Honey plodded along slowly, Cailen had overexerted her physically by dumping so many boosting spells into her. He felt awful, as he did every time that it had come to using those spells. This was the first time that he had been forced to use all of them though. Despite the oats and healing spells, Honey's once powerful and proud musculature sagged. Her spirit had bowed considerably under the exacting toll of the spells and Cailen wasn't sure what would happen to his life-long friend. For now, he had to put the thoughts aside, they're first priority was to get out of the Gloamridge Forest alive.

Regarding Valk, as they followed the main road through the woods, Cailen wondered at the origins of the man. He considered the possibility that he was even half-giant or if he were a traveler from a far-flung land. He even almost laughed aloud at the thought that Valk might even be an orc. Realization dawned on him with that thought though. Valk was the right size, Eamon had said that the orcs had impressive heavy armor. Cailen had personally seen Valk fight with the legendary strength and rage of the orcs. Valk spoke in a way that suggested that Common wasn't his first language, and he had an accent Cailen had never heard before.

Cailen cursed silently to himself. His order marched off to the eastern front to fight orcs and here he was allied with one. Eamon would skin him if Borel didn't kill him outright for fighting beside an orc. Cailen needed to know more though.

"Say, Valk. Where did you say you came from again?" Cailen asked, hoping to be sly.

"From Badlands, east of the mountain. I am Orc, I guess you guess now," Valk said simply, clearly understanding that Cailen had guessed his identity.

"Why though, why did you come?"

"Find help, Black Queen's power is big"

"The Black Queen?" Cailen's mind puzzled over the name. He'd never heard it before. "Is that an orc queen?"

"Orc do not have queen or king, orc free" Valk corrected with a dangerous shift in his voice that suggested that this was a sensitive subject. "Black Queen is elf, horrible woman. Kills without honor, kills for fun. She raise dead, makes dead kill family. Family rise from dead and kill more."

Cailen couldn't focus on which was the more surprising revelation, that the Black Queen was an elf, or that she was a necromancer.

"Wait, what is an elf doing in the badlands?" he asked the orc.

"Banished for crimes. She kills, yes?" Valk said as if that were obvious.

"I understand that but why the badlands. I honestly thought all passages in and out of the east were sealed." Cailen said.

Valk simply waved a hand, gesturing to himself.

"No, you got me there," Cailen admitted.

"Badland bad name," Valk said casually and quietly, almost as if musing to himself.

"Black Queen take everything from us, just as before. Elves can not let orc live in peace," Valk sounded almost as if he were deeply saddened and troubled with the prospect of war between elves and orcs.

"Valk, thank you," said Cailen as they walked.

For a long moment, the only sounds were the rare bird songs accompanying their footsteps. Honey's breathing had grown a little more ragged as well. Valk seemed troubled.

"You are first to thank," Valk admitted. "You do not judge orc, or me. Why?"

Cailen was stunned, had he helped other people previously? Did they run when they figured out that Valk was an orc? Too many questions sailed through Cailen's mind.

"Uh, you fought beside me, Valk. You didn't have to. I am honor-bound. I'm also a Sentinel of-"

Before Cailen could finish his sentence Valk and spun on him, blade drawn and at his neck so fast that he knew a new truth: he didn't stand a chance against Valk.

"Sentinels worst of worst, why I no kill you for dishonor?" Valk growled low and menacingly.

"I, I only live to protect people Valk," Cailen stuttered.

“Sentinels kill, they kill all like Black Queen. Sentinels are dogs. Cowards that rain fire and death from sky,” Valk gestured upward with his free hand.

“What? Fire from the sky? Valk are you su-” Cailen was cut off as the wind was forced from his lungs. Valk gut-punched him with his massive fist.

“SHUT UP! You prisoner now! Dalthu decide what do with you!” Valk screamed at him through his helmet. Just to add injury to injury Valk kicked him in the chest, laying him out on the ground.

Cailen writhed in pain, there had been a crunch of bone in that kick. Gasping for air, Cailen clutched his chest. Curling into the fetal position did nothing to abate the pain and all Cailen could consider was the prospect of immediate death.

Metal clanked and rang as Valk’s helmet dropped to the ground. Massive hands gripped Cailen by the shoulders and easily hefted him to his feet. Groaning, he struggled to keep his feet under him.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Look at me, Sentinel,” growled Valk, spitting the last word as though it were poisoned.

Cailen did as he was told, not wanting to draw further ire. Valk’s skin was grey as stone. A massive ridge of bone descended down his face merging seamlessly with a stout, flat nose. The Nostrils were two horizontal slits that flared wildly with each heavy breath. Valk’s brow was tensed with barely restrained fury, eyes bulging and bloodshot. Most of all, Cailen noticed the razor-sharp tusks that just protruded from Valk’s lower lip.

The gaze was pure hatred and Cailen could only return a pained, pathetic look. “Valk, I don…”

“Shut your mouth!” barked Valk as he violently shook Cailen.

His ribs were on fire, the shaking reigniting the worst of the pain.

“Walk, prisoner, Dalthu measure honor,” Valk said, shoving Cailen down the road.

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The past few hours had been absolute torture for Cailen. The pain of his broken broken ribs flaring with each step. He had healing items in the saddlebags on Honey's flanks, but he didn't know if that would provoke Valk.

Cailen cleared his throat, a now unbearable tickle had started a while back but he had fought to ignore it. Clearing his throat had started him coughing. He bent over under the force of his involuntary coughing. Red contrasted against the grey and white of the melting snow. The world began to drift and spin gently. He should have known, he was bleeding internally.

