71
Trials and Troubles
Near a tower, in a large tent, silence reigns. Groups of people fall in three different categories; some are on their feet and were already in the process of leaving, others are seated and looking around with rubber necks. These are the sheep, the followers of the stream. If a larger group stands up, so will they. The last group, by far the smallest is seated and facing the strange boy who just threatened to cut a King’s head off.
The Snow Elf King does not show fear, his face is twisted in anger. Never before had anyone threatened him so openly. He had seen the boy kill all those griffins, but that is not what keeps him from charging at Slyfer. What keeps him from seeking his own death are the two scaled heads behind him. The red one especially is staring at him. In the one eye that is trained on him, he can see a dare, a dare to move, a dare to say something…. A dare to try and attack.
Their words are also what keeps the Snow Elf King’s from losing it. What other being or non-dragon has ever been called a “son of dragons”. None of them would have believed, if it did not come from the dragons themselves. Even now some still doubt that it was the dragons that spoke. What existence is dragon? For thousands of years they were feared, respected and many a ruler would do anything to keep them happy lest the dragon takes offence and starts terrorizing their lands.
There were many respected for the help they offered; Dragons that lived peacefully. Teaching magic where they went, to whom they felt deserved it. These were the saints, the helpers and most were given the title of “gift bringers”.
Then there were the others ones. Tyrants, death bringers! Dragons like the very one that is staring at the Snow Elf King now. As a young elf he had heard many stories about Alric. Some believed him to be a force of nature; a dragon born from a volcano to spew out death and destruction wherever he went. A creature born to war. The dragon had killed many of its own kind, for reasons unknown…. If there even were reasons. Like a creature spawned from the abyss, he had simply appeared out of nowhere, for years it killed everything and anything that came near its territory.
Serena was known for different reasons; a dragon that was seldomly seen. Choosing to live secluded, however when she did act, it was swift and decisive. The great woods in the West, was her territory. A forest that stretched from one horizon to the next. What was inside remains a mystery, but many who went never returned and those that did claimed the forest was alive; their eyes crazed and minds broken. Blabbering about their comrades simply falling asleep mid stride, never to wake again.
Some said it was her method for keeping intruders out, others claimed she was the one that kept the forest at bay; from spreading to populated areas. No one knew the truth. The heart of the forest was always obscured by mist; it’s true nature always hidden and the dragon never bothered to mention the truth behind all the claims.
Right now these two dragons are fighting and Slyfer finds himself in between the two. His mind ringing with their voices, which only serves to further irritate him! Alric urges him on to do as he said, to cut off the petulant little Snow Elf’s head. Serena is arguing in the Elf’s favor, saying that he is needed and it would be a bad idea to show such behavior in front of all the people gathered. Slyfer is to be a new hope, not a new tyrant.
Slyfer rubs his temples and finally breaks the silence. “I have waited long enough, bring the first accused. We will start with the trials. Those who want to leave must do so now, but don’t forget my words and prepare to leave the city.”
No one says anything, nor would Slyfer care to listen even if they had. The Snow Elf King gathers his wits and is about to break the silence, but is cut off when he spots two of the shield bearers dragging a human into the tent. The man is tall, lanky, dirty and somewhat thin. With cheeks sunken in and clothes that can only be described as rags, he gets deposited in front of Slyfer.
Alric’s voice immediately fills Slyfer’s mind. “I think you should kill him.”
Not surprised, Slyfer asks, “Why?”
Alric snorts, drawing all the attention that was on the man, to himself. “I do not like the way he looks.”
Slyfer sighs.
Serena ignores the red dragon and asks. “Where did you get this one?”
Slyfer quickly starts to explain the origins of the man he captured along with Alexo’s son to everyone, dragons included. Seeing Slyfer has no inclination to describe the man’s crimes to all those gathered, Jade stands up a bit shakily. Her memories of the time she spent in the town, though brief, still gives her sleepless nights.
“The man before you was captured at a town not far from here. The town was under the control of the human army. All the male inhabitants of the town were killed and the women….” She falls quiet and takes a few deep breaths, the cries and screams of her fellow scouts filling her mind. Slyfer puts a hand on her shoulder for support.
