Table of Contents
An Illusion of Peace
Malik sighed and sheathed his swords, wiping the sweat from his forehead and gazing out over the field with sightless eyes. He didn’t need to see to know what lay in front of him, the smell of death, and blood and gore was thick and the connection he had with Nali provided him with enough detail. A field stained red with the blood of many. A good portion he had put there himself. There was nothing he hated more than dragon-thralls, the mindless killing machines that gave their souls to the beasts were as bad as the dragons themselves in his mind. “Malik?
He glanced back out of reflex, his mind’s eye seeing his face through Nali’s eyes before he closed the bond down, “What is it?”
“Nil asked me to interrupt your brooding to tell you that we’re about to leave.”
He frowned at her “I wasn’t brooding.”
She rolled her eyes and huffed, tugging playfully at the bond “You had this open, or did you forget. You were brooding.”
He sighed and shrugged “Surrounded by this much death, one can’t help but brood.”
She laughed “Malik, you brood at feasts! I’m starting to believe it’s the only mood you have!”
“Wench!” He laughed and pushed her away playfully.
She flicked the bond open and he saw her bow mockingly “My apologies, oh Prince.”
Malik scoffed and rolled his eyes, prince indeed “A prince of fools perhaps.”
Nali laughed “Come now, Nil and Nal aren’t that bad.”
Malik looked at her askance and fingered the scar that split his eyebrow pointedly. The brothers had been trying to juggle their throwing knives, one had gone flying and well, Malik had been the unsuspecting victim.
“Ok, you have a point.” She conceded.
He grinned “I’m glad we agree,” He sighed “Lend me your eyes, I don’t want to trip on some poor souls body.”
The bond flared to life and he saw her grin “Yes, having you kill them was bad enough, no need add insult to injury.”
He reached out and flicked her nose, pleased when he didn’t miss. Having Nali’s vision was an unpredictable thing, colors weren’t always right, and sometimes he didn’t have any depth perception. Now the world was black and white, but it was better than nothing. She stuck her tongue out at him and he laughed, “Come, before Nal comes looking for us.”
He offered her his arm—and neither would ever admit it was more for his sake than hers—and she led them through the field to where Malik’s men were waiting, milling about, kicking at bodies to look for survivors.
“Malik!” Nil called, standing from his brother’s side to grin madly at them “We were starting to think you’d decided to leave us!”
Malik snorted “If only I’d thought of such!”
Nal pouted, the effect ruined by the grin still pulling at the corners of his mouth “You know you love us Malik!”
Malik slapped him upside the head as he passed “Yes, like a dog loves a flea.” The insult held no heat, he would never openly admit it, but he was fond of the fools he called his men.
Nal laughed and rubbed his head, sitting back down and throwing an arm over his brother’s shoulder “Nil here would like to get back to the city, he’s got a pretty little thing waiting for him at the inn.”
Nil shoved his brother off him “No, I believe that’s you dear brother. I will be sleeping for the next fortnight.”
“You’re no fun.”
“And you’re going to catch something you can’t get rid of.”
Nali laughed and dragged Malik away from the brothers, “Mount up!” she called “We ride for home!”
Malik hoisted himself up on his horse, a big, sturdy gelding who knew his way to the city better than half the men, he turned him to face the others “Men of Vale! We return with victory and leave another squadron of thralls dead in our wake!” cheers went up around him, “These beasts think they can best us, think we are simple men like those who came before! But they are wrong! And as long as we still draw breath, Vale will never fall!”
Malik grinned at the roaring cheer that went up at his words, and glanced at Nali, taking in her pleased look with relief. He wasn’t good at making speeches, was better at insulting his enemies as his swords ripped the life out of them. If his speech pleased Nali, then Malik knew he had done something right. “Good?” he asked, kicking his horse into a trot beside her.
“You know it was, don’t go fishing for compliments.” She smiled.
“I’m no good at these things as you know it.”
She rolled her eyes “You’re better than you give yourself credit for Malik. In many things.”
Malik frowned and looked away, clenching the reins in his hands. “Don’t lie Nali, I know my shortcomings.” He had many.
Nali shook her head but let the subject drop. Malik was stubborn, and she had been friends with him for years, she knew it would take more than a few words to break through Malik’s ingrained dislike of himself. She honestly didn’t understand it though. The man was a expert swordsman, wielding his blades like they were merely extensions of his arms. He was tall, and strong and good looking, he would have to be touched in the head not to notice the women who flirted with him on the rare occasions he ventured into the tarverns.
She sighed, she had vague memories of a happy, smiling boy, with bright blue eyes. A boy who didn’t care that she was a girl and was just a happy to roll in the mud with her as he was to wrestle with his brothers. She also remembered the bright, hot heat of the fire that engulfed Malik’s home. The screams she heard through the thin walls. She remembered her father bringing Malik home, white cloth wrapped around his eyes. For the longest time she though that boy was dead.
“I thought I was the one who brooded.”
Nali shifted on her horse and glanced at Malik “Surrounded by so much death, one can’t help but brood.” She said, parroting his earlier words.
He smirked “Except we are no long surrounded by such death, in fact, I believe Vale is within sight.”
She looked up and huffed, he was right, she could see the great stone walls of Vale in the distance, “I’ll be glad to see home.”
“Are you actally going to go home? Or spend all your free time at the Barracks?”
“There’s nothing wrong with spending time there, extra training never hurt anyone.” It was true she had one of the better houses in the city, given to her by the Royal family in exchange for her services. But it was big and lonely with only herself to fill it, and she much perfered the loud and cramped barracks. Her soldiers were there, always willing to talk, or drink or fight.
“No, but you don’t need the training.”
“You don’t leave the Barracks either.”
Malik smirked “I don’t have a house the size of yours either.”
Nali pouted “I’ll make you a deal? I’ll go home if you come stay with me. If it’s not good for me to stay at the Barracks all the time, then it’s not good for you either.”
