Three long and grueling days had passed for Koda since he was thrown back into his disgusting cell. However one day felt like a month and three felt like a year. His daily life consisted of hourly beatings for both him and Wildeye, one meal a day with scraps of moldy bread and maggot infested slop, and agonizing nights of sleep on a cold, damp floor. Three days or three years, it all blended together and his hopes of freedom was nothing more than a memory he now regretted to experience.

It angered him that he did not listen to his lords about seeking an alliance with Tashna. A lot of things fueled his despair these past few days. Becoming a king was one of them. Had he stayed on Nashoon and completed his training, none of this would have ever happened. He would be left to his enchanted forest in peace and the trials and tribulations of being a leader would be passed to someone else.

He was tired of appeasing the masses and he was tired of being a failure. If he were to survive this ordeal, he’d have to complete his journey of becoming a great and powerful mage. No longer would people like Tashna step on his neck. He would crush his enemies and handle his allies like dogs. They would be obedient and no longer defy his wishes!

Defy his wishes. Allies like dogs. He sounded more like Tashna every day, but perhaps she knew how to rule a kingdom better than he... Perhaps she did have things to teach him. And perhaps he was a spotted unicorn with a dragon’s tail. Such silly thoughts!

He rolled his head to look at Wildeye. She was looking skinnier, more ragged. Part of her coat began to lose its luster with her malnutrition.

“Wildeye, are you awake?” whispered Koda.

The wolf opened one eye, her Magi was only a faint glow instead of the roaring blaze that it was before.

“I am here, my king.”

“I see no hope in sight, my friend. I’m sorry I dragged you into this,” Koda said. A thin tear streaked down his cheek.

“No, please do not cry, Koda. There is still hope. It is in our hearts and in our souls. Without it we are truly lost.”

Koda hugged his knees and started to sob.

“I know all seems lost, my king, but I am here to bring you freedom.” A new voice cut through the silence from beyond the wall that Koda leaned against.

“Cal-Calsoon?” Koda gasped. He had nearly forgotten that his loyal Anti-Rogue Operative was down here with him. Calsoon hadn’t made a peep nor groan since Koda returned to the cell. “What do you mean by bringing me my freedom? You are just as trapped here as I am.”

Wildeye raised her head.

“I admit I haven’t always been truthful with you,” Calsoon said with a lower voice.

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Koda looked down at his blistered and grimy hands. No one has.

“But I will be sure to tell you the truth from here on out.” Calsoon’s tone was back to its regular cheeriness.

Koda crawled to a crack in the wall, attempting to see Calsoon. His confusion now overcame his curiosity. “What are you going on about?”

Calsoon’s cell was darker than his own, there was no window to shed any light and at this point Calsoon had remained silent.

“Calsoon? Are you there?” Koda asked.

Wildeye whined and yelped as Calsoon emerged from the shadowy floor. She started to snarl and growl. “Koda, get away from him, I sense the Night around this one!”

Calsoon turned his head and smiled, as if he heard Wildeye’s telepathic Magi.

“Calsoon… how did you—how is this possible?” Koda looked on in amazement. Wildeye’s warning rang faint. Koda craved a rescue more than anything else, no matter where the rescue came from.

“Lower your voice, my king.” Calsoon knelt in front of Koda. “Come, I shall release you from your shackles.” He took hold of Koda’s hands and gave a friendly wink.

Koda’s eyes widened as the iron shackles phased through his wrists and fell with a heavy clang on the ground.

Calsoon looked at Wildeye. “You will have to behave yourself, wolf, if you wish to be set free.”

“Step near me and I shall bite your hands off!”

Calsoon shrugged and turned back to Koda. He wiped the dirt and blood from his mouth and cheeks and dusted off his robes. “Can you walk?”

“Who are you? Who are you, really?” Koda asked..

“A friend.”

Footsteps and whistling echoed down the hall.

“Oh no…” Koda croaked. “He’s coming, Grune is coming.”

Calsoon’s face shifted as his friendly demeanor turned serious. He melded into the shadows until his form was virtually invisible save for a faint outline of his body. “He shall harm you no more, Koda.”

The cell door flew open and the ratty Grune stepped in. He twirled his club and chuckled. “Did you miss me, Cody?”

Koda slid himself back into a corner, attempting to distance himself as far away as possible from his next beating. “Please, Grune, not today.”

Grune licked one of his rotting teeth and strolled up to the frightened Koda. He lifted the elf’s chin with his baton and laughed as the king flinched. Then his face scrunched up in confusion and pointed to the prisoner’s hands. “How’d you get out of yer chains, boy?” Grune scratched his head. “Well that don’t matter. Guess I just got to beat ya extra har—ack!”

Blood exploded from Grune’s chest as Calsoon’s hand thrust through Grune’s back and out the other side.

Grune choked and gargled blood as Calsoon retracted his hand. The demon pushed Grune’s corpse into the shadows where it was swallowed whole like a free meal. Calsoon opened a shadow portal and extended his bloodied hand to Koda.

“Shall we be off then?”

Koda knew he should be terrified, but he felt more exhilarated. Excited. Lively, but not terrified. Who really was Calsoon? And where would he bring him? Was Sable related to all this? Why was Calsoon sent to watch over him? So many questions and if he wanted them answered, he would need to go with Calsoon.

Koda slowly rose to his feet and shuffled to the portal.

“Wait, Koda! No! Don’t go into that portal!” warned Wildeye.

“I must, girl. I must find out what all this means,” whispered Koda.

“He’s coming with me, wolf, and do not worry. He will be well taken care of.” Calsoon smiled as he assisted Koda through the portal.