DESTRUCTIVE MYTH

A week later Drathis was up leaning against the wall watching the rainfall on a late afternoon, he grew more anxious with each passing day expecting to see Black Maser soldiers any moment on the horizon, he had to get out, he had to head north it was the only way to find out what had happened to Altahime he had to believe the clues he needed rested in the ruins.

A bolt slid from his chamber doors unlocking them, he didn’t turn around.

“The snow will start to fall again soon,” Drathis commented to the Kazan king walking up alongside him. The king had spent a couple of hours a day over the past week interrogating Drathis, but in an odd turn of events, it had been Drathis that had learned a lot from this king and a rather interesting obsession he had with elves and their history.

“Yes, it will leave all paths blocked for a few months.” They side-eyed each other, the king was no fool, he would not let Drathis. “How does your side feel?”

“Tender” Drathis unfolded his arms standing straight lightly touching his side.

“The healers said you should have been healed by now.”

“Not everyone is right all the time,” Drathis said faking a flitch as he leaned back against the wall, in truth he felt fine, it was the first day he actually felt like himself again.

“How much longer do you need?”

“Another few days at best.” He lied, he wasn’t ready to be healed for the king, the king seemed to have something he wanted doing and it disturbed Drathis, not only was the king’s obsession with elven history vast and borderline crazy, but a lot of it was very, very accurate the fact that the king knew how to tell the difference between the birthmarks uneased him. As much as he was supposed to be all-powerful, he had no training, no way of knowing how to even cast a simple spell, the king had been disappointed in this.

Of late, every magic that had leaked from him had been nothing more than pure dumb luck.

“What are your plans?”

“My plans?” Drathis asked confused

“Yes, your plans, your mission, why do you want to leave?”

“Why do you want to keep me?” He snapped looking at the king “I will bring you nothing but war, death, and misfortune.”

“There is a price on an elf’s head, did you know that?” The king turned to face him now, a storm raging in his eyes. “Do you know how much a creature like you is worth?”

“A creature?” Drathis spat “Watch yourself human, you may be a king, but not mine.”

“Perhaps selling you then is a good idea.”

“You will never get your gold.” Drathis laughed darkly “I will not be here much longer, and even if you did manage to sell me, whoever bought me would soon kill you and any threads relating to you, making sure all secrets were their own, you play a dangerous game proclaiming to the public you have me.”

The king watched him carefully a dangerous twinkle in his eye.

“I boast about you to none, once your presence was known here it spread like wildfire, I have no choice but to prepare for war because of you, selling you keeps my people alive and rich. You brought this war to my kingdom when you revealed yourself.”

“I didn’t stand in the courtyard for a willing haircut!” Drathis snarled “You took my hidden identity from me, you exposed me!”

“You exposed yourself when you decided to be a hero and attack my men in Gozza.”

“Why were your men in Gozza? What does a king need so many slaves for in an already overpopulated place?”

They were shouting at each other, raging till the guards heard and burst through the door to protect their king, the king turned from Drathis as the guards stood between them like a shield.

“I need to know what you are up to; I just have to know.” He said calmer now, Drathis walked to the window watching lightning dance across the sky.

“I can’t answer you, it’s my only protection, if no one knows where I’m going, I can’t be trapped again,”

“You speak as though you are free to leave.” The king’s face turned sour. “I have given no such commands.” He walked out the door locking it behind him.

Drathis rolled his eyes then tried to listen to what he was saying to the guards outside but the sliding of bolts muffled the voices, a few moments later he only heard the king’s footsteps fade.

Walking to the mirror he raised his shirt examining his bruised side, an interesting thing he had learned from the king had been that elves used to heal themselves after a battle, intrigued by the idea he had spent the past week when alone, trying to conjure magic to heal himself. He had tried everything from words to holding his side wishing it to be, but nothing had happened, it was either untrue or he just hadn’t figured it out yet.

The door started to unlock a while later and Drathis looked at it hoping they would change their mind, but the door unlocked and he sprung in bed pretending to be asleep, in walked a maid with two guards, she put down some food, walked to the window and closed the curtains, threw another log on in the fireplace then walked back out.

The doors lock again and footsteps fade.

Opening his eyes, he got back up pulling on his boots, in front of him was a bowl of fruit, some bread, and meat slices, he grabbed a few then dusted himself off turning to face the barred door.

He sighed staring at it, and he knew it was going to be a long night, but sitting here waiting was just asking for trouble, out there in the open he had more of a chance to escape.

He kept his eyes on the handle for a good few moments preparing himself, he had to leave, the window was a straight fall with nothing to hold onto, through the doors in front was his only chance.

He took a few deep breaths, all the coughing was gone, jumping up and down on the spot three times now he felt great.

With a running start, he kicked at the door sideways with his right leg at its weak point, the kick snapped the door right off its hinges sending it flying down the stairs with one of the guards, another soldier spun around startled, Drathis stepped out the room with a red-hot fire spoke in hand.

“Knock, knock!” he taunted.

Wide-eyed the guard dropped his weapon and ran down the stairs tripping over the door halfway down. Drathis grinned at the show, they knew who he was, fighting might not be needed after all.

He bent down to retrieve the guard’s sword making his own way down the stairs like a black shadow in the night. He got through a hall looking for an exit staying in the shadows, he spotted one of the guards a few feet away running and threw his sword at him, it flew through the air sinking deep in his back.

He snuck forward searching for the others hearing faint rushing feet, when he thought they were out of sight he ducked out from under the stairs and ran all the way down one of the endless corridors out another door, downstairs, into another never-ending corridor filled with doors.

“DAMNIT! This is a bloody maze!” he snapped annoyed.