Malik sighed “Deal. But only if you cook for me.
She leaned out of the saddle and punched him hard in his shoulder “What do I look like? A maid?”
He smirked “Those are my terms, take them or leave them.”
“Fine.”
They rode into the city in silence, the towns folk so used to seeing them come and go that they no longer too much notice of them. Leaving the horses with a stable boy, Nali shooed the men into the Barracks, smacking Nal on the back of the head when he tried to sneak past her and into town “Not yet. Take care of your weapons and then you can take care of your cock.”
The men laughed and Nal blushed, “Fine, fine!”
Nali rolled her eyes, she’d been leading these men for almost five years and they still couldn’t get over a woman calling them out on their shit.
Malik chuckled “If only I could get a blush out of Nal like that.”
“Grow a pair of tits and you might.”
Malik snorted “I think I’ll pass.”
“Oh well, you’ll never know what you’re missing then.” Nali joked, grabbing at her chest playfully. She smirked when she caught the light flush on Malik’s dark cheeks. She loved making his uncomfortable, breaking through that tough shell that he loved to pretend was all he was.
“Come on you harlot, you promised to feed me.”
Nali laughed “Prude.”
Nali’s house was in the rich district of the city, and they walked through the winding streets together, ignoring the odd looks they got from some of the Nobles they passed. It was rare that Nali was seen in this part of town, she favored the rougher districts, the taverns, the barracks, any place she could potentially get into a fight. Seeing Malik here was ever rarer.
Nali leaned in “I wonder how many of them think we’re fucking.”
Malik choked “Nali!”
She laughed “What? You’re blind, not deaf, I know you’ve heard the rumors. Seeing me bringing you to my house? It’s probably the first thing their minds went to.” Malik flushed, glad he couldn’t see the faces they were passing now. Nali was right, he had heard the rumors about them. It was hard not to when it seemed to be the only subject some of them men talked about. He’d been enraged the first time he’d heard them, had dragged the two men into the training ring. He’d beaten them into the ground before they’d finally figured out why he was so mad. They’d promised all but their souls that they’d never utter a word about it again. Of course, those two men had been Nil and Nal, and everyone and their dog knew the only way those two would be quiet was if you sewed their lips shut.
“Does it bother you?”
“What?” he looked at her, frowning.
“That they think we’re sleeping together, does it bother you?” Nali asked, not looking at him. She’d never considered that Malik might not care for the rumors, might not shake them off with a laugh like she did.
“It…doesn’t bother me, not like you think.” He sighed and grabbed her hand, squeezing it gently “It’s a lucky man that gets to go home with you.”
She blushed and bumped her hip against his “It’s a lucky girl that get’s to go home with you.” She knew what he was thinking, even without the bond, she would recognize that look on his face, that he wasn’t worthy. Bullshit.
Unlocking her front door, she unbuckled her sword belt and propped it up by the door, telling herself she would clean it after the meal. Nali looked around and grimaced, there was a layer of dust over everything, and she wasn’t sure she had any actual edible food in the place. She sighed and turned to Malik, kicking him in the shin when she realized he was holding back laughter. “Make yourself at home asshole, while I go see if there’s any food.” She glared at him “I hope you choke on a dust mite.”
Malik laughed as she stomped off, taking off his own sword belts, unsheathing his swords and digging his whetstone and cleaning cloth out of his pouch. Setting carefully on the lumpy chair as to not disturb the good inch of dust that had gathered on it. He methodically cleaned what remained of the dried blood off each blade, laughing silently to himself as he heard Nali stomping around, cursing and slamming doors. “Regretting not coming home more often?” he called out.
“Fuck off!”
He laughed loudly then, “Just go down to the market! Someone should still be open!”
She stuck her head around the doorway and glared at him “Don’t make me cut this bond off and send you out instead.”
“You wouldn’t.”
She smirked “Do you want to bet on it?”
Malik glared “No.”
She laughed “I have food. Don’t worry.”
“Then what is your problem?”
She flushed and rubbed at the back of her neck “I don’t actually have anything to eat off of.”
“That’s what you’re worried about?” He chuckled “We’re warriors Nali, we’re used to eating without the proper utensils.”
Nali grinned sheepishly “I know, but you know…we’re back home.”
Malik knew what she meant, there was something about coming back to the city, to eating and smelling and dressing like proper humans again. “Just bring the food and a blanket. We’ll have a…what do you girls call it? A picnic.”
Their meal consisted of a thick beef stew and bread, but they ate it as if it was a feast served at the Keep. The bread was soft and the stew thick with vegetables. It was better than anything they had while on the road. Malik sighed in contentment and leaned against the wall, hands folded over his belly. “That was good.”
Nali was stretched out by his feet, spread eagle and her own empty bowl beside her “Anything better than that gruel we get on the road.” She sighed “We really need to hire a better cook.”
Malik snorted “Take it up with the King, I’ll let you be the one to tell him his cousin isn’t a good enough cook for us.”
“I’m not sure what kind of in you and the men seem to think think I have with the Royal family, but let me tell you, I can’t just walk up to King Lucian and start a conversation.” Nali said, cocking her eyebrow at him in derision.
“Really?” Malik asked sarcastically “Because you aren’t invited to every feast, and I haven’t seen you sitting at the Royal table before?”
Nali blushed “Those were official meetings and you know it. Besides, I haven’t been invited to anything at the Keep in months.” Thank the gods for that too. The Royal family was nice and all, but there was only so much she could take of that damn simpering Princess trying to get her into dresses and the men avoiding her like she might chop off their dicks at any given moment. “You know they only gave me the house because the Queen didn’t think a woman should be living in the Barracks with all those men by herself right?”
“Seriously?” But even as Malik asked it, he knew it was believable. Queen Æsa was known for her opinions on men and women mingling. It was surprising that she even let Nali enlist in the first place.
