The projectile was thrown, and of those watching across the fae realms, only a few remembered the deep history of what the O'Tells estate had once been.

Of those who knew, there was only an even smaller handful who had traveled through it in its...more reactive days.

And of that small handful, only one knew the specific threat that lurked.

That one smiled. It was a cold smile. With teeth made of ice, it was difficult to ever have a warm smile.

"Bold." Said the voice, careful to speak softly least it awaken the coming heat death of all things. "Bold. But can you handle such a creature, little Elswith? Without your sword and without your power?"

An avalanche cascaded in the mountains far behind, compelled beyond itself at the authority of Cold. The small encampments screamed as the ice and snow hurled toward them, helpless as a force of Nature showed its idle and careless splendor.

----------------------------------------

Split seconds.

Victory or failure may be defined in just a few split seconds.

The world slowed down, though Daniel was sure that was just in his mind and not that time itself had slowed, as the Lord of Time was clearly not present.

Daniel watched as the earthen projectile came closer, between fractions of his heart beat. He wanted to duck away from danger, but his instincts warned that such an action would affect the trajectory of the hurled stone. His experience told him that the projectile thrown by the golem was still part of the golem, at least for a few split moments. He was angled correctly for the projectile to open the sealed wall, but should it miss...

He would lose his chance to overcome the golem.

The threat of the golem would be ending, as the Enforcers would be on their way to handle it. Although the Servant Branch had opened the door for it, the golem had invaded the O'Tells estate and caused much damage. The O'Tells were a Family, a House. They were not in a Court exactly, therefore the King had obligation to aid them.

And his enforcers would be nothing like Lord Fredar's passion project, full of lowlings and midlings who had never seen actual combat trainer, let alone battle. Proper, loyal Enforcers, the King's army, police, and assassins. Squads of enforcers dispatched to Courts were often a far cry from their imperial counterparts. Daniel still felt pity for the midling in the green hat, who had to drink a punch bowl of tea after his defeat against the Servant Branch.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

So in that moment between moments, where seconds felt like eons, Daniel felt a smile form.

He would move in the correct time, because he wanted to defeat the golem.

He may be weaker in Authority than before (apparently even weaker than himself as a young Lordling, as embarrassing as that seemed).

But he knew that in this moment, he could overcome this situation.

There was a golden moment of insight, where the scene was perfectly encapsulated.

Over there, to his right and hiding beneath a table was the redheaded servant, watching with wide eyes. Scrambling away toward the left while still crouching behind the large crates was Jasper, who had found his running legs after all. In the doorway was the Surmount Butler. Directly in front of Daniel was the golem.

And then there was the ever growing, ever nearing stone projectile, thrown by the golem in anger.

And in that golden moment, Daniel moved. He chose right instead of left, because if he had to chose which person to help evacuate, he would pick Shelby, who had actually been useful. Also, Jasper had great survival instincts, while the redhead seemed to live for trouble. So...Jasper could take care of himself, Daniel decided.

He pulled authority around himself, as he ducked out of the way and forced his legs to sail forward. He used some small favor in his steps, so his feet were sure and strong. No accidentally slipping.

The projectile crashed against the wall where the firepoker was stuck, where Daniel had been just a split second before, and there was such a sound of shatter and ruin beyond the mortar of the wall breaking.

Daniel did not look back, though he felt stings of pain as dislodged stones struck his back.

The golem roared, but its own weight worked against it as it could not stop its momentum and continued forward.

And there was another sound, one that sent chills down Daniels spine.

Daniel reached the table which the redhead was hiding under and joined her there.

The next moments would be critical.

"What is that?" asked Shelby, her plain nose wrinkled. "Maybe it's treasure?" She asked.

Daniel was reminded of an old friend who had said similar words. His mind took him to a dark place, even though he didn't want to go there, he couldn't help but overlay the bleak and dark moment of his childhood.

How could his friend's body have so much blood. Blue everywhere.

How could his little friend ever survive such a terrible event?

Orville had survived, but he never spoke of this event ever again. And the scars remained.

The entity that had caused such damage finally made its reappearance.

"Don't look at it." Daniel said.

Daniel did not get a proper look at the thing in the wall the first time. He had been young, and it was the first truly traumatic event in his life. It had always seemed terrible, too terrible to be true.

He had imagined that it had not been so bad before. That his small mind had added details or withheld details.

However, now he realized that he hadn't misremembered it. It was in a two legged form, but the arms were longer than its proportions suggested they should be. And while it was seemingly made from shadow, there were patches that seemed more substantial and tangible than others. Still black, but the black of rot and grunge and mold. The power that pooled from it was toxic and feral.

The entity formed of shadows pooling from the wall. But there were shackles, made of dull metal, that it dragged behind itself.

The shadow warbler.

At last revealed.

And the first thing it saw was the golem.