knock them from their feet.
Lian gasped and grunted again. “The… The power… It… It feels like… like… it’s ripping me…grrrr… grrr… to pieces!” Lian let out another scream.
Elinar and Kane quickly stood. Kane looked to Elinar and growled. Elinar turned to Lian and shouted, “Let go! Let go of the power before it kills you!”
Lian struggled to unclench his fists. He closed his eyes while gritting his teeth. “How… grrr… How? I can’t….”
“Calm yourself!” said Elinar. Elinar shook his head and shouted, “Remember our training. Focus. Control your temperament!”
Lian grunted once more and took a deep breath. He focused on everything around him, thinking of the tranquil forest, his mother, and any other thought that could calm him. Lian opened his eyes as his muscles loosened. His eyes had returned to their normal shade of blue. He collapsed onto the ground with grunt and clinched his abdomen.
Elinar and Kane rushed over to him. Elinar knelt down and reached his hand out to softly touch Lian. Lian let out a scream of pain. Elinar quickly pulled his hand back. “What’s wrong? Are you alright?”
Lian trembled. “My muscles feel like they’ve been torn to shreds. Your touch… it was excruciating.”
Elinar’s mouth dropped open. “I’m sorry… I think I understand.”
Lian looked to Elinar as he struggled to sit up. “Understand what? That I almost got torn to shreds by my own power?”
Elinar shook his head. “The power is yours, but you’re human. Your body can’t withstand an unrestricted tap to the entirety of this world’s power.”
Lian took shallow breaths, still trembling. “Sounds right. I felt like I was being torn apart.”
“The sword,” said Elinar. “It must control and focus your power.”
Lian felt the pain within his body begin to subside. “Next time, give me the sword.”
Elinar nodded. “That’s a very good idea.”
Teelia and Lyssa ran up to Elinar and Lian. Teelia was now swollen with Elinar’s child. She looked at Elinar. “What’s wrong? We heard Lian scream.”
Lyssa knelt down to Lian. “Are you alright?”
Lian looked to his mother. “I’m fine… or I will be in a few moments.”
Elinar looked sternly at Teelia. “Were you just running?”
Teelia shook her head. “I think that running was justified. It sounded like Lian was dying. We heard it on the other end of the outpost.”
Elinar sighed. “I’m sorry. Everything is alright.” He stood and held out his hand out to Lian. “Think you can stand?” Lian nodded and took Elinar’s hand. Elinar pulled him up. “You are resilient, I’ll give you that much.”
Lian nodded. “I do heal pretty quickly.”
Lyssa stood and looked at the two. “Tell me what happened to my son. Now.”
Lian shook his head. “Just an accident. No need to worry.”
Elinar nodded. “Everything is alright, I assure you. Now, go. Take Lian and Kane, and relax. I insist.”
Lyssa nodded. “I’m sure he and Kane will both be glad to take a break.”
Elinar chuckled. “Indeed. We all deserve a break.” Elinar looked to Lian. “We’ll resume tomorrow. Rest up.”
Lian nodded. “I could use a nap.”
Elinar laughed while Lyssa took Lian and Kane away.
Teelia watched them walk away into the distance. She turned to Elinar and shoved him. “Tell me what happened, now!”
Elinar sighed. “I knew you wouldn’t let this go.”
Teelia glared toward him. “Of course not.”
“He nearly transformed,” said Elinar.
“What?” said Teelia, her eyes widening. “Was it like your father said?”
Elinar nodded. “Nearly. It wasn’t the spectacle my father described, but the power was there. It almost killed him. I fear it would have killed us all.”
Teelia gasped, holding her stomach. “Is he… Is he a danger?”
“No,” said Elinar. “My father has sent us reinforcements in case of discovery due to the unrest in Kynlynn. They are set to arrive by dawn tomorrow. I will give Lian the sword then, and we shall all leave for Alinshahar.”
Teelia shook her head quickly. “All of us? The entire outpost?”
Elinar nodded his head.
“Are you going to inform your father?” said Teelia.
Elinar shook his head. “No. I respect my father, but he values diplomacy and may consult the council. Two members would be opposed. It’s best I give the order, and I shall deal with the consequences.”
Teelia shook her head and chuckled. “Why? Just because of Lian nearly doing what he is supposed to do?”