Nali nodded “She told me it was Lucian’s decision to accept me, but if there had to be a woman in the Warriors then she would be in her proper place, high and in a home.”
Malik wrinkled his nose in distaste. He’d never liked the Queen, not since he’d come in with Nali once and been mistaken for a house servant. Granted, there weren’t many blind soldiers. He yawned, jaw cracking at the force of it. Gods, he hadn’t slept properly since before they left over a fortnight ago, too wound up over the impending battles to do much more than toss and turn in his small bed. He had a feeling he’d sleep like the dead tonight though, and every other night they were lucky enough to be in Vale. “I need sleep.”
Nali nodded and stretched out, arching her back up off the floor, her tunic riding up to expose a tanned strip of skin. “I have to agree with you.”
Malik looked away, closing down the bond and smiling shakily. “The floor for me I assume?”
Nali shook her head and stood, tapping him in the shoulder to offer him a hand up. Pulling him to his feet, she said “No, I wouldn’t subject you to the floor after two weeks of sleeping on the ground. I have a big enough bed, we can share.” She paused “That is, if you don’t mind. The floor is open, but I figured you’d like a real bed on your first night back in Vale.”
Malik bit the inside of his cheek, he knew what he should do, he should make a joke, but insist on sleeping on the floor. He certainly didn’t want to, he could think of nothing he wanted less than that. But it was the right thing, the gentlemanly thing to do. “As long as you don’t steal the blanket. I’ll kick you straight onto the floor if you do, I don’t care that it’s your bed.”
Nali grinned “Just don’t steal my pillows and we’ll be fine.”
They made their way up the stairs, Malik taking them one step at a time to avoid any unfortunate and embarrassing accidents. He hadn’t been in Nali’s house enough to know that layout well enough to be comfortable. He didn’t even think he’d ever been upstairs at all, and if he had, he certainly didn’t remember it. Malik knew he could always just open the bond back up, but he knew what would happen when they got to her bedroom. Nali would strip, not caring at all that Malik was in the room, not caring if he had sight or not. He’d seen enough of Nali’s bare skin during the skirmishes, when she would strip with the other men to bathe in the river, washing away blood and dirt. He didn’t think he could handle seeing any more of her.
Malik sighed and stripped his shirt off, laying at the foot of the bed as he sank down onto the soft mattress. He needed to get his emotions under control. Needed to get away from Nali long enough that he could push them back down where they belonged. They weren’t anything new, Malik had always felt things for Nali that he knew he shouldn’t be. It wasn’t that there was a law forbidding relations between soldiers, hell, Malik knew for a fact that Nil was in a relationship with two of the other men. But Nali was…Nali. Special and vibrant and fierce. The best warrior on this side of the sea, she possessed powers that hadn’t been seen in Everwhere for an age. And he was just Malik. A blind man who happened to be able to wield swords well. There was nothing special about him. Malik knew Nali deserved someone better, someone who wouldn’t hinder her. Someone who wasn’t him. So he buried his feelings, and acted like the best friend and shield brother he was supposed to be. And tried to make himself believe that that’s all there ever would be between them.
“Malik?” Nali asked, climbing on the bed next to him.
“Hmm?”
“Are you alright? You’ve been acting off all evening.”
Malik leaned into her with a sigh “I’m fine Nali, just…tired is all. Tired and worried. These attacks…they keep getting closer and closer to Vale and the skirmishes closer and closer together. How long can we hold them back?” He wasn’t lying per say, he thought about it every day, how they were going to hold the kingdom against the growing hoard of dragon thralls. He fell back against the pillow with a sigh, raising his arm and letting Nali cuddle close as he felt her settle next to him.
“We’ll die before we let them take Vale.” Nali said, pillowing her head on Malik’s shoulder and wrapping an arm around his waist. “We swore we would.”
“And if we die? Who defends Vale then?”
Nali sighed, “Let’s not think of it now. We’re exhausted and such talk can wait until morning.
“…You’re right, I’m sorry.” He grabbed the blanket and pulled it up over them, “Goodnight Nali.”
“Sleep tight Malik.” She whispered into his chest.
Nali woke as the first light of dawn seeped through the thin curtains that covered her bedroom window. She groaned and squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to go back to sleep, she didn’t need to be awake for several more hours, and it was even longer before she was needed anywhere. But it was no use, her body was trained to rise with the sun. She sighed and sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she yawned wide. Malik grumbled in his sleep beside her and flung his arm out over her legs. She grinned and decided she’d let him sleep awhile longer, content to just sit here for a time. Drawing her knees up—carefully letting Malik’s arm slid onto the mattress—she rested her chin on her kneecaps and stared thoughtfully at him. He was a handsome man, tall and lithe, with arms that showed his prowess with his swords. His dark skin was a rarity in Vale—she vaguely remembered her father telling her that Malik’s family had come from the desert lands to the south, lands that had long since fallen to the dragon’s armies—and his black hair was rather curly when he let it grow out of the cropped style he normally preferred. His small goatee suited him, Nali thought, better than the full beards some of their men sported. His eyes were what truly enchanted her though. After the fire, they had lost their dark blue hue, and had faded into a pale, almost white blue—he’d often been told that their color was sometimes the only thing that gave his blindness away, after all, such a color could hardly be natural—that took on a hint of green when they were bonded.
Their bond. She smiled, sometimes she though that their bond was the only thing that kept her sane. Her powers had developed when she was only thirteen. Suddenly, she could hear what her parents were thinking as they ate breakfast, could hear the dirty, disgusting thoughts that one stable hand had. Nali had thought she’d gone insane. She’d locked herself in her room, curled up on her small bed and tried to make the voices go away. It hadn’t worked, and Nali was in tears by the time Malik had made his way around the back of their house, prying the window open and climbing in, only to fall on his ass. She’d giggled then, and he’d grimaced, but he had climbed in the bed with her, had wrapped himself around her and told her to concentrate on his voice.