She takes another deep breath and continues. “The woman were tortured and raped by the commanding officer. I was captured as well, but luckily my brother and a few others came to my rescue. Although….” She lowers her head and looks at the ground. “….by that time, many of my comrades was already killed.”
Slyfer ignores the people his eyes fixated on the human standing almost naked for all to see. Many emotions flash over the man’s face. Anger, hopelessness, hate and finally acceptance. Slyfer rests his head on his hand while staring at the man. Serena is the first to comment in his mind. “This man has already come to terms with his death, why do you prolong it?”
He shrugs and then answers the question. “I thought he had information, turns out he knew nothing; a simple foot shoulder that was following orders. Bringing him out here was Jade’s idea. It is a ploy to convince these idiots that we have an enemy.”
Serena praises Jade, “A smart move, seeing as your negotiating abilities are poor at best. If the trial is handled fairly it may repair the damage caused by your outburst earlier.”
Slyfer only snorts in answer, however, Serena continues to push her point by saying. “Look many of those that stood up are seated once more.”
Slyfer scans the area and finds what the dragon said to be the truth. His eyes make contact with one of the Dryads, a young girl by the look of things. As if startled by his gaze she visibly shakes and looks away. He is once again surprised by their beauty. All the Dryads are female and each one is more beautiful than the last in his eyes. –What a strange race.-
His attention is pulled back by Jade who is now speaking directly to the human. Her accent is thick, her tongue unaccustomed to the human language. “Do you admit to your crimes?”
The man is silent, his eyes fearful. The things he has been taught since a young age to be monsters and demons are now staring at him. Dragons, the most evil of all creatures, only the holy Chronos is exempt from this fact. Two are staring at him now and if he was not before, right now he is all but assured of his death. In between them sits a boy, his bearing looks bored. Compared to before he has an air of maturity now, yet it barely covers the savagery hidden underneath. His hair and clothes screams that he is a warrior. It reminds the man of the barbarians that sometimes raids their lands. Giant men with monstrous strength! The boy makes him remember old stories about a god of war, a demon that slayed and bathed in blood, he had seen the boy fight…-It truly was like a demon.-
The green haired dark elf speaks again. Her accent making her words barely understandable, squaring his shoulders the man speaks as he thinks, -If I am to die, it will be with dignity.-
“The commander of our contingent was a truly evil man. I followed orders as a soldier should. I was ashamed of my actions, but orders are orders. This is no excuse, I know. But understand this, my family is back home, and if a soldier fails to do his duty. His family is killed.”
Mutters break out at his words. Most present understand the human language, they had to learn it in order to be on the council. Jade shakes her head. “Your crimes are not those of your commander, but the fact that you occupied and killed civilians in peace time, most definitely is!”
The man looks at her and the others confused and then with confusion on his face says words that silences most of those present. “ When did our nation make peace with you?”
Slyfer nearly bursts out laughing at the stupid faces. The question asked almost innocently was like a hammer’s blow. Jade ignores Slyfer who is barely keeping his amusement in check. “What was your mission?”
The man looks at Slyfer. He had already told him what it was. He then looks around him only to realize, the trial is nothing but a farce for the creatures around him. –Maybe if I play along I will survive?- The thought and hope dies immediately as soon as he remembers what Alexo’s bastard son did. His part, no matter how small cannot be forgiven so easily. But hope is an infectious thing and with the hope of seeing his family again, he starts to speak.
“My mission was to transport a foul creature in secret, a basisk or “magic eater” they call them.” He flinches. At the words foul creature, displeasure clearly found its way onto the demon boy’s face. All hope of survival felt like it had just been stomped out.
The boy stands up and gestured towards a silver haired girl who has her head cocked to the side as she stares at the roof of the tent, seemingly lost in thought. “Tell me human, does this look like a foul creature?” Slyfer asks.
“No, no Lord. She looks perfectly human if not for her strange eyes and hair.”
Slyfer nods and then frowns. “To some here, a human is what you described….Do you know where Basisks come from?”
