The hysteria she had suffered left Aalis dizzy and befuddled. She kept looking at the shackle, terrified of it one moment then confused the next. She put her hand to her head. She hadn’t had these kinds of moments since she was a child.

No one had spoken to her. Not Judd, not Verne…Giordi or Caste…not even the man she was bound to. And with the tolling of the bell, there weren’t even guards to berate her should she try to pull her hand free. Night had fallen and wispy clouds, like wads of cotton, were drawn out across the sky where stars sparkled merrily, unaware of the grief she suffered.

She knelt in the pungent remains of the rotten vegetables thrown, the only sound she could hear was her panting, every breath a desperate plea for mercy even as she knew it wouldn’t come.

She should have known.

She should never have left her home.

She should never have been born…

“Why did you save me?”

Aalis blinked, the words spoken so deep they reverberated in her mind. She looked up, the man from Maul sitting on the edge of the well, his black eyes upon her. He stood up, the chain pulling slightly, his expression severe.

“Why…”

“I know the smell of silver,” he touched his chest, the silvery residue like a sparkling breastplate, “I know the cost…why did you save me?”

Aalis tried to speak but her words were gone. She was weak and sick and couldn’t organise her thoughts. Suddenly the man yanked on his end of the chain, forcing Aalis to her feet, her chin caught in his grasp, his face leaning down to glare at her.

“Are you afraid of me?”

“Yes!” She exclaimed.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

He paused, doubt in his eyes. “Why did you save me?”

Aalis faltered, his face the same as the one from her vision. She had seen this man, cut down by an axe, at the feet of a dead Caste. Had he killed Caste or had he been trying to protect him? Who was this man? She couldn’t understand. She couldn’t comprehend. Her head was throbbing. She couldn’t think straight.

“Who…are you?” She whimpered.

The man let her go without answering and she slumped against the well. Neither said a word until the howl of wolves reached them from outside the city. Aalis’ panicked breathing returned and she trembled mightily.

“Your trick will only fool the werewolf once,” the man said coldly and looked at her, “only one of us will survive this night.”

Judd couldn’t decide if he liked or hated his armour. It saved his life but it was a chore to run in. He grabbed LeMewn’s arm and forced him out of the cave onto the quarry floor.

“Look!” Giordi shouted and Judd lifted his eyes. “Wolves!”

Dozens of shadowy bodies were disappearing over the rise, up the road into Quarre.

“They’ve made it to the gate.” Judd sprinted for the incline. “We have to hurry!”

“I never meant for any of this to happen!”

“Save your defence for the royal courts!” Judd groused at LeMewn as they clambered up the scaffolding.

“Clariet said it was the only way!”

“He’s insane! You didn’t figure that out?”

“He swore it was able to be supported by the texts of the Order!”

“Providing you leave out all the parts that say, thou shalt not!” Judd panted at the edge of the road, the last sharp incline to the gates ahead. “Come on, LeMewn!”

“Leave him behind, Judd!” Giordi cried and Judd was inclined to agree. He sprinted after Giordi who, without armour, was able to move more quickly. “We’re almost…Judd, look out!”

Judd turned but was in no way able to stop LeMewn from barrelling into him, throwing his body from the edge of the road, tumbling down the grey slate cliff to land in the black water of the dam.

“Judd!” Giordi screamed as LeMewn pushed past him. “Judd!”

He searched the darkness, frantically hunting for the young man, wondering if he’d broken his neck in the fall. He nearly fell over the edge himself in relief as Judd broke through the surface, clutching at the closest edge.

“What are you, immortal?!” Giordi yelled. Judd wasted no time in speaking. He started to climb but the cliff was not jagged. It had been made by the tools of man and it was almost smooth with only the vaguest horizontal ledges to grasp. “I’ll get a rope! Or help!”

“No!” Judd barked. “Get to the main square! Save Aalis! Go!”

Giordi faltered then started to run.

Judd clung to the edge of the dam, catching his breath. He couldn’t look up. He couldn’t gauge how far he had to climb, soaking wet and clad in armour. He could only live each moment, one edge, one inch at a time…