<i>“Just listen to me Nali, ok? Just breathe and listen to my voice.” Nali sniffled and nodded, letting that newly found…thing in her mind reach out toward Malik. It latched on, drawing Malik’s comforting presence into her head. <i /></i>
Can you hear me?
<i>She’d flinched away then, Malik’s voice too loud in her head. He’d shushed her and apologized, trying again, but this time at a whisper. Can you hear me? “…yes…”<i /></i>
Don’t speak it, Nali.
…yes… <i>she repeated, biting her lips nervously.<i> <i>Malik had smiled<i> You haven’t gone mad, don’t be afraid. </i></i></i></i>
What’s happening to me?
<i>Malik had smiled sadly<i> My mother had something like it. I can remember her whispering in my head sometimes. Papa said she was touched by the gods. </i></i>
<i>Nali had scooted back into Malik, burying her face in her pillow <i> Could she control it? I don’t want to go around hearing everyone like this. It hurts my head. </i></i>
<i>They stayed there for hours, until all Nali could hear was Malik and the pounding in her head subsided.<i> Nali shook herself out of the memory and smiled, Malik had snuck into the Royal Library after that, had taken all the coin to his name and bribed one of the assistants to loan him any books they could find on the subject. It had taken years before Nali had mastered the art of the Mind, she’d had no one to teach her, after all, such powers hadn’t been seen in Vale in over a century. She’d often daydreamed about leaving Vale, searching out others with the same talents. Maybe one day, after the threat of dragons and thralls had passed, she still would. </i></i>
“Mmph, Nali?” Malik grumbled, eyes cracking open “Too early, go back to sleep.”
Nali grinned and laid back down, Malik was right, it was too early to be awake.
The next time she woke was to Malik rolling out of the bed and grumbling to himself about the late hour. She stretched out and hitched the blanket over her shoulder, turning on her side to watch him “You’re the one who told me to go back to bed.” She giggled as he gestured rudely over his shoulder at her.
“We need to get to the Barracks, gods only knows what will happen if they’re left by themselves for too long.”
Nali snorted and rolled off the other side, standing up and stretching again, “Nil’s probably still at the tavern…or passed out in a gutter.”
“We’ll send Nal after him if he hasn’t dragged his sorry ass home by now.” Where Nali might put up with the brothers antics, Malik wouldn’t, he didn’t have the time or humor to put up with them.
They didn’t bother with breakfast, Malik was in too much of a hurry, and Nali promised (threatened) to drag him back after they met with the garrison for a proper meal. They left their swords as well, sick of carrying the heavy weapons where ever they went. Instead Malik strapped a long, wickedly curved dagger to his side, and Nali tucked away a few throwing knives. It wasn’t like they really needed weapons inside Vale, the worst thing that happened in the city was a few drunken brawls when the taverns closed for the night.
Nali sighed and looked up at the sky, watching a few fluffy clouds float by. It was almost summer, and she wished she had more time to enjoy the spring weather while it lasted. Soon it would get unbearably hot, the unforgiving sun shining down on them all hours of the day. The creeks and streams would dry up, and training sessions would be postponed until the sun set, lest her soldiers drop like flies in the heat. She hated summer, she much preferred the cool months of fall, and the snowy days of winter. No one ever attacked during the winter, the snow fell too deep and too fast, and the temperatures were too low.
“Has the sky done you a grievous wrong?” Malik asked laughingly.
She flicked him and smiled “You know my feelings about summer.”
He nodded knowingly “Ah yes, soon you will be unbearable to live with and everyone will pray for the return of winter so they may escape your wrath.”
“Bastard.”
Malik laughed and held his arm out, waiting until she’d looped her own arm through his to continue through the quite streets. It was still too early for the rich nobles to rise from their comfortable beds, and Nali and Malik walked through the streets leisurely.
The Barracks were tucked into the center of town, where the poor, middle and rich districts met, a short walk for the soldiers who lived there to visit their families no matter what class they came from. Nali had always thought it an odd place to put it. Why not on the outskirts of town, where the soldiers would be closest to the gates if there was an attack on the city?
“Come, you round the men up, and I’ll—” she was cut off by the black shadow that passed over them, and the roar that echoed throughout the city.
They stopped, looking up at the sky in growing horror as the giant dragon circled the sky, flames licking at its teeth as it’s mouth opened wide. Nali screamed, went down on her knees and Malik’s borrowed vision went black, a searing pain as the bond was ripped away nearly sending him to his knees as well. He felt the heat, and heard the screams as the dragon rained death down on them. Malik didn’t need to see to know what was happening, he’s seen it before. It’s deadly mouth wide, breathing fire down on them. On the Barracks! Malik turned toward the building in horror, knowing that many of their men were still inside. Dragon fire burned fast and hot and he knew that there was little chance of anyone escaping from the Barracks.
He didn’t have time to contemplate though, as a rush of heat and a loud explosion threw him back. His ears popped painfully and he only had time to hope Nali would be ok before his head cracked against hard stone.
He came to with a groan, setting up slowly and rubbing the back of his head. He was surprised when his fingers came away dry, it seemed he would only have a painful lump to remind him of his collision with the stone. Malik leaned against the wall, panting, sightless eyes wide as he tried to pinpoint where he was. How long had he been unconscious? The explosion had thrown him a ways, and his ears were ringing, screwing with his ability to orientate himself. He needed to find Nali and his swords. Preferably in that order. The acrid smell of smoke and dragon fire filled his nose and he fought down his panic. Now wasn’t the time to let his issues take hold. But a dragon attack! There hadn’t been a dragon attack since…since he was young, the beasts much preferred letting their thralls do the dirty work. But that had been a dragon flying low over the city, Atrox, if the brief glimpse he saw before the bond had been all but snapped. The great Dragon Lord hadn’t been seen in decades, and there had even been rumors that he’d died. Malik wondered what brought him to Vale now.