The human shakes his head. “I was told they come from a strange place in the far North of the human Kingdom.”
He blanches when Slyfer smiles. It is not friendly and instead makes him feel like a hare staring down a wolf’s throat. A very hungry wolf… Slyfer turns away, causing the man to let out a long sigh. “A “basisk” is a creature of the humans’ own creation. A while ago I intercepted a letter by killing a griffin. In this letter I found information which at the time made no sense, but when I was waiting for the so called “council” to find out that I was supposedly captured by Alexo before I could get an audience. I spoke to one of his guards, who just so happens to be passed out with severe injuries, not far from here. Slyfer feels stupid and is once again angry at himself. –How could I have forgotten to speak to Luna about her supposed brother… am I losing it?-
Swallowing down the self-derision and deciding not to bring up that fact until he has spoken to her Slyfer continues to explain. “This man told me he too was a basisk. They take any human with a bit of magic affinity and warp them, turning them into mindless beasts. The human is taken at a young age, no more than children.”
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No one says anything at the revelation. “These mindless beasts are then given a drug. It calms them, makes them sane, however, they are heavily dependent on it. If they don’t take it they will change back and if they do not change after the drug was given they are destroyed as defects, failures and rejects. Alexo called them his “blessed” children.”
The Dwarf King frowns and speaks up. “You said “called”, did you perhaps catch and kill him already?”
Slyfer gives the dwarf a glance. “We did find him, but his luck was too great… someone else had already killed him.” The Dwarf’s frown deepens, the implications of what this may mean causing not only him, but many others to sweat as well.
Cresha’s mother, to everyone’s surprise is the next to ask a question. “How is it that the girl with you is able to stay sane then? Are we not in danger by having her in our presence.”
Slyfer looks at the Dryad and once again gives his wolf like smile. “You are indeed in danger for being in her presence, but not because she may lose control. No, there is another way to keep them from changing back, but I won’t share it with you at this time.”
The Dryad nods and then asks the next question. “Why are they called “magic eaters”?
Slyfer watches as everyone present sits closer; near the edge of their seats. Curious to what the answer may be. “Once we are allies I will tell you, but right now this man is on trial and as I said… I am not here to explain things to blind people. Jade… please continue the inquiry.”
Slyfer takes his seat again leaving the floor to his green haired Sister. Not breaking eye contact with the man, she asks. “Who was your commander?”
The man frowns as if eating something sour. “He was a monster, but a monster born form an even greater evil. He was Alexo’s son.” Mutters break out and people start chattering once more. The man continues. “Alexo’s son was given command because of his father’s station. If he did not leave the city we lived in, he would have been put on trial for the murder and rape of another noble’s daughter. We were told the stories and rumors were lies.” The man sighs. “At first everything went well, however once we were past the mountain his true colors came to the fore. The female soldiers with us were the first to suffer. I tried to….Well in the end I could not do anything due to threats.”
To the human’s surprise disgust is the only emotion seen on the “monsters and demons’” faces. –Were we taught nothing but lies, these creature… no, people show more anger than my own men did?-
His statement is true for all accept the Snow Elves, in their culture rape and women abuse is part of everyday life. The Snow Elf’s reaction or lack thereof is not lost on Slyfer. His hands balled into fists, he watches the passive face of the King. His dislike of the elf growing with every second. –How does one change a culture? Do I have a rite to and what will it lead to if I demand that the women have more rites?” He looks at the Snow Elf princess, her demeanor is calm, but like most of the women present he can see the hate in her eyes, along with fear. Her fate may not be that much different to the women they are talking about. Slyfer drums his fingers on the armrest. –Perhaps I may not be able to change the race, but I will at the least try my best to keep her from such a fate…. Perhaps demand that she becomes their representative, an important person they can’t do without?-
As if feeling his gaze her eyes meet his. They are filled with a bit of hope.
Jade nods at the man. “I thank you for your honesty human.” She turns to the rest. “You all have heard what the human has to say. Those who will decide your fate will be the Dark Elf clans since the rest of the people here were not present. Do you have any last words, before you are judged according to our laws.”
