The icy winds nipped at Koda’s nose and his teeth chattered in the oppressive Winter climate of Dragon Realm Stratus and its Northern Territory. How anybody could survive such ferocious weather day in and day out was anyone’s guess. It was a sharp contrast from the tropic paradise of Dragon Realm Abyss and even though Long Whisper experienced its own Winter, nothing compared to the sheer freezing temperatures that he experienced right now.

“Here we are, Dawnedge,” said Triss. “Horizon Port.”

Koda looked out at the oncoming landmass that made up the edge of the Northern Territory. Horizon Port sat snug in between the border of a winding mountain pass and a vast pine forest. The village looked small and unassuming to Koda, more like Wisp Haven’s size in comparison to a town like Sparrow Port. The majority of the Moonwave fleet anchored in the bay. Her personal ship pulled into the port. The sailors of Fortune’s Saber tied off the large clipper and took count of any supplies that needed restocking. The quartermaster saluted the captain, who reported to his queen that all was in order.

Triss jabbed Koda’s arm. “Cold, eh? You and your crew should stop in town and pick up the proper clothing for this land. Else you’ll catch your death in a single night.”

Koda gave her shakey nod, unable to control the excessive shivering his body performed. “Indeed, b-but you will not be j-joining us? I was h-hoping you would be th-there for the meeting with Velduin and Rellethek.”

Triss shook her head in response to his question. “I ain’t one for mountains, Koda. I think they look great in books, but I don’t want to go too far from my beloved sea.”

“I understand,” Koda said, his head bowed in disappointment.

Triss gave him a tiny smirk and slapped his back. “Don’t worry, Koda, I’m still coming to your little world leader shindig.”

A thin smile broke across Koda’s face at the word shindig. “Very well, Triss, and thank you again for your escort.”

“According to my captains, we were not followed. So I am confident you will not run into this Raze.”

Koda gave her an elegant bow. “Until next time, Ocean Mistress.”

Triss let out a heft belly laugh so loud her boots quaked. “As to you Dawnedge, as to you.”

***

“No, no, Elucard,” Cade snickered. “That coat is much too big for you!”

Elucard’s magenta eyes barely peeked over the collar of a large brown parka. if it were not for their elven glow in the deep pocket of the massive fur-lined hood. His sleeves drooped down past his hands and the trim of the coat sagged to his knees.

“I know, but it’s so warm!” Elucard said. Cade could barely make out his words through the muffle of the coat.

“Yes but how are you supposed to fight in that thing?” Cade picked up a thick, wool poncho. “Here, this will do.” He tossed it to Elucard as the elf hung the coat back on its peg.

Elucard caught it and slipped it on.

“Better?” asked Cade, already knowing the answer.

Elucard slid out his ninjato and slashed it in the air, testing the poncho’s give and if it was too restrictive. He sheathed the blade with a satisfied nod.

Cade took a poncho for himself, choosing a deep blue color.

“SMO,” chirped Elucard.

“S-M-what?” Cade asked. He stared at the poncho, flipping it over and checking its color for the letters.

“The color. It was the shade of blue we had to wear in the Anti-Rogue Ops—my old army unit, when we were attached and trained by the Skyborne Military Operations.”

Personally Inle had known of Elucard’s exploits in the Dawnedge War from his Black Rabbit spies rooted in the Long Whisper military. Quartermasters, soldiers, medics, even administrators. Inle knew every move that Elucard made in his career as a soldier. However, Cade knew nothing of the Red Rabbits and their adventures behind enemy lines. He chose to raise a brow and give his friend an inquisitive look.

Elucard laughed. “Think of harekin dragonriders as a special ops unit. Like the Black Rabbits, but belonging to the military instead of a clan.”

Cade grabbed the back of Elucard’s head and pulled him in for a kiss on the forehead. “Bless your wild heart, Elucard.”

Elucard blushed and pushed away from Cade. He placed both items on the fur-trader’s counter. “These two, please.”

Cade pulled out his coin purse, but Elucard waved him away. “Please, let me.”

Cade gave Elucard a rueful wink. “Alright, but when we get to Twin Cliffs, I’m buying lunch.”

Elucard handed him his poncho. “Deal!”

Cade and Elucard met up with Wildeye, Raine, and Koda. Each of them were dressed head to toe in parka’s, traveler cloaks, mittens, and scarves.

“Mhmf mmph hmf erf” Koda tried to say through the many layers of clothing.

Cade unraveled his long scarf and freed Koda’s mouth. “Come again?”

“I said, let’s get moving while it’s still morning,” Koda repeated.

Cade and Elucard took point up front with Raine and Wildeye each flanking Koda’s sides. Together the group hiked up the snowy mountain pass. As they moved further and further away from the village, the rocky cliff walls grew taller and taller and the road became more narrow.

Elucard nudged Cade. “Stay alert, there’s no telling what wildlife we might run into.”

