CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The Battle to Come
Talbis slammed his great-sword into the ground and leaned heavily on it, glaring at the wyvern. Fury shook his voice. "You bastards just don't stop, do you?" he panted, the words edged with desperation. He tried to steady his grip, but when the creature's eyes changed, confusion mingled with fear on his face.
With a deafening roar, the wyvern tossed its massive head back and forth, shrieking and wailing. Suddenly, it froze, its eyes locked with Talbis'. Its green eyes now glowed a bright white. Without warning, they flew off the islands and disappeared into the mist.
Talbis eyed the other wyverns as they paused. "What's happening?"
Elayne stepped beside Talbis. "No idea. Maybe they lost control of the wyverns. We have to regroup and prepare for anything." She ran back to the group.
Urision landed. "I'll look for Rosan. Stay sharp."
"Alright, I've got this. Go." Talbis watched Urision fly toward the burning city, smoke and crumbling islands fueling his anger. "Glad Rivera missed this." He shook his head and joined Elayne and the others.
Back at the plateau, Drakonion eyed Draconis. "You alright, brother?"
Draconis looked around with suspicion. "Someone has broken my command."
"That seems unlikely, brother. You're pushing yourself too hard." Drakonion looked at the islands. "So, the mission is a failure."
A portal opened. Veltress and Kaltros entered. "Yes. The prince lives," Veltress said.
"Apologies, Lord Drakonion," Kaltros said.
"It is quite alright. But don't make failing a habit." Drakonion stated. "Now let us go home."
"Yes, my lord." Veltress opened a portal. They walked through.
In the sanctuary, Delcres paced back and forth, enraged. The orb shone in the background. "You stupid fools! You ruined my perfect battle!" He whirled as a portal opened with Veltress, Kaltros, Drakonion, Callista, and Draconis entering. "You morons ruined everything!" He said in anger as he dashed toward Veltress.
"You damn fool!" Kaltros stepped in between them with a giant shield of ice. "I'll crush your insulate..." He watched Delcres burst through the shield. "What?!"
Delcres kicked Kaltros across the room, then grabbed Veltress's throat, lifting her. She gasped. "I should kill you for your ignorance."
Drakonion looked with surprise at first, but then sighed with irritation. "Enough of this. Let her go, Delcres. You've made your point."
"Stay out of this. She ruined everything," Delcres said, gripping Veltress even tighter.
"Calm down, brother," Calista said.
Drakonion looked to Draconis. "Brother, if you will."
Draconis shook his head. "No choice." He breathed deeply. "Release her." His voice echoed as before.
Delcres tried to hold Veltress but released her as if compelled, rage simmering because Draconis forced his hand. "You bastard."
"Kneel," Draconis commanded with the same echoing voice.
Delcres attempted to resist again, but it felt as though his body acted on its own and knelt. He breathed heavily, glaring at Draconis with anger.
Drakonion walked to Delcres and struck him. The force of the strike sent Delcres flying next to Kaltros. "Remember who you serve, Delcres. Never forget it. Your failure reflects badly on us today." He turned to Veltress, who was catching her breath. "Are you alright?"
Veltress nodded with reassurance, clenching her throat. The bruise healed quickly, giving her satisfaction and reminding her of her own growing strength. She stood and looked at Delcres with renewed resolve and killing intent.
"You're already healed. That's splendid. You're getting stronger," Drakonion said as he made his way to the orb altar. "No more of this squabbling. Veltress, I need to report this."
"Yes, my lord." Veltress waved her hand, creating a portal.
"I shouldn't be long. Leave it open." Drakonion walked through the portal into a room with a desk before him. A fancy-looking elf sat with his back toward him. "I came to tell you the prince still lives, unfortunately. It is but a minor setback, though."
The elf sighed in disappointment. "Tell me," the elf said, turning to Drakonion, who wore an elegant Elven suit and a crown on his head. "Why does my little brother live?"
Rosetta and Silvara rode the griffin down into the valley, looking for Dison. They landed on a cliff overlooking the valley.
Rosetta yelled. "DISON!"
Silvara looked at Rosetta with sorrow. She was sure they were looking for a body, not a living person.
Rosetta dropped to her knees, grief threatening to break her. "Dison!" she called, voice raw. The silence pressed in on her until she choked back a sob. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have let him come here. I should have made him stay on the ship."