The human swallows and looks down at his hands. “I have no excuse for not acting; from a young age, we are taught that the other races are monsters, demons that we should kill on sight. This indoctrination has made most of us believe that you are less… human and undeserving of the same treatment. No more than animals. Coupled with this was the fear I had for the families of my men and I. I hope that you will keep this in consideration.”
Jade simply nods and then turns to the rest of the clans. “You have heard the man, please keep it in mind when deciding on the sentence.” The human is quickly taken away after the statement and the tent falls into silence.
One of the fish people mutters something and due to the silence everyone can hear it. “To them we are no more than animals…. Alexo said.”
The Dwarf turns to him. “Who cares what the whoreson said? He lied, cheated and killed right under our noses. If you have not realized this by now, then you are daft.”
Despite wanting to the fish-man could not rebuke him.
After a few seconds Slyfer once again calls out. “Bring in Alexo’s son.”
Jade bends low and whispers to him. “What about the girl, don’t you think she should be present?”
Slyfer shakes his head. “The bastard’s fate is sealed I do not want to put her through the inquiry unnecessarily.”
The shield bearers return. Gasps fill the tent at the state of the thing they are carrying while trying to keep their heads away from him as far as possible. The reason for this action is very simple, he stinks. Dropping the man the shield bearers make a quick retreat not wanting to be close to the foul stench. Jade shudders involuntarily.
Slyfer looks at the extremely thin thing in front of him. Where he was once fat, he is now thin and mal-nourished. Most of his hair has been torn out and bite marks lace his arms and legs, even some of his toes and fingers are missing…. One does not have to be a genius to figure out it was self-inflicted. Taking Jade’s hand he says, “I will handle this, he is my toy after all.”
The words are heard by all and some have to keep themselves from throwing up. The Snow Elf King is the first to shoot to his feet in outrage, relishing the chance to get back at Slyfer who humiliated him. “Is this how you treat your prisoners? Is this the treatment we can expect.”
Slyfer ignores the man and walks over, his eyes glowing red with hate. Thoughts of what happened and what he saw fill his mind flooding out the cries of injustice from the people surrounding him. Anger, unbridled, unchecked floods through him like the blood in his veins. Fira feels a tug on her soul. Her anger rising with that of Slyfer’s. As if drawing it from her it flows through their connection, but while it is dragging it out it also bolsters and makes her stronger. Just like that day when they destroyed the outpost.
The Snow Elf King still standing immediately shuts up when a dark mist starts to flow around Slyfer. The thing on the ground sensing more than seeing SLyfer approach starts to whimper and beg. The High Elf princess, Aldowin and Trisha turn white as snow when they see the mist.
The Dryads unconsciously back away at sensing the aura. At Slyfer’s feet the grass and ground is turning black. Alric seeing it for the first time, is just as surprised as the rest. Serena had seen it once before when she was circling above the day Slyfer fought Browly. The baleful aura up close is still shocking though. Not because she is afraid, but because she had sensed it once before.
Alric starts to growl menacingly behind her. “Serena this aura….”
“I know Alric, but trust in our hatchling, so far he is still in control of it.”
Alric does not reply but his claws start to dig into the ground as he clenches them, ready to pounc at a moments notice.
The Snow Elf King recovers from his shock. “You have already made this man suffer enough, look at the state of him. His mind is broken. His soul shattered. Looking at this, I can only fear for the fate of my son. Show the human mercy or you are an even bigger monster than he ever was!”
Aldowin closes his eyes. He had hoped the daft bastard will shut his mouth. Cresha is not fearful but captivated. Her mother’s story about the darkness had once again found its way to the front of her mind. Cresha takes her mother’s hand. “is this the darkness?”
Before her mother can answer. Slyfer starts to change! As he does Fira’s hair turns black as night and an almost crazy smile adorns her face. Everyone watches agast as horns and scales start to grow on Slyfer. As if swallowing the light the very air darkens. Slyfer stops a mere step from the thing on the ground who is wailing by now. Directly behind him is the Snow Elf. The Snow elf that is looking down at the whimpering man, looks up and nearly faints, Slyfer is looking directly at him!