“Like a grizzly bear,” Cade added.

“Exactly.” Elucard charged his emerald spell arm, preparing for any unseen danger.

Cade gripped his ninjato’s hilt as they continued to trudge through the knee deep snow. He kept his eyes sharp and his ears perked, concentrating on any distant sound that his elven senses might pick up.

Loose gravel sifted over a passing ledge. Cade reared his head backwards and unsheathed his blade. “Ambush!!!” he cried to the others.

From the cliffs leaped down at least ten Spellbreakers, with more popping up from shallow trenches. Each wore snow-covered white ghillie cloaks over their long red leather coats. Half of the Spellbreaker held batons, while the others wielded staves surging with green electricity as they charged into Wildeye, Raine, and Koda.

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

Elucard and Cade sprang into action, cutting off the Spellbreakers from reaching Koda. from their respective sides. Cade slashed a wide arc across the Spellbreaker ranks, while Elucard plunged his green arm into the ground and summoned a row of roots and vines to entangle and trip the converging enemies.

Koda and Raine nodded to each other and faced either side of the pass. They raised their hands in the air, with it, walls of snow and ice lifted upwards. Then the two elves shifted the snow on the canyon ledges. At first only a clump of snow rolled down, but then the cliffs roared as piles of snow crashed down on the helpless Spellbreakers.

“Now is your chance, Koda, run!!!” Wildeye yelled.

Hands and torso’s ripped out of the lumps of fallen snow. The Spellbreakers dragged their relentless bodies from the avalanche.

“Cade, get Koda out of here, the rest of us will take care of this garbage!”

Cade snatched Koda by his wrist. “Come, my king. We have to get you out of this ravine!”

“Wait, I can’t leave my friends!” pleaded Koda.

“This isn’t up for debate!” Cade growled. With a single motion, Cade ducked down and pulled Koda’s body over his shoulder, then made a mad dash.

Koda struggled and kicked, but Cade only held him tighter.

“Koda, I will knock you unconscious if you don’t stop squirming!” warned Cade.

Soon the commotion of the battle was a mere whisper as Cade neared the light of the canyon’s exit. The noon sun broke the veil of the mountains and Cade knew they reached safety.

Cade’s keen Black Rabbit senses picked up the flapping of cloth in the wind. The shadow elf halted in his tracks and looked up just as a shadowy figure fell from the highest cliff. The shadow screamed his warcry, “Erzathen grant me your might!”

Cade dropped Koda at his feet as a metal staff cracked down on his shoulder. Raze landed before Cade and rammed the bunt of his staff in the elf’s chest. Cade tumbled head over heels into the snow. Cade snorted, rolled to his stomach and sprinted to Raze.

I don’t know how he got here, but the mystery will wait until after I kill the man! Cade growled to himself.

The elf threw his bruised shoulder into Raze’s gut and swept up his legs with his arms. With power and determination, Cade lifted Raze up and slammed him down into the packed snow with a thud!

Cade sneered and slid out his sword. He twirled it and caught in a reverse grip. Grabbing the hilt with his other hand he drove the blade at Raze’s chest, but the man parried with his staff. Raze kicked Cade off of him and rose to his feet.

The two warriors squared off. Taunting one another with their weapons for one or the other to attack. Finally, Cade made his move! He dove for Raze with a downward slash, catching the staff in a blaze of sparks as steel met steel. Cade once again gripped his sword with both hands and pressured all his weight onto the staff.

Raze grunted as the ninjato’s edge inched closer and closer to his shoulder. Raze roared as he struggled to push Cade away and Cade let out a long hiss through his teeth as he attempted to maim Raze.

Cade sneered, he was so close he could see himself in the reflection of his enemy’s pupils. The elf lifted his feet onto his toes, just to edge more leverage on Raze. His muscles torqued and burned, and he ground teeth grinded as he pumped more and more energy and adrenaline into his arms. So close now. His blade pressed down into Raze’s leather jacket, folding under the ninjato’s weight. Cade held his breath, focusing every drop of his might into his blade, and with a gasp he ripped across Raze’s chest, sending the Spellbreaker sliding backwards.

Cade collapsed to his knees, exhausted from the clash. “You’re—you’re really strong,” he panted. “Stronger than your stooges, at least.”

“My stooges are merely instruments, and I am the conductor. They were nothing before I united them. Each one a pathetic dog looking for one to lead them.” Raze thumped his chest. “I am their alpha, I lead the pack!”

Cade drew a sinister smile. “Very well then, If I cut your throat, then the rest of them will bleed.”

“You may try.”

Cade’s eyes widened as a large boulder careened through the sky over his head. Raze wound his staff back, gripping it at the lower end with both hands. With a mighty yell he swung his staff and cracked the giant stone. It exploded into fragments that scattered at Cade’s feet.

Behind the hydro shroud, Koda clawed his hand against the mountain wall and pulled out another large chunk of rock.

