“Bring me another cup please, innkeeper, is that really too much to ask?
Life is so sweet, but ever so sweeter with the aid of an honest drink. I have travelled far and seen much, even though I don’t remember a lot of it… I’m sure that it was full of experiences worthy of a songstress!
I may not be so young anymore, but worry not, as I’m sure that one day I will rise to be a great man, and shall be etched into the history books.
Yes! They will say, ‘We all remember the master thief who could outdrink any man, or woman, for that matter.’ Actually, that’s not what I was thinking at all. Pour me another cup!”
She sat quietly on her sleek throne, tapping her long fingernails with boredom. Patience was not one of her strongest points, and she grew tired of the glacial progress of Shindar's plans. Immortality comes at an immense cost to a woman who craves continual excitement and attention.
Kassina was blessed at birth to be an incredibly beautiful woman. Her glamorous features were enhanced by her exotically pale skin. It was not difficult to understand why so many had fallen for her charms and paid dearly with the price she demanded for fulfilling their wishes.
Her feminine body was barely covered by an intricately woven dark blue dress that hugged her generous curves. She was pure darkness, wrapped neatly within a deceptively attractive shell.
The prince wants an audience with me? This should prove to be an amusing distraction, she thought.
Around the perimeter of the room were countless slaves who were chained harshly to its sleek walls. They sat naked, shivering, on the icy-cold floors. Their foggy breaths provided a sickly calming ambience to the room. Some of them lay almost lifeless with fresh bite marks on their necks, but clung to their humanity with whatever strength they had left.
Standing and marching around the room, she toyed with her captives and playfully tapped their heads as she made her way around. "Teenie weenie little crow, catch my meal by the toe. If she bleeds, let her die slow. Teenie… Weenie… Little… Crow…"
Stopping in front of a naked young woman that was barely past her teens, she cocked her head and smiled. "It looks like you will be graced with my attention today."
The woman shook her head, beads of sweat forming on her skin as she scrambled to the wall, cowering. The woman sobbed, "No, please!"
Kassina laughed as she crouched down on front of her victim. She looked her over and reached down between the woman's legs, forcing her fingers inside her and concentrating as she dug deeper. "Well what do we have here? You are a special treat. Let me guess, you probably have never been kissed, have you…"
The woman cried out at her sudden push and Kassina brought her bloodied fingers to her mouth, sucking them clean. The vampire's voice whispered with a purr, "I don't usually play with my food, but how can I resist? Do you know what I like more than the blood of a virgin?"
The woman's teary eyes peered over her shoulder and she shook her head.
Kassina brought her seductive mouth by her ear and whispered, "Nothing."
Her sharp intake of breath filled the room as Kassina's head blurred and her fangs sunk deep into the woman's flesh. Her cries filled the room as the deep sounds of her blood being swallowed and the vampire's satisfying moans accompanied her in an intimate symphony of death.
When her body was near depleted and she let out her final breath, she twitched with her last signs of life before Kassina stood, stretching out with her replenished power. Her eyes closed, she ran her slippery tongue around her plump lips and fangs. Her legs slid as she slowly returned to her throne, her movements vacant as if her mind had travelled far from her tower. She sat down gently as if she were a falling leaf from an above tree, her lips quivering with the aftershocks of pleasure.
With a satisfied grin, she ordered, “I think he has waited long enough. Bring him inside, and don’t hurt him, as that privilege is always solely mine."
Two skeleton warriors opened the heavy iron gates, and she snarled wickedly as Prince Derian strolled inside. The prince's face contorted as he looked around the room at the many victims dead or dying.
As Kassina sent souls to Shindar’s grip in the underworld, skeleton warriors were created from the rotting bones of the fallen and used as reinforcements for the Forces of Darkness. The bones contained the souls of men and women who now found themselves trapped inside this new form. Shindar sent their souls back from the underworld, after they had been enchanted by magic. These souls were not aware that they had died, and fought for Shindar blindly, obeying Kassina's every command.