Taking a deep breath and willing the ringing in his ears to subside, he took stock of what he could feel. Dirt under his feet instead of cobblestone. He reached out, feeling the broken, mangled thing beside him. It felt like one of the training dummies. Was he in the training ring? It would make sense, he had been on his way there. He wondered if Atrox had only attacked the Barracks, or if the rest of the city was burning as well.
He pulled himself to his feet, keeping one hand on the stone wall. He knew his way around this part of the city well enough that he shouldn’t need Nali’s vision, as long as he was careful, and didn’t manage to trip and impale himself on and debris. He needed to find Nali, needed to make sure she was safe. She shouldn’t have been thrown far from him, should still be within hearing distance. “Nali!” he yelled “Nali answer me!”
Nali! His mind called out as well Nali! Nali! NALI!
“Malik?” It was faint, but Malik turned, trying to pinpoint where her voice had come from. Damn his ears! “Is that you?”
“Nali? Where are you?”
She coughed and groaned, and Malik caught the shifting noises she made, as if she was trying to get up and couldn’t. “Hold on, this may hurt.”
The bond flared to life and Malik clutched his head at the white hot pain that arced through it. The bond felt ragged and torn, like that cursed dragon had ripped it apart with it’s claws. But he could see, it was blurry and unstable, but he looked around frantically, until he spotted Nali pinned under what looked like part of the Barracks roof.
He dropped to his knees at her side “Are you hurt?”
She grimaced “I don’t think so, well, not physically at least.”
Malik nodded and stood, gripping the beam that kept Nali’s legs pinned and lifted. It moved only inches, but it was enough for Nali to wriggle out from underneath it, rolling free moments before Malik’s arms gave out and the heavy beam came crashing back down. Stumbling back from the wreckage, he help Nali to her feet, running his hands over her, not trusting her own word about not being injured.
Nali grabbed his hands in hers “Malik. Malik, I’m fine!” She frowned “But you’re not.” She reached out, touching the blood that trailed from his ears. “Your ears are bleeding!”
Oh. He raised a hand, staring at the blood that was smeared on his fingertips. Well, that would explain the ringing.
“Can you still hear?”
He nodded “Yes…yes, they’re just ringing.” He stared at her, then pulled her into a tight hug, tucking her head under his chin.
She shuddered and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his shirt. Trying to blink back the tears. Her head was pounding, and her mind felt violated.
“What happened with the bond?” he asked “It felt like it was torn apart.”
She shook her head “I don’t know, the dragon, Atrox, he was in my head. I think he was trying to enthrall me, only…he couldn’t.”
“So he attacked the bond instead?” They had always known Nali would be immune to the magics the dragons used, but they never thought it would be tested.
“I think he thought it would lower my barriers. He was wrong.” She had felt Atrox’s rage as he slammed up against her mind, unable to get past the natural barriers her abilities provided. He had roared in anger, his terrible voice filling up her head. She swallowed back her fear and stepped away from Malik “We need to look for survivors. Find as many able men as we can and head to the Keep.”
Malik nodded and frowned “Do you think he attacked the Keep as well.”
“Before I blacked out…he was headed that way, I can only assume he’s trying to cripple Vale.” She grimaced “He must have gotten tired of his thralls failing and decided to attack us himself.”
“Let’s arm ourselves first. Our forces are scattered, now would be the perfect time for Atrox to send in his Thralls. It’s best not to let ourselves be caught unaware.”
“Right.” Nali said, glancing around at the wreckage that surrounded them. “Come then, the armory should still be standing.”
Blood and Flames
Atrox landed in the field as silently as a dragon of his size could, his claws digging into the mud. He had felt the deaths of his latest thralls at the hands of the Valians, had felt the bonds that kept them enthralled to him snap. He growled and used one paw to push over a pile of dead bodies that lay in front of him. Three hundred thralls dead, and with Vale still holding their defense, he was running out of humans to use. If they could not break Vale with the thralls, Atrox would have to run the risk of sending one of his dragons in instead.
The beating of wings and the sound of claws meeting land alerted Atrox to the arrival of another dragon. He swung his head around, one golden eye sizing up the smaller newcomer. “Maltrix.” He hissed.
Maltrix bowed his great red head in submission “Lord Atrox.”
Atrox bared his teeth with a growl “Where are the other thralls?”
Whining, Maltrix flared his wings out, crouching lower in the face of Atrox’s building rage “Dead, Lord Atrox, Calor lost control over them.”
Roaring his rage, Atrox reared back onto his back legs, lashing out and ripping his claws into the side of Maltrix’s head. “Dead! Those were the last of them until Unix brought more from the South!” Smoke curled from his flared nostrils and he debated unleashing the full force of his rage on Maltrix. But it would do him no good to kill his second in command, no matter how useless the other dragon was and he held back the fire that was building in his throat.
Maltrix shrunk back in fear, black blood dripping onto the ground from the gouges in his face “I did not let Calor live long past his transgression.”
Atrox slammed back down to the ground, “I should send you into Vale for letting such a thing happen.” He snapped his jaws together threateningly, “But you would likely foul that up as well, as useless as you are.” He wings flared out and he took to the sky, circling around Maltrix “I will deal with the humans, go back to the mountains and await my return.”
“Are you going to replenish the thralls?”
“Yes.” He snarled, spitting a small stream of fire at Maltrix “Those who do not die will be turned.” Watching as Maltrix flew toward the distant mountains, Atrox circled the field, setting fire to the piles of bodies that dotted the ground. He would cripple Vale, devour it’s King and strip it’s people of their free will. None would live that defied him.
But the words that had been whispered to him long ago still haunted him. The Unseen will destroy you Atrox, that which you fail to kill will be your downfall! I will make sure of it! The curse had been screamed at him by a madman, pinned beneath his claws nearly a century ago. Atrox had been sure to rip the man to pieces, spreading his body to the corners of the world. But the damage had been done and Atrox was thousands of years old, he was not one to think himself above the power of words.