Silvara placed her hand on Rosetta's shoulder. "Listen to me. None of this is your fault." She heard a growl in the distance and readied her weapon.
Rosetta stood and readied herself, gripping her weapon tight. The growls echoed through the fog, growing louder. They moved toward the source and soon emerged into a clearing. There, wyverns glared at them, their white, glowing eyes tracking every movement.
Rosetta and Silvara looked in confusion. "Why are they acting like this?" Rosetta asked.
"I don't know." Silvara kept her urumi ready.
The fog lifted, and Rosetta looked with surprise at Dison lying on a rock. "Dison." She ran to him but stopped as a wyvern hovered over him. The creature looked into her eyes, and Rosetta met its gaze with determination. With that, the wyvern leaned back and flew away, and the others followed.
Rosetta, hands shaking, pressed her head to Dison's chest and listened desperately for life. Tears of joy burst from her eyes as she heard the faint, steady heartbeat. "He's alive," she sobbed, voice barely above a whisper. "He's alive." Relief flooded through her in waves.
Silvara walked beside her and looked up at the islands as the fog cleared. "Did the wyverns save him?" She wondered.
The airship soared toward Silverstone, its ascent both graceful and steady. Eldrisa sat atop a bench on the deck, wind threading through her hair while, across from her, Rivera and Talbis grumbled to each other over drinks, voices low and threaded with fatigue.
Quietly, Ryallda approached and settled beside Eldrisa, who caught her gaze and smiled, eyes gentle. "How are your wounds?" she asked.
"I am fine, my lady. How are you?" Ryallda replied, gazing up at the sky, disappointment obvious on her face. "I failed. This was my first actual important mission, and I did not keep my promise. I could not protect the prince." She remembered what Delcres did to Arminas's hands. "He should never have had to endure those scars. Now, every time I see them, they will remind me of how I let him down. He looked so scared."
"He wasn't afraid for himself; he was afraid for you," Eldrisa said, eyes shut. "That's who he is."
Ryallda eyed Eldrisa. "Are you alright? Your face is red. Need the healer?"
Eldrisa shrieked, covering her face. "No, I'm fine. No need."
"You two are close, aren't you?" Ryallda muttered. "I'm scared because I know Lord Culvarion will be furious about my mistakes. I don't know if he'll ever forgive me."
Eldrisa placed her hand on Ryallda's shoulder. "We will be there for you."
"Thank you, my lady," Ryallda said.
Eldrisa squinted. "Please. Call me Eldrisa."
Arminas listened to their conversation from the deck below. He turned to see Voric, who sat next to him. "I take it those two are fine. I am glad. How are you, old man?"
Voric chuckled. "I'm fine, my prince. Didn't fight, of course." He gave Arminas a stern look. "I wanted to. I felt useless."
"You're not useless," Arminas said firmly. "You always inspired me with your stories. I think about them often, especially when things are hard now. I miss those stories you told Eldrisa and me as kids."
"You remembered them?"
"I remember them all—even the made-up ones. I wish we could go back."
"We can't live in the past, Arminas," Voric said, eyeing Arminas's hands. "You're the hero now. You saved the Wyrmguard. She's grateful, I'm sure."
"I tried."
"You succeeded. That's all that matters." Voric stood. "I am no hero, my prince. But you are a hero." He smiled, then walked away.
Arminas looked at Silvara, who walked past him. She made her way to Rosetta, who was leaning against the rails. She approached her slowly.
"Are you alright?" Silvara asked with concern.
Rosetta exhaled, her voice fragile. "It's all a mess. Rosan and my brother are furious at me for helping Dison and the others. But I couldn't betray my friends, even if it meant risking everything. I just—couldn't."
"You kept Dison and the others' secret, even though they weren't supposed to be there. I think you did the right thing—helping friends despite the risk. I know trouble might follow, but Dison truly proved himself to us today." Silvara looked over the rails at the ground, understanding the consequences of Rosetta's loyalty.
Rosetta turned and saw Dison standing before her. She sighed in relief. "Idiot," she said, punching his arm.
Silvara chuckled. "I'll leave you two alone for a minute." She walked away.
Dison rubbed his arm. "Guess I had you worried. Elayne said I'm fine."
Rosetta turned away, trying to hide relief mixed with anger. "Do a dumb stunt like that again and I'll kill you myself," she warned, voice thick with emotion. Suddenly, she grabbed his shirt, pulled him close, and embraced him, her grip trembling.