Kassina managed to control her anger as she laid eyes on the half-breed son of her oldest enemy. “Prince Derian, what a surprise. What brings a spoilt heir like you to a desolate place like this? Tell me, is there one good reason why I shouldn’t just kill you where you stand? It would save me a lot of time. Please enlighten me, while you still pique my curiosity."
Derian stopped in his tracks, held up a partially ripped dusty scroll, and threw it to her with a swift twist of his arm. He grinned and approached her confidently. “This is why you won’t kill me, sorceress."
Kassina raised one hand at him and her other hand to stop the scroll mid-flight and eased it open in the air. It hovered in front of her face as she read it. She looked him over and her eyes narrowed as she spat, “Stay where you are, maggot! I have not given permission for you to walk around here as you please. You are far from home, young prince. I thought this was all but lost in time-where did you find it?”
Derian crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. “I have the other half of this scroll in safekeeping at Greenhaven, and I can get a hold of it for you, but first I need to know if you will agree to my terms, sorceress."
She rose as smoothly as a snake from her oversized throne, and looked deep into his eyes. Kassina was not known to bow to the demands of others. Her eyes narrowed and glowed as she read and considered his thoughts, and she smiled when her decision was made.
“I already know what you want, Derian. There is no need for you to speak your terms, it would just waste our time. I don’t often meet a man whose dark heart truly yearns to kill his own father and it would give me no greater pleasure than to enable that ambition. I am touched by your interest in me, young prince, and I accept your offer. It has been a long time since I have had myself a new pet. But you should know that even the gift of immortality comes with a heavy price, and your plans run greater risks than you may have considered."
“Of course they do, Kassina. I will do whatever it takes!”
She laughed mirthlessly, her voice turning from soft to a deeper growl. Her blue eyes glowed red, like embers in a freshly lit fire, and her fingernails slowly grew into sharp claws. Kassina raised her arms suggestively, and her smile revealed her pearly, pointed fangs through her cherry-red lips. “Very well, Derian, come to me now and let us seal the deal, so to speak. I’m dying to taste your royal blood, I have always wondered what it would be like."
Vartan awoke suddenly and sat up in shock as sharp pains seared through his head. He rubbed his face as if to ward off the pain and whispered, “Damn these nightmares. Derian and Kassina? As if that could ever be possible. What dark corner of my imagination did that come from?"
Beside his bed lay an empty bottle of white wine, his dirtied pack, armour and weapons.
I knew this was a bad idea, he thought as he took a long swig of water, the liquid hitting his growling stomach. There was a strange smell that burned in the air, almost like a bonfire left overnight. He slowly wound a cloth bandage around his ribs to aid the healing, and gently eased on his clothing and armour.
This wasn’t his first visit to the Jade Inn, but it was the first time that he had to pay for a room to sleep in. After taking a few moments to gather his thoughts and regain his focus, he felt it was time to get some fresh air. Vartan shoved open the creaky wooden windows and kept his eyes lowered to let them adjust to the overwhelmingly bright light. There was a large gathering of people below him who all pointed at the horizon, whispering to each other with frightened voices and holding each other tightly.
What in Marithia is going on? he thought. Vartan slowly lifted his gaze, and his skin turned pale in shock at the sight before him. Greenhaven glowed with a red tinge, and large black puffs of smoke filled the blue sky.
“No! It isn't possible,” he exclaimed.
Vartan ran hastily downstairs to the inn’s stables and quickly readied his horse before roughly mounting it. From the corner of his eye, he noticed the shadow of a man running at full flight behind him. In a smooth motion, he drew his new sword towards the man’s chest, stopping him dead in his tracks only inches away from certain death. The shine of the blade reflected on the man's chest.
“V… Vartan? What is this all about? You promised me another drink this morning,” said Tusdar, with his hands raised defensively in the air.
“Open your eyes and look to the horizon, you drunken fool. Greenhaven appears to have fallen, and all of Marithia may be in danger. Amazingly, it just so happens that all of Marithia includes you,” Vartan replied, sheathing his sword.
Tusdar stood still, staring at him expectantly. Vartan shook his head and growled, “This is no time for drinking, Tusdar. I must ride out of here, now!.”