The Snow elf nearly cries out in pain. The eyes looking at him is somehow causing him physical pain. Then the demon smiles. When Slyfer starts to speak the air trembles and blood starts to drip out of the Elf’s ears. The table he is sitting at cracking with every syllable. “A monster?”
The demon smiles.
“To catch a monster, don’t you think it is better to be a bigger one? Show the human mercy…” The demon bends down and his hand grabs the human’s head and starts lifting him effortlessly. The eyes briefly flits between Alexo’s son and the Elf. “Perhaps, you are right and I have played enough already. Look closely Elf. No, all of you should. This is the fate that awaits those that hurt my family. This is the fate of those that that think themselves untouchable in my presence!”
With the last word Slyfer grabs the humans neck with his other hand and like plucking a flower, rips his head off. Blood spills and falls on the Snow Elf. The demon laughs lightly and puts the head on the table in front of the King, who finds himself unable to move. “Here is your mercy.”
Silence.
Not word is spoken as the demon turns from the bloody sight and starts walking back towards his throne of light. As he does, his body reverts back to its normal self. Fira lets out a dissatisfied grunt. The rush of power and strength is nearly intoxicating. She quickly recovers and laments. Last time her personality had been greatly affected and like before she can feel it now as well.
Jade who had been standing in a daze, recovers and looking at all the shocked faces around decides to call for a break.
Alric without ceremony reaches out and grabs Slyfer with, nearly crushing the chair SLyfer had been sitting on. Without further ado he jumps up and sets off, soon disappearing into the distance, leaving those in the tent speechless.
It’s not long before Serena takes off as well.
Seeing the object of his fear leave, he Snow Elf King glances between the severed head and the receding dragons a few times. Jade watches the changes on his face and nearly starts screaming that the dragons bring Slyfer back, so she can beat him senseless. He is not making things any easier for her! The Elf will cause trouble. Slyfer has caused trouble!
Flapping her wings like never before Serena slowly starts to catch up to the big oath called Alric. She had tried her best to calm him. Despite that she was surprised that he could hold his self control until the whole tebacle was finished. She swears at Slyfer, swears at Alric, swears at everything and the troubles the boy causes with almost every action. She had a peaceful life, living in the forest of dreams. A place most suited to her nature. Even now the effects the forest had on her has not lessened. Her incessant need to sleep a product of the exposure to the mist in the forest. Unlike what the fools believed she did not cause it. A plant di, A plant with a will and mind of its own. Many old trees in the forest were her friends. She became the guardian of the forest after making a deal to protect it and in return the forest would not grow beyond a certain point.
Chronos, the betrayer spoiled everything though….
She lets out a roar and her pace increases. She wont let the blood crazed fool spoil nearly seventeen years of her work. The Elder had said not to let the boy die and even without the order she has grown rather fond of him. Despite what Alric may say she knows he has to. However in the state his mind is now, she has no idea what he may do!-I need to catch them, I need to stop the fool from causing even more trouble. If the hatchling dies…-
Alric looks behind and judging that he may have enough time to do what he needs to he aims for a large open ground. The anger in him is blinding. Nearly drowning out the pain in his heart.
Slyfer has been constantly trying to communicate, but Alric does not care. He will ask the question and depending on what he answers Slyfer will live…. Or die. The aura was almost exactly the same, his mate… his hatclings. –It was the same aura, the same!-
Losing to his anger Alric throws SLyfer to the ground. Slyfer lets out a short scream before smashing into the ground, causing it to crack and split apart. Alric is close behind smashing down, the force causing his legs to shake and nearly buckle under him. “Boy have you been tainted! Tell me how long have you heard the voices. How long have you been listening to them!”
Slyfer gets no chance to answer before Alric grabs him again. Still dazed, he can do nothing as he is picked up and smashed down again. Blood spurts from his mouth his chest crushed. He too starts to grow angry despite the pain. He thought Alric was his protecter. What did he do to deserve this treatment? SLyfer clenches his teeth and before Alric can grab him again. He jumps away. “Don’t you touch me!”
