“Dog!” Merlin called, riding up alongside him as they entered the city gates, “May I speak to you?”
“Hmm.” Dog grunted, doing his best to ignore the crowds around them as they filtered into the city. Mercenaries and knights mingled freely, all silent at the sight of the elven host.
“Your axe, where did you get it?”
Dog glanced at him.
“It is large. Nearly a halberd, but unusual in length, and weight. I have not seen one of it's make in many years.”
“Found it on a corpse.”
Merlin’s eyes twinkled, “Did you? What kind of corpse?”
“Someone I used to know.” Dog said.
“Come, I’ll give us some privacy.” Merlin snapped his fingers, and Dog felt his stomach heave as he found himself face to face with Merlin’s book shelf in the tower, “Is this better? No need to be shy, my boy.”
“No.” Dog said, “None of your business.”
“You would shatter a gift from Victoria, yet that axe hardly dulls. It withstands your tremendous strength. The styling,” Merlin snapped his hands, and Dog growled as his axe appeared on the table between them, “These runes, these letters. They are not any human language, or symbols.”
“That’s not your concern.”
“Everyone always asks if Dog is your real name.” Merlin started, and Dog froze, hand hovering over the tower's door, “They never ask you if it’s always been your real name.”
Merlin suppressed a shiver when Dog turned. Gone were the bored or mildly annoyed expressions he’d usually worn. In their place was an animalistic snarl, his features so twisted he barely looked human, his eyes burning with a threat of malice that would level Merlin’s tower and everything in it, a solemn promise
“Easy now.” Merlin said, “You are free to go, this is no prison. I meant no offense.”
Dog grunted, “Do not teleport me without permission again.”
“Who is Ghiran?” Merlin asked, chuckling to himself as Dog kicked his door down, and fled.
“Curious. The boy's friend? Caretaker? Or something else?” Merlin noted, “An axe that is not meant to be wielded from horseback, but by a horse, perchance? How odd.”
----------------------------------------
“Woah.” Louen jumped out of the way as Dog stormed through the keep, her path to Merlin’s tower altered “Where are you off to? I couldn’t find you at the- Woah! Wait!”
“What?” Dog bit out.
“Why’re you so mad at me? I just arrived.”
Dog paused, taking a deep breath, “You haven’t angered me, Louen. It is something else, what ails you?”
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. What do you need?”
She frowned, “I wanted to see if you wanted to spar. I won’t use my sword. Maybe just practice tools?”
Dog paused, “Fine.”
----------------------------------------
“That was not fair! Not knightley at all!” Louen raved.
“Always watch for the leg hook.” Dog shrugged, “As a swordsman your footing is key. Others will seek to exploit it.”
“I just didn’t expect that!”
“You get used to it.” Dog said, rising to his feet, and dusting the training dirt free.
“What are you doing this evening?”
“Probably seeing, Snow.”
“Who’s Snow?”
“Technically my slave. She just won’t leave.”
“Technically?” Louen laughed, “How does that work?”
“I won her in a duel and freed her, but she won’t go away.”
“She’s probably grateful.”
“If she weren’t trying to sneak under my bedding I’d believe it.”
Louen’s cheeks reddened, “That is not a conversation to have with a lady! It’s improper.”
Dog glanced at her, “You’re not a lady.”
“You know what I mean!”
“Do I?”
“You’re not that dumb.”
“I might be.”
“You're Insufferable sometimes.” Louen rubbed her cheeks.
“You’ll get used to it.” Dog paused, “How do you plan on getting married?”
Louen hummed, “Merlin will figure something out. I don’t plan to pretend to be a man forever. I want to be me. But for now, this is easiest. Until I’m so strong nobody can deny it. Until then, marriage proposals make good kindling.”
“That’s one strategy.”
“What would you suggest?”
“Probably that, but I’m dumb.”
“What’s that say about me?” Louen chuckled, “I really didn’t want to be at war right now.”
“Nobody does. Nobody but us and Victoria.”
“What if I fail?”
“I don’t know.”
“What if all my people die? What if I die?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Dog.” She glared, “I’m being serious. I feel so much weight I think my head will pop. They’re all counting on me. They’re all expecting me to lead. I’ve never fought in a war, all I’ve done is run off bandits. What if I fail my people? My father? What do I-“
“I don’t really know.”
“Dog!” She punched him, “Oh you’re the worst!”
“I’m being serious.” He said, “I don’t know what will happen. I’ve never been a king, Louen.”
She wilted, head pressed against the pommel of her sword, “I’m sorry. I’m just scared.”
“Everyone’s scared.” He said, “Anybody who expects you to single-handedly turn the tide of the siege is going to die. It’s just not likely.”
“Have you fought in sieges before?”
“Yes.”
“What’re they like?”
“Boring, mostly. At least, human sieges are. Usually it’s easier to starve or fill the keep with plague than to take it by force.”