He felt the fire building in his throat as Vale came into sight, the ancient rock wall giving way to wooden buildings that would feel the heat of his flames. He let out a triumphant roar as he soared over the city, turning in mid air and letting his magics loose, letting them invade the minds of the weak mortals below. He felt them bounce off one, and he pulled up short, hovering over the city and letting a stream of fire loose on the great wooden building that stood in the middle. Atrox let his mind follow his magics, only to be slammed up against the same barriers. What? Impossible! Such powers were gone from this land! Reserved for dragon kind along in this age! He roared in outrage and slammed his mind up against the barriers again, gaining no leeway…what’s this? A tether. To another human he assumed and he grabbed at it, ripping and tearing at it with all the force and magics he could, ripping it apart. He slammed his mind back up against the barriers where the tether had been, but still nothing. Snarling in rage, he withdrew his mind and let loose another stream of fire, pleasure coursing through him at the explosion it caused.
Whirling around in the air, he glided toward the Keep, slamming all his weight against the weak wooden walls and crashing down inside. The petty soldiers that rushed him were batted away without a thought, their bodies slamming into what remained of the walls. He would make a meal out of Vale’s royalty, and he would not leave until each and every one of the royal family was dead under his claws.
Thankfully the armory had been built mostly underground, and Nali silently thanked whoever had made such a decision. It meant that the armory—and the weapons and armor inside it—was untouched, and the only issue they encountered was getting to the door. Beams from the collapsed Barracks made it difficult to reach the door, which had been built into the side of a small hill off to the side of the training grounds. The armory itself ran completely underneath the training rings, and had another entrance in the basement of the Barracks. Part of Nali hoped that some of her and Malik’s men had been down inside, as part of their return duties was to inspect stock and to clean and repair the weapons and armor that they had had on the field with them. But she pushed that thought aside, she couldn’t focus on that now, they had to get into the armory first, get themselves armed, then they could worry about survivors.
Malik lifted the main beam blocking the door by one end and shifted it aside with a grunt, nearly tripping over it as his borrowed vision flickered in and out. His bond with Nali was even more unstable now, and Malik didn’t know if it was from the shock they had both received or if it was damage Atrox’s attack had done. One more broken beam and the door was cleared enough for Nali to squeeze through and she kicked the partially broken door down. “Get me my father’s swords.” Malik said, drawing his dagger. He would keep watch until Nali returned, in case Atrox’s thralls entered the city. He was glad now that he’d kept his father’s swords stored in the armory where they would be safe. His own were likely destroyed by now, if the roars and dark shape of Atrox still moving through the city meant anything.
Nali nodded and slipped into the armory, running her palm over the rune carved into the stone to activate the glowing balls of light that ran the armory’s length. Once she was in, it didn’t take her long to find what she was looking for, and she slipped into her armor, the light chain-mail clinking together as she slipped it over her head. The leather chest guard, spaulders and gauntlets quickly followed. Looking around frantically, she grabbed a sack, pulling Malik’s armor down off its dummy as well. It wouldn’t do for her to be armored and him running around in his civilian clothes. Setting the sack down carefully, she strapped a sword to her waist, and after moment of thought, she strapped a full quiver and a long bow to her back.
Before she grabbed Malik’s swords, she made her way through the armory, looking for any signs of life. The door leading up into the Barracks was busted in, bits of wood and broking beams blocking the entrance. She gasped, covering her mouth with a hand when she realized there was a hand dangling between the broken bits of wood. As if one of the soldiers had tried to escape through the armory and had the roof and walls come down on top of him. She mumbled a quick pray for his soul before giving up and turning back the way she came, lifting the heavy sack over her shoulder with one hand and grabbing Malik’s father’s sheathed swords with the other. She could only hope that some of the men hadn’t been inside when Atrox attacked, she desperately hoped Nil and Nal hadn’t been inside, and that Malik’s assumption that Nal would still be at the tavern had been true. “Malik!” She called out, handing him the swords and sack as she climbed over the debris.
“Anyone?” He asked, emptying the sack and pulling the armor over his thin shirt.
Nali shook her head “No one alive at least.”
Malik sighed, closing his eyes in resignation “Nil and Nal?”
“I don’t know, I couldn’t tell.”
A roar and a blast of fire coming from the direction of the Keep jolted them ot of any grief, and in it’s place panic formed. If Atrox was attacking the Keep, then the great dragon was probably after the Royal Family.
“We have to go!”
They took off at a run, dodging fallen debris and panicked townspeople alike. Nali tried to get their attention, tried to yell some direction, but they were in too much of a panicked state, and all they would do was run, pushing others over and trying to make their way to the gates. She wondered how many would be dead before Atrox’s seige was over. How many deaths would be brought on, not by dragon fire but by human fear and folly.
Getting to the Keep was nearly impossible and Nali and Malik pulled up short when they spotted the destruction. Part of the Keep—the Great Hall if Nali remembered correctly—was completely collapsed in, as if Atrox had crash landed right on it. “Gods no…” Nali murmured. There was no way anyone in the Hall could have survived that.
Atrox himself was in the air again, raining fire down on the Keep’s grounds. Nali squinted, trying to make out…dear gods, the beast had someone in his claws! They inched closer, hiding under a partially collapsed structure Nali thought used to be the Royal Stables. They watched as Atrox landed on his back legs, great black wings spread to keep himself balanced. His great mouth opened and a horrible rumbling laugh echoed across the city.
“People of Vale!” He roared “Long have you evaded my thralls, but no more! You’re mighty soldiers are under my spells and I have made a meal of your royals! Submit to my will and know that if you flee your lives are forfit!”