“Your magic won’t work on me, brat!” screamed the Spellbreaker.

“You are surrounded, Raze!” Koda roared. “You can’t win this fight. Sooner or later we will overpower you and your quest to rid the world of mages will end with me!”

Raze narrowed his eyes and then glanced at the encroaching shroud. He slowly reared his head back to Koda and tightened the grip of his staff. Raze blurred past Cade, and plowed the staff into Koda’s stomach. The mage doubled over and wheezed. Raze lashed his staff up, connecting with the elf king’s jaw. A serious crack echoed around the canyon. The blow sent Koda off his feet. Then Raze batted Koda’s sailing frame into the cliff wall.

The wall gave way as the impact indented Kodain the stone. His head rolled forward. Raze lifted Koda’s chin with the end of his staff and pressed the butt against the king’s throat.

“You have failed to protect your mage, shroud,” taunted Raze. “Now watch him die!

Cade stiffened his face with concern. Raze hid a hidden level of dexterity and prowess that he hadn’t seen before. Raising his sword level with his face, Cade bolted for Koda. In a flash, Cade deflected the lightning staff away from Koda, and with heightened speed, slid across the ground and lashed a low kick to Raze’s thigh, buckling him to his knees. Cade spun his torso and threw another kick, but this time he went high and rocked the Spellbreaker’s jaw.

Raze somersaulted across the snow.

Cade turned his attention to Koda and tried to dislodge him from the canyon wall.

“You fight well,” Raze said with a heavy and haggard voice. “Better than the vernal shroud, but you will find me more skilled than yourself, but it is as your Dawnedge lord said. Sooner or later you will be overpowered.”

The sounds of marching and chants for the death of Koda neared their position. Cade bared his teeth.

The sound of chanting and pounding snow echoed across the canyon. Raze gave Cade a cruel smile. “Your death seems to be sooner rather than later, shroud.”

Panic set into Cade’s mind. Given the time, he could hold off Raze until Elucard returned, but the Spellbreaker leader was right: he was stronger than Cade. He was faster than Cade. He was more resilient than Cade. Now with his reinforcements, Cade stood no chance. Should he flee? Would Wraslyn understand that he could not protect his precious Koda? That Raze was a greater threat than himself? No, Wraslyn did not accept failure. He needed to buy time. He needed time to plan!

Cade held out his hand and concentrated on the snow resting on top of the cliffs above, and with a thrash of his hand he sent forth lumps of snow that slid down the mountain side and careened below, swallowing the Spellbreakers in another avalanche.

That should hold them off long enough for me to deal with Raze and get Koda out of here… if I even can, Cade thought to himself.

Cade tugged Koda from the wall and put him back on his shoulder. The hydro shroud grunted under the dead weight. He stared at Raze and then shifted a quick glance for the open fields outside of the mountain pass. Could he outrun Raze? Maybe if he wasn’t carrying Koda. No, he needed to defeat him if he was going to save everybody.

“Where do you plan to run, Shroud?” taunted Raze.

Cade sighed. His enemy was right. Even if he had a lead on the Spellbreakers, he couldn’t keep such a pace carrying Koda’s unconscious body in his tired state. They would catch him and they would both be slain. No, Cade had to end this now.

Cade gently sat Koda against the stone wall and turned back to Raze. “You. Me. To the death.”

Raze’s wicked smile vanished from his face. He looked at the snow barricade that Cade had placed.

“Your cronies can’t help you,” Cade spat. “You know how dangerous I am. I have nothing to lose now that I am out of options. You, on the other hand, have everything to lose.”

Raze sneered and tapped his staff on the ground. He paced back and forth as Cade continued to talk.

“You cornered your prey. You don’t think I wouldn’t fight back with everything I have?” Cade balked his face forward and watched Raze step back. “I have teeth too, Raze. Claws ready to scrape every bit of your flesh from your face to save my own life! Do you know the difference between the rat and I?”

Raze’s knuckles turned white as he tightened the hold on his weapon. Rage built up in his vein bulging face. His eyes glowered with hatred and his teeth clenched down harder than a vice. “What?” he hissed.

Cade placed one foot back and lowered his sword. He stiffed his wrists and narrowed his eyes. He gave Raze a coy smile. “I know how to fight!”

Raze poised his staff forward and bent his knees. “Wrong! You know how to di—”

A great blot of fire and lighting crashed down between them, erupting in a brilliant ray of light. Cade covered his eyes with his arms, but as a shadow elf, he was more sensitive to bright lights than other elves. His eyes seared with a pulsing pain as he let out an agonizing scream. He collapsed to his knees. His vision became a white fog. His screams rang long until his voice grew hoarse. As the light faded, he looked up. At first all he could see was blurred shapes and colors, then he concentrated his senses into only his sight, a technique that Elucard taught him as an adolescent. Slowly, very slowly Strife appeared, and a figure in silver?