Dison smiled, a little nervous. "I'm sorry."
Clara approached. "I'm glad you're up finally."
Dison rubbed his head. "Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry about the amulet. I think I lost it."
Clara looked confused but managed a smile. "Oh, it's okay. I can always make another one. I'm just glad you're alright." She turned and walked toward Rosan and Urision, who stood at the deck's very end. Fishing in her bag, she looked at the four amulets and frowned. "He didn't even realize he didn't take one," she mused as she passed Rosan, arms crossed and staring at Dison. "He looks upset. I better keep going." Quickly, she hurried past.
"I don't even know what to say. Wyverns that attacked and slaughtered thousands, but saved him. Something's off." Urision said.
Rosan glanced at Urision. "Maybe Quinn was right. He shouldn't be here." He recalled Quinn's words. "As much as he looks and acts like us, he's not one of us—I need to figure out what that means." Rosan's glare at Dison sharpened, and his mind raced about what it could mean for Silverstone. "This will displease the High order," he muttered, realizing Dison's presence could have serious consequences for all of them.
Meanwhile, in the far northwestern part of Aardocia, Fort Ranevail lies in ruins. Soldiers' bodies lay in the dirt and mud. The thunderous sound of footsteps echoed as a giant stood atop a tall hill, surveying the fields below. Towering twice the height of an average human, he held a massive battleaxe over his shoulder. His face bore scars in his beard, but a scar marred one eye. He surveyed the land with an evil grin, intent on crushing any resistance and sending a message. "Bring me their commander." He ordered.
"Yes, Commander Ironhorn." Barbarians dragged a man in armor out of the crowd and threw him in front of the giant. The commander looked up at Ironhorn with weary eyes.
Ironhorn looked down at the commander with a grin. "You tried your best and fought bravely, but I'm afraid the stronger always prevails. But will you die with honor?" He raised his axe.
"You bastards will pay for this!" the commander screamed as the axe cleaved through him, sending blood to the giant's face.
Ironhorn licked the blood off his mouth and laughed. "Died with more honor than some, I guess. Consider the treaty between Driac and Aardocia officially over." He shouted a battle cry, not for celebration, but to send a warning to any who would challenge him.
Rosan leaned over the ship's bottom rail, tense as Silverstone drew near. He recalled Quinn's warning: "He might look like us, but he's not one of us." That uncertainty pressed hard on Rosan; Dison surviving still troubled him deeply. "What have you gotten me into, old man?" he muttered, realizing he needed answers about Dison's identity as much as safety for Silverstone. From his armor, he pulled the journal—fingers hesitant as he searched for clues about Dison's past. "What were you hiding?"
He turned to the first page and began to read, though the words were already familiar. This time, he hunted for meaning in the most tangled passages—hoping for any clue that had slipped past him before. The journal read: "I have been studying the world and how all life came to be. The more I find out, the more it terrifies and puzzles me. Are we our own beings or just remnants of something greater?" Rosan's brow knotted tighter; his lips drew into a thin, frustrated line. "What does that even mean?" he whispered, desperation threading through his voice.
Footsteps echoed behind Rosan. He shoved the journal back into his armor. Turning sharply, his jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed. Disappointment flickered across his face when he saw Dison. Dison's features were etched with worry.
Dison lowered his head. "I came to apoligize..."
"Do you trust me Dison?"
Dison looked with confusion. "Of course."
Rosan placed his hand on Dison's shoulder. His tone was steady, yet laced with regret. "You saved Rosetta, and I thank you for that. But you went against orders. You know you will have to face punishment," he said, his voice calm but firm.
"I understand."
Rosan gave a rare, genuine smirk. "I need you and the others to be strong for what's coming."
Dison's eyes filled with anger. "You mean the ones who did this? The ones in the cloaks." He paused, his shoulders shaking as he sighed. "The ones who killed my mom and the village. I'll make them pay."
"You're not strong enough. But with the proper training, you will be." Rosan looked at the city wall they were approaching. "But right now, we have to take one thing at a time. We'll face it all together."
Dison looked at Rosan with regret. "Rosetta told me what happened. How was that even possible? I...I don't know what to think of all of this."
"We'll figure it out together, Dison." Rosan looked at Dison with a smile. "It'll all make sense in due time. For now, we just look forward." He and Dison looked on at the city with renewed, determined vigor.
END OF BOOK ONE