“What do you think the herd will do?”
“Probably attack straight away. They aren’t subtle. I’m more worried about the rats. The elves weren’t even concerned until they arrived. Merlin looked shaken.”
“They scare you?”
“No. I’ll kill them like the rest.” He admitted.
“One sleeps in your tent.”
“She’s learning.” He said, “Just as you are.”
“You mingle with those elves. Why?”
“Why not?”
“They killed your comrades. Even I'd be hard pressed to share a tent.”
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“So have I.” Dog snorted.
“Really?”
“John challenged me to a fight for a bounty on a campaign. I killed his men, then Siegfried dueled me, and then Victoria stabbed me.”
“Are you certain you’d rather work for her over me? I could provide a room in the castle.”
“It’s in the past. He shot me, we’re even.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“You seem to run into a suspicious number of near death circumstances following her.”
“Like when you tried to kill me.”
Louen flushed, but said nothing.
“It’s in the past. Keep training.”
“Yes… I will.”
Dog nodded, “Don’t tell anyone I was here, or where my dorm room is.“
Dog turned, heading for a nearby stairwell, ducking into an alcove as a pair of voices headed his way.
“Where’s Dog been?” Harlow asked.
“I don’t know. He’s been quiet since the elven emissaries began traveling with us, and I lost him when we entered the city.” Victoria said.
“Weird. Isn’t he normally quiet?”
“Yes but it feels like he’s avoiding me. Maestra and Ariel can’t find him either.”
“Avoid you?” Harlow asked, “Dog? His entire world revolves around you. The little psycho.”
“Do not, Harlow.”
“Yeah, yeah. He's a mister ladies man now, no shortage of women lining up to be in his tent.”
“Why do you care? He’s not bedding any of you.”
“I don’t. I’m just surprised that many people find him appealing. I’m not even trying to be insulting, I'm sure he’d agree.”
Right you are, Harlow. He noted.
“Whatever. So nobody has seen him?”
“Not since you entered the gates, ma’am. He even left his horse. Although maybe that’s less surprising. Why does he hate horses so much?”
“He… He’s never answered that question, actually.”
“You ever notice that it’s odd he uses an axe that’s as big as a lance for everything but doesn’t fight on horseback?”
“Everything is odd about him, Harlow.”
“Fair.” Harlow admitted, “Maybe Merlin or Louen?”
Time to go. Dog thought, fading into the darkness of the castle.
“So he’s not here?” Victoria asked, “I saw him with you last, Merlin. Back at the gates. Something is wrong. I don’t have all night to look for him, I have to meet with the Patriarch.”
“I’m afraid I upset him. He left, I haven’t seen him. Louen?”
“Not a peep.” Louen replied.
“This is odd. Usually he’s within earshot.” Victoria pursed her lips, “What’d you say to upset him, Merlin? It’s rare he outright loses his temper. Annoyed is his default emotion.”
“I’m well aware, he is quite frightening when angry. My poor door suffered the worst of it. But I’m not sure I have the right to say.”
“Pardon?”
“I get the feeling that what we discussed was very private for him. Very intimate. He would not want it shared.”
“We have no secrets.” Victoria scoffed, “Dog would never keep anything from me. He said so.”
“This is one.”
“Tell me. Now.” Victoria demanded.
“I will not.” Merlin shook his head, “I suspect our young friend feels more than he lets on. I will not betray his trust. Something about this land is changing him. Not just the people, or the battles. This place, Korone.”
Victoria glared.
“He is his own person to me. Your bonds of ownership mean nothing here, Victoria.” He replied, “If he is avoiding you as you suspect, perhaps continuing to seek him out is unwise. If he wishes to be found, you will find him.”
“I should have him lashed for this. I’ve spoiled him too much. He’s clearly taking advantage of all these privileges. He must think that since he’s been wounded, he gets to behave however he wishes.” Victoria spat, “Nothing but trouble. I’ve been a fool. He’s going to get it when I find him!”
“He’s done no such thing.” Louen stood, “You will not harm him. He is keeping to himself.”
Victoria's eyes narrowed, “What do you know? Where is he?”
“That’s none of your concern. Let him be.” Louen warned.
“I will do no such thing. Dog is my property. None of you have any right to hide him from me like this.”
“Victoria.” Merlin warned, the tower rumbling, “No matter how desperately he tries to convince you, you must not forget that he is only a man, and a young one at that. Lately you have been insecure, and possessive of him. Do you doubt your bond?”
“Of course not. He’s not going anywhere unless he beats me. He said so himself.”
“Then you should threaten your friends less, and seek your young companion more. Do not threaten harm upon him in my presence again. He is not a toy.”
“As if I actually would.” Victoria rolled her eyes, “Fine. Keep your secrets. I’ll find him myself.”
----------------------------------------
“There you are.” Dog fought his instinct to run as Victoria approached him along the causeway. He watched Korone hustle and bustle below as men and women alike prepared for the coming war. Their fervor had doubled as reports had begun to come in from elf scouts of strange marks in the fields.