With a stern nod, he whirled his horse around and rode hard in the direction of Greenhaven, digging his boots into his horse. Vartan had ridden far from the so-called safety of the golden city’s walls, but it was worth a try. He concentrated hard to form words in his mind.
Helenia, if you can read my thoughts, please tell me that you have not come to harm.
There was no reply, only the sound of cold wind rushing harshly past his ears. He was riding harder along the long and winding path leading through the woods, when he suddenly pulled back on his reins. His horse almost lost its balance as he barely avoided a collision with Aidan, who was drenched in blood and bore nasty flesh wounds from head to toe. Aidan desperately limped onward, almost like a walking corpse, staring vacantly ahead.
“ Easy, Aidan, let me help get you to a healer,” said Vartan, steadying him.
“Vartan… so much death… so much blood… sorceress… taken,” he whispered as Vartan brought some water to Aidan’s dry lips. He coughed out the initial mouthful as his throat was suddenly flooded with fluid.
“What of Princess Helenia? Was she hurt?” asked Vartan desperately.
“Helenia… we saved… and the queen… rode out… Greenhaven… with knights,” said Aidan weakly.
“Oh thank the gods, now drink up and be still. You will need whatever strength you have left,” said Vartan, lifting Aidan onto his horse and riding gently back in the direction he had come.
The inn’s door blasted open with the force of Vartan’s heavy boot as he clutched Aidan protectively in his arms. He gently lowered his companion to the floor and yelled, “Innkeeper, Aidan has been wounded in battle and needs a healer as soon as you can find one. He will not hold on to this world much longer."
“The name is Hildar, were you really that drunk last night that you don’t remember my name? By the gods, Vartan, this man is almost at death’s door. I can send a messenger for a healer on horseback, but the nearest healer won’t leave her home without the coin to pay for it,” replied the innkeeper.
Vartan reached into his pack to produce a large black bag bearing the royal insignia, that rattled loudly, and dropped a hail of gold coins which landed in a sparkling pile on the table.
“Hildar, this should cover him for months of stay with plenty of fresh food and water, and should more than pay for the healer’s work. Make sure the healer is here swiftly and that Aidan is treated well, as I shall return to check on him,” said Vartan, turning to head back out the front door.
“Where are you going, Vartan?” Hildar asked.
“To find out what happened in Greenhaven and help any survivors,” Vartan replied, storming out of the inn and resuming his journey back to the fallen city.
It was almost midday when he reached the point on the road where he had found Aidan. It wasn’t much longer before he laid eyes on more of Greenhaven’s inhabitants along the road, but these poor souls no longer walked among the living.
Vartan covered his nose with his hand in an effort to eliminate the stench of death. Bodies were scattered all over the path, and all had fallen in vain as they ran from the city. Scavenger hawks picked at their dying flesh and scurried away from Vartan on his approach. The smell of smoke thickened in the air, almost overwhelming him as he neared the main gates. Approaching the city, Vartan knew that something was horribly out of the ordinary. His eyes widened and he was almost deafened by the near silence from within.
Only the crackling of fires were heard as the flames danced their way towards the hazy sky. Vartan stopped momentarily and his eyebrows tightened in confusion as he stared at the city's famous once golden walls. He could now clearly see why the city no longer shone in the daylight. Various pieces of human flesh had been viciously torn from bodies and left to rot on the city’s walls, bathing them in blood.
Gods only know if they had been torn apart while they were still breathing or after their deaths, he thought.
The wind changed and a horrible smell of rotten flesh invaded his nostrils, making him gag uncontrollably.
He dismounted roughly, taking a few staggered steps onto the lowered gate. With his sword hand at the ready, he focused and took carefully placed steps forward until he had made it inside the walls of Greenhaven.
His jaw gaped open as he took in the sight of what was once the jewel of Marithia and blurted in a loud breath, "How could this have happened?"
The entire city was in a disastrous state, and stood in dark contrast to its original renowned beauty. Wooden homes were partly burnt, and some of them were still engulfed by the flames. People lay dead in every direction that the eye could see, and there was not one moving soul in sight.