Valk had turned around, first raised to punish his prisoner more. He paused, spotting the crimson staining Cailen's face and front. Cailen smirked smugly, at least he thought he did, he tried to. The look on Valk's face changed from rage to surprise as Cailen slumped to the ground. The pain seemed to ebb away, replaced with a cool sensation, like a late spring breeze. Cailen smiled wistfully, he'd always seemed to miss the best days, those perfect days on the shores of Damashien.

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Pain erupted in his chest again. He heard voices, several of them, but he couldn’t seem to focus. The world faded in and out around him. Cailen felt as if he were being pulled in two different directions at once. He just wanted to rest, comfortable darkness beckoned him. At the same time, he was driven, he had somewhere to be. He couldn’t remember where it was, but he knew it was important.

“CAILEN!” an urgent voice broke through the fog in his mind. He knew that voice from a time that seemed so long ago to him.

The pain in his chest flared again with more urgency, it felt more immediate. The pain pushed the darkness from him. In that moment, as the fog in his mind started lifting he understood the reality of that darkness. It wasn’t eternal rest, it was something else, something outside of himself. It pulled back, unwilling to relinquish its grip on him.

He felt his heart race, then a surge of soothing energy flowed through him. He immediately recognized the sensation, it was healing magic! A flood of memories raced through his mind. He contemplated if Valk’s kick had inadvertently killed him.

He felt the darkness’s grip on him weaken further, another wave of the soothing magic. He could feel his limbs again. Only faintly could he feel his fingers as he curled them into a fist.

More frantic voices and a jarring stop. Cailen struggled to move his body as the darkness lurked at the edges of his mind. Sweet promises of rest dancing through his thoughts.

“Cailen, Cailen, can you hear me?” A sweet, familiar voice asked.

“Uuumph,” was all Cailen could manage. The pain was intense but faded rapidly into a dull but persistent ache.

“Don’t move yet, Ayen is still asking for miracles of healing for you,” said the voice.

“A-en?” he gasped, trying to place the name in the fog that still lingered.

“Hold him,” another female voice sounded as massive rough hands pinned down his limbs.

“The bones are mended, but his injuries are severe. Umarial, please fetch some water for him.

“Cailen,” the new voice called his attention. “This is going to hurt, we have to drain the blood from your lungs. Stay with me.”

A blinding burst of pain in his side cleared the fog away, he tried to squirm away but no matter how much he bucked and pulled at the hands that held him he couldn’t move. After a moment the ache in his chest subsided and was replaced by the sensation of flesh being knitted together by magic.

For a long moment, all he could do was lay there, gasping.

“Let him up, the worst of it is over. He needs water and rest, as do I. Do not open the gates again this day, the Lady will grant me no further miracles,” said the voice.

Cailen opened his eyes. Directly above him was a friendly and familiar face.

“I see you’re still getting into things way over your head, Cailen,” said the elven woman.

“I,” he started to argue then gave up on it, “no, you’re right”

“I know I’m right, had to bring you back from the edge of death. Valk really did a number on you.

Cailen groaned at the mention of that name, just hearing it brought the memory of the kick back to his mind. He reflexively winced.

“Ayen, thank you, but I should be getting back on the road, where’s Honey?” he asked.

Ayen’s smile vanished, a look of concern replacing it. Ayen helped Cailen to a sitting position before explaining.

“Cailen, Honey didn’t make it. Valk carried you after Honey collapsed. He said you had a pseudodragon as well, but it wouldn’t leave Honey,” Ayen slowly explained.

The news hit Cailen like a hammer-blow. It was his fault, he pushed her too hard. He knew better than to push that much magic on her. The poor creature's heart must have given out. He sparred a thought for the wyrm as well, the thing must have bonded more with Honey than Cailen had thought.

“She was old, Cailen, there wasn’t anything you could have done differently. Valk told us what happened. I also think you should stay here for some time. So far we’re safe behind these walls, but the road south is thick with those abominations.” Ayen said

He was about to insist on continuing south because of his task and then remembered the gilded scroll case buried deep in Honey’s saddlebags. Panic flooded his mind. Would those creatures feast on her? Would they destroy the scroll? Worst yet, what if the one who created those things found it? Cailen wasn't keen on that idea in particular.

“I have to get to Honey, now,” he said as he tried to stand. A fresh wave of pain washed over him.

“Hey, hey, hey! You’re not in fighting shape yet,” Ayen said moving to help support Cailen’s weight.

“You don’t understand, there’s,” he paused to contemplate his words, “Something, uh important about that wyrm.”

"Do not lie to me Cailen of no house," came the threatening reply. Ayen studied him a moment.

Cailen's jaw set firm, a darkness crossed his eyes betraying that he had lied.

"Only through omission," Cailen conceeded.

"Okay," she said looking to Umarial who was arriving with fresh water and some bandages.

"I've brought the water and bandages, I also managed to scrounge up some dragon tears from the apothecary," Umarial said as she stacked the supplies. "What is that look about?" she asked.

"There's something I must retrieve from Honey," Cailen said, turning to look at the gates.

"Oh no you don't, you just were dragged in here near death, Cailen. Not even a Sentinel can bounce back f..." Umarial began to lecture.

A glare from Ayen silenced her, "We both owe Cailen for that time on Giant's step anyway."

"I see, you're looking to settle old debts then," Cailen said with a wry grin.

"Something like that, Cailen. We too have our own business that we can't speak of," Ayen turned to Cailen, her expression softening. "Sometimes the Lady's plans include surprising things. We leave at dawn, no arguments. Night is upon us soon."