“Victoria.” He nodded.
“You’ve been avoiding me.” She said.
“No I haven’t.”
“The fact that you said anything tells me you’re lying.”
“I’m avoiding everyone.” He corrected.
“You… Aren’t allowed to avoid me.”
“It wasn’t something I wanted to do.”
“It’s not something you have a choice in. No secrets. No lies. We are always honest to each other, and you are hiding something from me.”
“I’m not hiding anything.”
“So what’s wrong?”
“Nothing I have the words to explain.”
Victoria glared, “So that’s it? You’re just going to avoid me forever? What happened to always being honest to each other? I need you. You can’t do this to me. You’re supposed to be here when I call.”
“I just need to stop feeling like this. Something's not right in my head. My thoughts aren’t right. I am confused.”
“Well I can’t help you through this if you don’t have the words.”
“You came to me.”
“Because I own you.” She said, the light tone dropping, “You belong to me. No elf, no king, no rat, nobody is changing that. Do you understand? You can deal with whatever it is back at camp. Now let's go!”
Dog blinked, “What? Why are you acting like this?”
“You’ve been bedding one of them, haven’t you?”
“No.”
Victoria paused, “None of them?”
“No. I don’t want to bed anyone, Victoria.”
Victoria fell silent.
“Why are you angry?”
“Because you’ve been avoiding me.”
“Because I am trying to understand something.”
“Like what?”
“I already said, I don’t know the words.”
“Are you even trying to find them?”
Dog pulled a book from his bag, “Merlin gave me this for Ruby. I have been reading it.”
“You can read?”
“I was better when I was young.” He admitted, “I’ve been trying to understand. It’s a book of words and their definitions.”
“You said you couldn’t read.”
“I said I didn’t read. Not that I could not, that I chose not to.”
“You would dare argue semantics with me?” Victoria crossed her arms.
“That is genuinely what I meant.”
“Sure.” She rolled her eyes.
“Stop it.” He grunted, ignoring the heat building in her face.
“Don’t tell me what to do, dog! Don’t forget who beat you. I am the master! I am the mistress! You have been acting like a spoiled brat. Do not think that just because I favor you, that you are immune to consequences.” She glared.
“What is the matter with you?” He asked, eyes puzzled, “Why are you so angry?”
“Shut your mouth. I’ve had enough of this. You’re coming with me, and that’s that.” She grabbed his arm, frowning as he failed to move.
“You said you needed me to be honest with you. That you needed someone to trust, not sycophants.” He said, “You are not acting like those words are true.”
“Don’t presume to know what I mean. I said, lets go, and I meant it. Now!”
“No, Victoria.”
“You’re not in charge here! Get off that damned wall before I make you. I won’t ask you again!” She pressed a palm to her blade.
Dog’s eyes narrowed, and Victoria hesitated, unused to the expression on his face being aimed towards her.
“You’re hiding things from me, you’re hiding from me, and you’re lying to me. Clearly I’ve been too lenient.” She released her blade, letting go of his arm and pulling her whip from her belt, “I’m warning you, Dog. Do not make me use this. I have warned you so many times, over and over. You never listen.”
“I’m not making you do anything.”
“You are. What did you and Merlin talk about? Why are you avoiding me?”
“I’m trying to understand why right now. I didn’t talk to Merlin about anything. He talked to me.”
“Don’t lie to me. I know you told him something, so what was it?”
“Nothing.” He said.
“Dog!” She roared, her hands on the lash at her belt.
“I’m telling you the truth.”
“I’m warning you for the last time-“
“I said nothing!”
“Enough!” She spat, and he groaned, unprepared for the flash.
His instincts failed to respond, his body unable to recognize her as a threat, his face exploding in a shower of gore as Victoria screeched. The outburst was over as soon as it had come. He reached up, pulling his hand away to find it covered in blood, and liquid like water. He blinked, trying to clear his vision, only to find he still could not see. He glanced down, then up, then around, blinking rapidly, and finding his eye unresponsive, a pain blooming that continued to grow in his chest as he realized why he could not see.
“I told you not to! I told you-“ Victoria paused, “Dog?”
He turned to her, his eye lashed from its socket. His face was smeared with blood, a stabbing throb spiking throughout his skull. She dropped the lash immediately, her hands coming to her mouth as she found herself unable to look away. Victoria turned green. He felt something ugly rear its head in his chest, his heart thundering like hooves along the ground. It burned, and groaned, threatening to explode from his body outwards.
“Dog-I’m… I-“ Victoria vomited, “Dog…”
“Hmm.” Dog said, silencing his thoughts in an instant. A burning melancholy consumed everything in his chest all at once, and then he felt nothing. He stepped off his ledge, walking past her and into the greater castle, his body already numbing the pain as blood splashed along the paving.