They cannot stand the daylight, young knight. For now, we are safe outside the darkness, but their forces dwell in large numbers deep within the castle walls. I can feel the power of their dark magic plaguing us, The shadows protect them, and I would not venture near.
That voice, it sounds like the voice that spoke to me in the throne room, he pondered, remembering her words.
Shadows, thought Vartan, like the shadow demon that killed Finn.
“Thanks for the warning, but can I see you in person?” asked Vartan, his voice echoing throughout the city.
A woman laughed mockingly, the echoes of her dark laughter reverberating throughout the city. Vartan searched frantically for the source of the voice and found nothing to reveal her position.
“So, the poor little boy who failed his king has run back when it’s too late? What a pity for you, but pity is reserved for the weak! Greenhaven is ours now, and your king is dead, so it is no longer safe for you here. Unless you wish to consider the alternative of serving Derian and I as your new rulers of Greenhaven, I’m afraid that you will not leave here alive."
Vartan spat at the ground and screamed, “What? Serve you and that walking bucket of bile, Derian? Over my dead body! Show yourself, you cowardly whore! Or are you too afraid to face only a poor, little boy?”
“Be careful what you wish for, fool! Do you honestly think that I am afraid of you? Not in the slightest, and I am so sorry to disappoint your inflamed ego. Have you not heard that I fear no one? I am Kassina, the greatest sorceress in all the lands. Do not mistake my courtesy for kindness, as you will not find a warm bosom here. You are lucky to be standing outside and not here with me in the darkness for a proper introduction. However, I do have powers at my disposal that do not rely on the shadows. Excelsior! ”
Kassina! She is responsible for shadow demons, and she is responsible for Finn’s death! She must die, thought Vartan.
He felt a gentle rumble beneath his feet, and the ground began to shake. He drew his sword and tried to keep his balance as the ground began to shake viciously.
Vartan, you must listen to me if you want to survive an encounter with Kassina. No matter what you do, don’t stop running!
Heeding Nymira’s words, he ran as fast as his legs would carry him, quickly sheathing his sword as he headed towards cover.
Kassina's voice taunted, "Not so tough now, are you?"
The ground exploded violently into the air wherever he stood, chunks of earth and stone flying in all directions.
Duck!
Vartan leapt forward into a roll and watched shards of wood shrieking through the air barely a foot above his head. Quickly regaining his footing, he resumed his sprint.
Turn left, now!
Turning sharply, he ran through the gaps between the houses.
She will have trouble seeing you in those spaces.
The explosions suddenly stopped, as only dusty winds swept past his face. Vartan coughed up the dust that had filled his lungs.
“You obviously aren’t quite as stupid as you look, young knight. It’s not too late for you to change your mind, you know. We could use someone of your talents in our ranks."
Vartan shook off the layer of dirt on his clothing and marched out from his cover.
What are you doing? Stay in cover!
“You pathetic fiend. You have terrible aim for someone with such a famed reputation. Sorceress? Please, you’re more akin to a little girl playing with fire. Tell me, have you lost your touch in your old age? Why don’t you come out and get a tan, I’m sure it’ll help you brighten up that horrible mood of yours."
Taunting the queen of the underworld is not a good idea.
“You egotistical little insect, how dare you insult me? I will crush your bones into dust where you stand! Cave canem, te necet lingendo!” she yelled, the fury in her voice sending shivers up his spine.
Vartan looked around like a startled tiger. Feeling and hearing nothing, his pounding heartbeat filled his ears. Keeping his sword drawn as he peeked around the corner of a house, he found nothing but air and dust.
“Did you forget how to cast your spells?” he asked.
As Vartan began to relax his body and return the tip of his sword to its sheath, he saw it. Barreling around the corner of the farthest house at the other end of the street was a giant three-headed wolf, drooling acidic saliva on the ground as it ran. It had dark grey fur and glowing red eyes, and stormed towards him at a frightening speed.
Be careful, this is a creature summoned from the underworld.
“By the gods!” he proclaimed, swallowing hard. He stood still and held his sword up high. The blade reflected light throughout the city from the sun. The beast leapt high into the air to pounce on Vartan; he dropped backward onto the ground and placed the sword’s hilt vertically, like a spear.