While jumping he transforms into his dragon self. A threatening growl filling the air. Alric growls back. “I thought you were my protector, my guardian! You betray me like this. I won’t die like a dog. Come let us end this!”
Slyfer jumps forward. His wings damaged due to his body being smashed earlier. Alric swipes at the dragon so much smaller than himself. At the last moment Slyfer uses wind magic push himself down. Causing the claw to miss. Before Alric can react, fire engulfs his face. Blinding his eyes to the smaller dragon. Pain lances though his foreleg right after.
“You whelp!” He lifts it up, dragging the small dragon with it since Slyfer’s jaw is clamped tightly to it.
Slyfer lets go and once again disappears under the large dragon. Rolling forward, he whips his tail around with all the trength he can muster. Alric growls as pain lances through his belly. Slyfer whips around again, intending to do the same, but he stops as his scales start to simmer. Heat assails him making him roar out in a mixture of pain and defiance. A second later a wave of fire crashes into him.
With a feeling of being cooked alive the flame blasts Slyfer away and out from under the red dragon. The inferno stops and Slyfer tries to get up, his scales hardened by the fiery wave cracks and starts bleeding as he does. “You, I trusted you!”
Alric is taken back by the pain in the little dragons voice. Reason floods back along with a tide of memories and feelings. Slyfer… no the pink thing when he was a baby. A crazy savage causing the two dragons no end of grief. They had to constantly watch him for fear that he may kill himself as he scuttled around the island like a little monkey. Being connected to Slyfer, he can feel the hatchling’s feelings as clearly as his own.
His thoughts are interrupted when Slyfer rushes forward. More blood sprouting from the wounds Alric inflicted. Alric flinches as more memories crash through his mind, the time they spent in the air after the dark elf died, the pride he felt when Slyfer claimed his name. The fear he felt when Slyfer was surrounded by all those griffins… -What have I done?-
Serena smashes into the ground between the two. “Stop, you idiots!”
Slyfer barely has time to stop before he smashes into Serena’s side. She barely moves from the impact and Slyfer collapses in a charred heap. That was Slyfer’s last bit of strength; he knew he stood no chance from the beginning, but being defeated so easily… His legs shake as he tries to rise again, refusing to stay down, wishing to die on his claws.
Alric, stands silent as a statue. Slyfer growls and screams. “Come do your worst, if you leave me alive I will kill you!” His heart is broken and tears flow. He weakly shakes his head to try and rid himself of them, but the pain in his heart far outweighs those of his body and the tears refuse to stop.
Serena watches as the little dragon stumbles around her to try and get to Alric. “Little one stop, you will only make your wounds worse.”
Slyfer manages another step, but then collapses, his dragon body reverting back. Alric takes a step back, a mixture of shame and hate towards himself making him want to flee, like so many times before.
The wind picks up and in an instant two small tornadoes form in what was previously a cloudless sky. “You stop; try to move and only one of us will leave here today.” Alric stops, he had never heard the lazy female so angry.
“I understand why you did it, but this is our hatchling Alric, our child for all intents and purposes. Were you not there when he grew up, were you not there when he managed his first hunt! Yet you hurt him so! Are you so mad with grief and hate that you would kill our last hope!”
Alric says nothing, only staring at Slyfer. “Answer me fool! Does this hatchling mean nothing to you!”
Alric tries to find words but cant. He once again failed to protect a member of his family. “He means everything, that’s why when I felt the aura….”
Serena roars, “You what went off half-winged as usual!”
Alric walks forward and nuzzles the passed out Slyfer. “I did not deserve this child, I never have. Not any of them.”
Serena nearly falls over at the show of affection. “Alric you…”
“When the rage took over so long ago, when I went on the rampage. There were many times that clarity returned to my mind, those times were the worst. Each time I came back I would feel a bit more of my sanity slip away. I was slowly changing into a mindless beast. When I felt the aura today, it happened again.”
Serena still speechless watches as Alric turns to her. “He hates me now.”