Elinar glared. “I do not make this decision lightly. You aren’t a sorceress and I am no mage, but you understand magic. When he nearly transformed, he released enough energy to knock me from my feet.”
Teelia’s mouth dropped open. She stared in silence before speaking. “Then… Then that means--”
“Yes,” said Elinar. “The Dalronians may have felt it. They could be on their way here as we speak.”
Teelia nodded. “We must leave.”
Elinar nodded. “I’ll give the order at dawn. We take only what we can carry.”
Night had fallen upon the outpost. Lian sat with Kane outside of their home. He stared up at the twinkling stars. Lian looked at his hands, then rubbed his arms. He looked to Kane. “I’m not even sore anymore.” Kane nodded his furry head at Lian. Lian smiled slightly. “Let’s go for a walk.” Kane nodded his head again and stood. They walked around the ramparts slowly, taking in the cool night air. Kane’s ears twitched. He turned and ran alongside the rampart wall.
Lian turned and watched Kane. “What is it?” Lian ran after him. He came upon Kane sniffing a corpse. “It’s one of the rampart guards… he’s dead…” Lian looked up to see an arrow pierce another rampart guard and watched that one fall from the ramparts as well. Lian looked down to Kane. “Kane, go to my mother. Protect her!” Kane nodded and took off as fast as his paws could carry him. Lian stood, he looked along the ramparts. No other guards were present. “They must all be dead,” Lian said to himself. “We must be under attack…” Lian looked around and screamed, “Attack! We’re under attack!”
Flaming arrows began to shower down upon the many buildings within the outpost. Lian looked to the ramparts, seeing soldiers scaling down the walls. Elves emerged from their burning homes. In the distance, Lian saw Elinar charge with Elven soldiers. Lian could see the sword slung across Elinar’s back as the Elves clashed with the soldiers. Fire spread throughout the outpost, lighting it up brightly.
Lian shook his head. “Elinar will have to handle this. I gotta get to my mother.” He quickly turned toward his home. A soldier lunged at Kane in the distance. Lian watched with great focus while he quickly approached the conflict. Kane swiftly dodged the lunge and leapt onto the soldier. Kane dragged the soldier to the ground and ripped his throat out.
Lian’s eyes widened as he saw flames erupt from the roof of his home. “Mother!” Lian shouted, finally reaching the door. Kane looked to Lian.
“Stand guard,” said Lian. “I’ll get her out.”
Kane nodded and crouched down next to the door, watching soldiers climb down from the ramparts. Lian kicked in the door. Thick smoke emerged from the house. Lian tucked his head and ventured in. He struggled to see through the suffocating smoke.
Lian called out, “Mother!” He stumbled through the house frantically looking for Lyssa. “Mother!” He heard her faint cough. Lian followed the sound and found her lying on the floor. He scoop
ed her up and quickly carried her outside, laying her down gently next to Kane. Lian looked to the distance. Elinar was driving the soldiers back. Teelia and the other Elves were surrounded by Elinar’s forces, being protected.
Lian looked down to Lyssa. “Mother! Wake up!” Lyssa lay still, unresponsive. Lian lightly slapped her cheeks. “Wake up! We have to go!”
Lyssa’s eyes opened slowly and she gasped and coughed. She looked around to see the deadly flames and conflict. “What’s going on?”
“We’re under attack,” said Lian. “I’ve got to get you to Teelia and the others.”
Lyssa nodded and stood. The trio set off towards Elinar’s forces.
Lyssa’s eyes widened at the soldiers attacking the outpost. “Those are Kynlynn forces!”
“Are you certain?” Lian asked as they drew closer to Elinar’s forces. “Why are they here?”
“I could never forget that horrid armor,” said Lyssa. “I don’t know. Nobody knows that anything exists this far north--”
Lyssa’s words were interrupted by an arrow. She let out a cry of pain as she fell to the ground. The arrow had pierced her back.
Lian turned to see his mother’s blood dampen her garments. He shook his head and screamed, “No!”
Elinar heard Lian cry out. He quickly countered a soldier’s attack and decapitated him. Elinar looked to Lian, who wasn’t very far away. He saw Lyssa face down on the ground. Elinar called to Lian, drawing the sword from its sheath at his back and flinging it through the air toward Lian.