Nali realized with growing horror just who that limp figure clutched in Atrox’s claws was. King Lucian hang limply from the long sharp claws, once regal clothes drenched red with blood that Nali was all too sure was his own. Dead. He had to be dead, there was no way Atrox had kept him alive, not with the hatred that dripped from the dragon’s voice.
Nali stumbled back from the shock of it, grabbing Malik’s arm desperately. Their men…either enslaved or dead—and she couldn’t decide which fate was worse—Vale all but destroyed, and the royal family dead.
Atrox took to the sky again, dropping the mangled body of King Lucian to the ground. He circled around the city again “And know this, which ever one of you pathetic mortals has the dragon gift…you will be found, and I will have much use for you.”
Malik clutched at her, keeping her on her feet. “Nali, Nali you need to pull it together. We have to get to the King.” He wasn’t even going to touch what Atrox had said about the dragon-gift, that was a conversation that would have to be have much later.
Nali shuddered but nodded, and they ran to where they’d seen Lucian’s body fall, frantically climbing over downed trees and other pieces of debris. Nali skidded to a stop beside Lucian, dropping to her knees and gingerly turning his body over. She flinched as he drew a shuddering, wet breath, blood bubbling up between his lips. He was alive, but not for long, Nali knew fatal wounds when she saw them.
“…Nali…”
“M’lord! The Queen, Princess Bryn…are they still alive?” She asked, pressing her hands against the worst of his wounds, trying to delay the inevitable as long as she could.
He shook his head weakly, coughing up more blood “No…he…he devoured them. K-killed the guards and devoured t-them…before my eyes.” He wheezed.
“Oh Lucian…” She whispered “I’m so sorry.”
He grabbed at her hand “Kill…kill that monster…A-avenged my family.” He shuddered again, more blood bubbling past his lips and went still.
Nali sighed and gently closed his eyes, looking up at Malik “We need to leave. Atrox may be gone, but if he managed to enthrall the people…the two of us won’t get very far against a city full of thralls.”
Malik nodded and bowed his head in a brief prayer for Lucian and the royal family’s souls before helping Nali to her feet and drawing his swords. “We will avenge him. That beast will fall.”
Nali smiled shakily, wondering if she could make herself believe Malik’s words. They couldn’t bury Lucien, they didn’t have the time or the means, so Nali ripped one of the tattered banners from the half torn down wall that used to make up the entrance to the Great Hall and covered his body with it, determined to give his body some measure of the honor it deserved.
She drew her sword and turned away, glancing at Malik “Do you think Atrox has managed to enthrall them?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised, he seemed sure of it during his gloating.” Malik sneered, glaring out at the city.
They made their way away from the Keep slowly and quietly, not wanting to draw attention to their selves if Atrox had been speaking the truth. The town was eerily quiet save for the crackling of the fires still burning at the occasionally crash of another building collapsing somewhere in the city. Nali swallowed hard and gripped her sword tightly, such silence wasn’t a good sign. The lack of dead bodies was disturbing enough, and neither of them wanted to contemplate on what Atrox might want with corpses.
Malik was the first to stop, throwing his arm out to halt Nali. “Do you see that?” he asked, squinting through the smoke that fouled the air.
Nali followed Malik’s line of sighed and frowned, there was someone coming toward them, walking slowly and calmly through the destruction. She looked up at Malik “Should we call out to them? They might need some help.”
Malik shook his head “I think they know we’re here.” He drew his swords “And I don’t think they’re injured.”
Nali looked back at the figure, they were walking with purpose, and she sighed. Malik was right, that wasn’t the gait of a injured person looking for help. That was the gait of a soldier approaching his target.
Malik cursed as the man stopped and another joined him, he had a horrible feeling he knew who they are. He gripped his swords tight and stepping forward, putting himself between the men and Nali. It wasn’t something he normally would do, Nali was more than capable of defending herself, but if he was right in his assumption, he didn’t want her to have to fight them unless she had too.
The men stopped a few yards from then and Malik heard Nali swear quietly, coming to the same conclusion that he had. “Nil…Nal?” He called out, praying to any god he could think of that the brothers had escaped Atrox.
They brothers said nothing, only stared at the two, hands on their still sheathed swords.
Nali stepped forward to stand beside Malik “Nal? Are you and Nil alright?”
Neither answered, but Nal drew his sword, a cruel smile curling his lips.
Malik cursed and backed away, grabbing Nali by her arm and dragging her with him. She struggled, trying to get away from him but he only gripped her arm tighter. “Nali!” he hissed “Look!” He gestured behind the brothers, where others were slowly making their way through the smoke. “We can’t fight the entire town! It would be suicide!”
Nali looked around desperately as more and more appeared in the smoke. They would be surrounded soon and their only option would be to fight their way out. “We can’t leave them like this!”
Malik pulled at her arm again “We won’t! I swear it Nali, we won’t! But we have to go! Now!”
They ran through the burning city blindly, hoping to either outrun the mob of thralls or throw them off their trail. They jumped fences and cut through gardens, keeping off the main streets as much as they possibly could. But no matter the detours they took, as soon as they ventured back onto the streets, Nali could see the enthralled townspeople and soldiers, and Malik could hear Nal barking orders at them, his normally cheery voice cold and detached.
But soon the gates were in sight, and Nali was jumping on the back of one of the few horses that hadn’t fled when Atrox had been first spotted as Malik pulled open the gates. She kicked the mare into a gallop, turning to watch as Malik closed the gates behind him and jumped onto his own horse—the damned thing was too loyal for it’s own good—and followed her away from the city.
“Where are we going?” Malik called out to her as the city and its chaos became smaller and smaller in the distance. They couldn’t go to any of the outlying villages of Vale, lest they bring the hoard of thralls down on them, and they had no way of knowing whether or not Atrox had attacked them as well, killing and enthralling the people.
Nali didn’t answer, gimacing as they passed the crossroads that would have lead them to the village they had both gown up in.
“Nali answer me!” Malik demanded, urging his horse past her and whirling around to face he, bringing them both to a halt. “Where are we going?”