Two heads cried out in pain as the third was impaled, and blood burst in all directions. Its gigantic body tumbled violently along the ground to crash harshly into the city walls. Its middle head hung dead on the wolf’s body as it regained its composure and circled Vartan warily. One of the heads bit deep into the bleeding flesh and ripped the dead head out from its body before returning its attention to Vartan.
Immense pearly white fangs glistened, and giant slimy drops of drool splashed onto the ground beside him, steam rising from the burning acid. Its growl was so powerful that the air in Vartan’s lungs shook from it, along with his vision. He watched the hilt of his buried sword poking out of the beast, desperately looking for an opportunity to retrieve it.
Vartan stood helpless as he realised that he had left his bow and arrows on his horse. This is it, he thought, here is where I will die.
He closed his eyes and prepared to feel the sharp pain of the giant jaws tearing him apart limb from limb.
I cannot allow you to die, Vartan. The time has come for dragons to be seen again.
Invisibly, Nymira leapt down from the eastern wall. Her heavy body connected with the ground like a shockwave. The wolf whimpered and looked around in confusion. Vartan lost his balance and fell backwards, landing solidly on his side, screaming out in pain as his damaged ribs held most of his weight.
As he caught his breath and struggled back to his feet, it happened.
Scale by scale, her shiny, purplish body was revealed. She was directly beside him, facing down the wolf that was now dwarfed by the dragon’s size.
“ What? This can’t be happening! What kind of magic is this?” cried Kassina, her voice tearing through the city.
“This is no magic, sorceress. I will not let you harm him!” replied Nymira.
Nymira took a deep breath and roared as she breathed out dragons breath which engulfed the wolf, setting it alight. The stench of burning flesh invaded the air. The wolf howled and shrieked as it burned alive. It ran towards Vartan in a desperate attempt to end the knight’s life. Nymira opened up her tail, and four razor-sharp spikes flexed open as she swung them hard into the path of the burning wolf.
With a sickening crash, the tail and wolf met with full force, sending the flaming beast flying back into the city’s walls. The power of the blow shook the ground and dislodged Vartan’s sword from the dead head, sending it spinning wildly into the air. The conjured beast crumpled in a burning heap, defeated.
Curl into a ball and cover your face, Vartan, now!
Vartan quickly followed her instructions. With a slick metallic thud, his sword landed deep into the ground beside his right ear.
“Thank you great dragon,” said Vartan, quickly returning his sword to its sheath.
Nymira took another deep breath and sent searing fire in every direction around them. Houses were set further into flames and dark screams escaped from the shadows within them.
Stand up straight, and stay as still as possible. I promise that I won’t hurt you and you have to trust me.
She spread her wings wide, turned to Vartan, and grabbed him with her claws as she leapt off the ground.
“No! Disjecta membra! ” screamed Kassina. The flames around the city were sucked into large flickering balls that hovered in the air.
As the sorceress took aim, Nymira curled her claws to hide Vartan’s body within them. She shifted her scales once again to hide them both within the smoky sky, and within moments she was invisible, swiftly gaining height and distance from Greenhaven. Out of pure desperation, Kassina sent fireballs flying in pursuit, but they were easily avoided as Nymira continued her climb towards the clouds.
Vartan relaxed his muscles and let himself lay down gently in her claws, wincing at the pain of his ribs.
Does she know Karven? he wondered.
I am glad you trust me, Vartan, and you are safe with me. Karven is our King, and of course I know him-I certainly should. I am Nymira, the Queen of Dragons. I will take you to him immediately as the time has come.
Vartan concentrated his mind with all his strength to form the words.
Thank you, Nymira. You saved my life, and in return, I owe it to you. I have so many questions I want to ask of you.
You owe me nothing and I would save your life any time. We share a common goal, Vartan. The war has only just begun, and there is much to be done. Leave your questions until we reach Trahoterra. You need to rest and should regain your strength-we have a long journey ahead of us.
Vartan closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep in the safety of the dragon’s grasp.