Lian looked to Elinar to see the sword twirling through the air toward him. He felt the sensation tingle through his body. He reached his hand out and grabbed the hilt. Wind began to gust around Lian. A vortex rose from the ground and surrounded him. He let out a scream that shook the ground itself. The soldiers and Elves paused and looked to Lian.
Elinar looked at Lian with wide eyes. “It’s happening.”
The vortex subsided as Kane backed away from Lian. Lian stood still, gripping the sword tightly in his right hand. The edge of the sword was glowing crimson once again. Lian looked to Kane, the red specks in his blue eyes glowing brightly. Lian spoke with a calm voice, “Stay with my mother. I’m going to kill them all.”
Kane nodded and crouched next to Lyssa. Lian turned to see a group of archers standing in the distance.
Elinar watched in amazement. “He’s not cringing in pain…” Elinar looked to his forces, then back to the paused enemy combatants. Elinar screamed, “For Alinshahar!” His Elves screamed in response, and together they re-engaged the enemy.
Lian walked toward the archers. They quickly drew arrows and began to fire at Lian. Arrows whooshed by him, but he continued unfazed. Lian broke into a run. His feet left the ground, and he took flight across the dirt, dust rising in his wake. Arrows flew at Lian, and he raised his sword, deflecting each one. Lian closed in on the archers. He pulled the sword to his side and swung it with great force at an archer. The sword cut through the archer’s armor and sliced the flesh underneath. Lian’s feet returned to the ground while the archer collapsed, dead. The remaining archers began to draw their swords. Lian gave them no time. They watched as Lian drew his sword back and vanished. Before they could look for Lian, blood gushed from each archer, saturating the ground while they fell to their deaths.
Lian turned to see Elinar’s forces fighting for their lives. Lian ran towards the battle, taking flight across the ground once again. Lian’s boots touched the ground once he drew close to the conflict. He leapt into the air, soaring over the enemy and landed next to Elinar, quickly killing his attacker. Lian looked to Elinar and spoke calmly, “We kill them all.”
Elinar looked upon Lian, who was covered in the blood of his enemies. “They will pay!”
The duo engaged the enemy. Blood splattered while Lian and Elinar quickly cut through soldier after soldier. The enemy attacks were futile against Lian. He was much faster, much stronger, and far more deadly. Lian watched each soldier close in to attack him. He toyed with them, allowing them to make contact with their blades just before he struck them down. Within minutes, the last enemy soldier fell to the ground.
Lian looked to Kane, who was watching over Lyssa’s still form. “Mother,” Lian said to himself. He dropped the sword, and the crimson glow of the blade’s edge faded. Lian ran toward his mother while the red glowing specks faded from his eyes. Kane stepped away from Lyssa.
Lian dropped to his knees next to Lyssa. “Mother, no!” Lyssa gasped for air. Lian’s eyes widened. He quickly pulled the arrow from her back, and Lyssa let out a cry of pain. Lian rolled her over. He looked on in horror as she coughed up mouthfuls of blood. “Mother, you’re going to be ok. Just hang on!” said Lian, with tears welling win his eyes.
Lyssa smiled through her excruciating pain and muttered, “Don’t be afraid, Lian. You have made me so proud.”
“Don’t say that,” said Lian. He shook his head and shouted, “Not yet. I’m not losing you!”
“I’m afraid we have no choice,” said Lyssa. “Be thankful for the years we did have.”
Lyssa coughed and spat up more blood just as Elinar approached the two. Elinar quickly gauged her condition and dropped his head as he turned away.
“We do have a choice,” said Lian while tears erupted from his eyes. “Hang on!”
“I wish that were so,” said Lyssa. She shifted her eyes to Kane. “Kane, keep your promise. Stand by Lian no matter what.”
Kane whimpered and nodded his head.
“No, Mother,” said Lian. “No! This isn’t goodbye!”
Lyssa smiled slightly and whispered, “I’m sorry Lian. You’ve made me so proud… I love… I love… I lo--” Lyssa’s words were interrupted by a violent gasp. Her eyes grew still as her last breath left her body.
Lian closed his eyes tightly. “I… I love you too. Goodbye, Mother.”