Nali sighed. “The forest.”
Malik gaped and shook his head “Are you mad?” The Forest of Forgotten Words was a dangerous place, filled with dangerous creatures and saturated in old magics. It was where warlocks went to cut their wands and alchemists and poisoners gathered ingerdients. There were even rumors that it was where the first dragons had hatched, before they took to the mountains.
“Not even the thralls will follow us there.” Nali reasoned “And Atrox won’t find us either.”
Malik snorted “Unless he sets fire to the damned place.”
Nali shook her head “Not even Atrox is that brave. Besides, I don’t think the forest would allow it.”
Wouldn’t allow it. Wouldn’t allow the greatest of the dragon lords to attack and Nali wanted to take refuge there. “You’re mad. You’ve finally gone mad.” Malik muttered, eying her warily.
Nali glared at him “Where would you suggest we go then Malik? IF you have a better suggestion, I’m waiting to hear it!”
Malik sighed and deflated. Nali was right, there was no where else they could go unless they wanted to be sitting ducks for Atrox and his thralls, or endanger the lives of others. “Very well, we’ll go to the damned forest.” The Forest of Forgotten Words sat on the border between Vale and it’s neighboring kingdom of Liresa, a land that had fallen to Atrox’s armies long before Malik and Nali had been born. It was a dark wood, it’s trees tall and ominous, their branches reaching out as if to nab anyone who wandered too close. Long ago, before the land had been settled and unified, the forest had been home to the most powerful witches and warlocks, who had infused the trees with strong protective magics. If one was brave enough to venture in now, they could still see the ancient runes and scrawled spells carved onto the trees and rocks that had given the forest its name.
Malik shivered as they rode up to it, there was just something about the woods that put him off. It always had, even as a child, when the other boys would dare each other to bring back a twig or rock, Malik would refuse, preferring to be ridiculed by his friends than venture into the forest. He closed down the bond as they drew closer, hoping than if he couldn’t see what lay ahead, his irrational fear would stay buried.
“Malik?” Nali asked in confusion as she felt him pull away from her mind. Now wasn’t the time for him to be…well, blind. Malik could fight as well as anyone else without his sight, but trying to navigate through the woods without it would be dangerous.
“I’ll be fine.” Malik muttered, feeling her concern for him through the tiny sliver of a connection that they still had.
Nali sighed and pulled her mare to a stop, dismounting and wrapping her hand around her long mane. She briefly regretted not being able to grab some tack as they fled, it would make it hard for them to keep the horses near. “We’ll need to lead them through, we don’t know what may lie ahead.”
Malik nodded and dismounted as well, not bothering to lead the gelding along. He—and why hadn’t he ever given him a name?—would follow Malik until Malik commanded otherwise, trained to use verbal commands. “Go ahead, I know you’ve been here before.” Unlike Malik, Nali never had an irrational fear of the forest, despite it’s sinister reputation. She was always the first to volunteer for the insane dares as a child, showing up the boys with her fearlessness.
The horses balked and whinnied, refusing to step into the dark woods. Even Malik’s gelding reared back when Malik tried to pull him in, dancing out of Malik’s reach. Frustrated and on edge, Malik let ot a sharp whistle and the gelding stood still, ears perked forward and staring at Malik. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair “This isn’t going to work Nali, we have no leads, we can’t force them in.”
Nali frowned and let go of her mare, watching her prance around behind Malik’s gelding. “We’re stranded if we let them go.”
Malik baked out a laugh “We have no where to go anyway.” He whistled again and the gelding approached him, snorting and eying the woods behind Malik warily. Malik reached up and stroked his silky nose “Go on then. Get!” He pushed him back, slapping his rmp hard, making the horse break into a canter away from them. He turned to Nali “Well?”
She sighed and shooed her mare away, who seemed all to grateful to join Malik’s horse. She turned back and gazed up at the trees, “Let’s hope all those rumors are merely rumors.”
A breeze drifted through the trees, and the shuffling of the leaves was the only sounds they heard. Not a single bird song was heard, or the other chattering of small animals that on usually hears in a forest. Malik gripped the hilt of one sword, not yet drawing it but he certainly wasn’t going to be letting his guard down, not here.
“Nali…I don’t like this.”
Nali looked around, taking it the darkness that seemed to come from the very trees themselves, she could just make out the ineligible runes carved into their bark and shivered. She didn’t like it either, the forest seemed as if it wanted to consume them, and she swore to herself that she could see shadows moving out of the corner of her eye. She swallowed hard and glanced back at Malik “It’ll be dark soon, lets make camp in a tree tonight, it will be safer that way until we know what to expect from this place.” She paused and frowned “Can you climb? I can’t remember ever seeing you with your feet off the ground.”
Malik grimaced “That’s because you haven’t.” He was as fond of heights as he was dragons, and prefered to keep his feet on the ground. It was hard for him to sense things if he wasn’t. He was so in tune with the vibrations of the world now that being without them was like going blind all over again. He sighed “I’ll be fine.”
Nali eyed him but didn’t say anything, she didn’t want to offend him by offering to make camp on the ground instead. He wouldn’t appreciate it and she knew he knew it wouldn’t be as safe. Picking the first tree she saw with branches low enough that they could climb up, but high enough that any animals would alert them trying to get to them, she climbed it quickly, thankful now for her rather adventurous childhood. Straddling a large linb carefully, she looked down at Malik, tugging at the bond lightly “Open it and get up here.”
He frowned and opened his mouth in protest, but she cut him off “No. I know you have some sort of problem with the forest, but I won’t have you trying to climb up here without my sight and falling and killing yourself.” She sighed “Please don’t be so stubborn that you’d leave me here without you.”
Malik sighed and blinked, shivering as he took in the slowly darkening woods and glanced up at Nali “Are you happy?”
“Very.” She smirked “Now get up here.”