Elinar looked to Teelia and motioned her over. Teelia took in the sight of Lyssa’s body with Lian on his knees next to her. Teelia slowly shook her head and spoke softly, “No, Lyssa, no.”
Teelia and Elinar approached Lian. “I’m sorry, Lian,” said Elinar.
“She will be greatly missed,” said Teelia.
Lian remained quiet as he looked to Elinar and Teelia. Anger and sorrow burned within his heart. “I will make whoever ordered this pay,” said Lian.
“We will, I promise,” said Elinar. “We must leave here at once. We must return to Alinshahar.”
Lian shook his head. “No. I will make them pay myself.”
Teelia knelt down to Lian and placed her hand on his shoulder. “Lian, I know you’re hurting, but don’t be a fool. We have lost so many. Neither Elinar nor I could bear to lose you as well!”
Elinar nodded. “She’s right, Lian. Those were Kynlynn soldiers. It will be you against an army.”
“I fear no army,” said Lian. “I will kill whoever ordered this.”
“We don’t know who ordered this,” said Elinar. “The last information that my scouts reported before I recalled them was that the Kynlynn King had been killed by the dragon. I beg you to reconsider. Return with us.”
Lian gently scooped his mother’s body up into his arms. “I must bury my mother.”
“We understand,” said Teelia. “Don’t we, Eli?”
Elinar nodded. “Of course.”
Teelia wiped a tear from her eye. “Would you like us to accompany you?”
Lian shook his head. “No. Kane and I will tend to this matter alone.” Lian turned away, holding his mother tightly. “I’m sorry. I would just prefer to be alone for now.”
Teelia nodded slowly.
“We shall wait for your return,” said Elinar.
Lian nodded as he looked to Kane. “Come, Kane.” Kane nodded and the two began to walk toward the front gates of the outpost. A sinister black crow was perched on the rampart watching Lian.
The crow took flight, soaring through the sky. Its eyes glowed red as it morphed into the dreaded b
lack dragon.
“Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!” thought Roxees. “The Lord Commander may kill me for this…”
Roxees flew swiftly into the valley and landed upon Dreath-hold. She morphed back into her true form while Dreathous approached her. He observed her closely. Dreathous snarled and drew the back of his hand sharply across her face. Roxees slammed against the ground. She looked up at Dreathous, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.
Dreathous snarled, “You have failed me!”
Roxees quickly shook her head. “No, no, my Lord Commander.
“The boy lives,” said Dreathous. “He still has the sword, and I felt his power from here.” Dreathous pointed at Roxees. “You have failed me!”
“No… not entirely,” said Roxees.
“Explain,” said Dreathous.
Roxees took a breath. Her body trembled with fear before her Lord Commander. “My soldiers managed to kill his mother. He swore revenge at any cost. Most importantly, he knows the soldiers were from Kynlynn. His lust for vengeance will bring him to me.”
Dreathous snorted. “And you think you can defeat him?”
“He has become powerful, but--” said Roxees.
“But what?” said Dreathous
“He has not mastered his abilities,” said Roxees. “I feel he is a mere shadow of his ancestor.”
“Very well,” said Dreathous. “Return to Kynlynn. Wait for him. Then, kill him.”
Chapter 15: Green Eyes and Goodbye
The forest was gripped in darkness. Very little starlight from the night sky pierced its canopy. The sound of snapping twigs and slow footsteps echoed through the silence. Lian carried his mother’s body, seeking a final resting place for her. Kane walked closely beside him. Lian remained quiet as they went. He had no conscious thoughts, only the dull ache of anger and sorrow in his heart. Kane looked up to Lian. The wolf no longer saw the strong, honorable man that Lian had grown into. Only the scorned and lost child he had helped save all those years ago. Kane shook his head, knowing that once again Lian’s entire world had been destroyed in front of him. Lian and Kane emerged into a small clearing. Lian looked around. A small stream passed through the clearing. It glistened with the starlight that illuminated the area. Across the stream, Lian viewed a large tree standing apart from the rest of the forest. In full bloom, the tree emitted a sense of elegance and beauty. Paired with the small tranquil stream and the starlight, Lian felt a sense of serenity there. A fitting place for his mother. Lian crossed the stream and approached the base of the tree.