He carried on running forward studying each door as he rushed past them, he came to a stop in front of two doors bigger than the rest in a leaf shape. He took a breath and burst through the doors hearing soldiers behind him. He slammed them shut sliding a shelf in front of the handles.

He was in a room, it had to be the king’s personal library; bookcases filled every wall, and doors were on both ends. Drathis looked at the other door hearing soldiers behind it marching, he took the study table pushing it against the doors.

A book slid off the table open onto the floor, Drathis turned around looking at the fireplace wondering if he could crawl up it, but the book caught his attention, it displayed a picture of an elf with no hair and its birthmark climbing its neck with scribbles and arrows pointing to the different parts of the elf drawing, he shivered.

“This king is insane!” Drathis hissed then looked at the fireplace again, rushing to the fire he grabbed the sand bucket next to it and threw it in. the flames died and Drathis ripped off his shirt tearing it in two equal parts, he wrapped them around both his hands.

The soldiers heaved against the doors, Drathis watched it bend and crack as he tightened the shirt pieces with his teeth, they heaved again opening a large slit, he was fastening the last bit when the door faltered.

He divided up the chimney as they rushed for him, and Drathis started climbing up the chimney’s hot walls, he climbed up it fast as he could hearing the shouting below.

He didn’t look back down, he pushed through to the top, it was a narrow fit and Drathis waist got stuck, he tried to pull but it was no use, he grabbed at the stones around him breaking a few out, pulling hard until he was free.

Jumping down onto the roof and started running looking for an exit, or at least a tree to jump down on to but he stopped taking in how high up he was. lightening danced across the sky again illuminating the view around him, a tree was never going to help him so high up.

He stopped at the end of the roof looking for a way down, he saw soldiers running in the courtyard shouting out at each other, somewhere in the distance a bell was rung, then amongst the chaos he spotted Mani the king’s royal pain in his ass, he had hoped to see the messenger, if anyone knew where his sword was it would be him.

He followed the roof’s slippery edge till he was close enough to hop down a few stories following Mani who was screeching out orders, most was lost through the rain but he heard the last part loud and clear.

“The elf is mine no matter the cost, I want him back on his knees, in front of me now.”

Drathis frowned, if Mani wanted him so bad, perhaps he should say farewell first then retrieve his sword, he followed the grease ball till he reentered the castle then dropped down through a window into the hallway landing in front of him.

Mani skidded to a holt watching him with masked fear.

“And here I thought you were gone; the king will be pleased to see you were only taking a walk.” He sneered straightening up putting on a mask of control.

“I could have sworn I heard you just say, you wanted me back at any cost.” He mocked moving forward. “On my knees again in front of you.” He pointed at Mani stepping forward again a slight grin formed on Drathis mouth. “Why would such a short, worthless shit like yourself require someone to get down to your level?”

“You do not question the king’s royal,” Mani began standing proud.

“I do as I please, I will not be governed by your race’s rules.” Drathis snapped launching for him, grabbing him by the collar picking I’m up into the air. “Where is my sword?”

Mani chuckled despite the discomfort.

“Your sword, that weapon is not yours.”

“Where is it?” Drathis hissed ignoring the alarm bells in his head, Mani knew something about the sword, he just couldn’t place his finger on what, his thoughts were interrupted as doors burst open shouting at them at the other end of the hall.

“Dimas will reward me well for returning her sword and your blood.” He laughed.

A hot fit of rage washed over Drathis at the mention of her name.

He slammed Mani into the wall then threw him down putting his boot on his chest.

“You work for that bitch?”

“She is the one true, oouch!” He stopped his sentence in pain as Drathis applied pressure to his chest cavity, something cracked and broke under his boot, he moved his foot pushing open Mani’s cloak with the tip of his sword.

“Hey stop!” A guard was calling out for the other side of the hall making their way forward, Drathis turned to see the guard judging the distance, he had a few seconds left.

“What is this?” Drathis demanded pointing his sword to a small tube of broken glass filled with a dark red liquid, Mani dipped his fingers into it greedily and shot them to his mouth sucking on it.

“Your blood.” Mani smiled, Drathis watched him in disgust, Mani’s eyes were open wide with a crazed look in them, if his blood did something to the humans or not, he wasn’t going to stay and find out.

“STOP!” The guards yelled getting closer.

Drathis pulled his lip up watching Mani laughing as he licked his blood off the final finger, Drathis sunk the blade into Mani’s chest, watching the shocked look now on his face “Suck your own blood in.” He snapped withdrawing the blade racing out.

With more luck than knowledge, Drathis escaped the guards and found himself in the throne room with the king.

“Drathis.” He said startled, the personal guard jumped forward as all the king’s subjects backed up trying to mold into the walls.

“Where is my sword.”

If the king had a reply it was lost as his two personal guards rushed at him swords high, moments later both guards were dead slowed down by their excessive bulky amour.

“I will not ask again.” Drathis walked closer to the king who was not pulling out his own golden sword. “Do not even try you won’t win.”

The king looked from Drathis to his councilors who had all fallen to their knees begging for mercy. Before the king could turn to face Drathis again they were face to face.

“last chance.” He whispered trembling with fury, the king pointed to his vault conveniently behind his throne dropping his weapon knowing he was defeated

“Open it,” Drathis commanded.

Without a word the king stepped over his floor hugging fools to the vault, placing his ring inside a small opening, it opened and the king retrieved a leather-wrapped bundle.

Behind them, doors burst open and the room filled with soldiers and the two cloaked figures of before with glowing staffs. Drathis ripped the leather and cloth off his sword grabbing the king, the touch of the sword in his hand again sent off a slight boom of energy through the room, it seemed to be happy to be back in his hands.

“Do not come forth,” Drathis called grabbing the king sliding the sword across his chest up to his neck.

“What do you want?” The king demanded

“I want a horse!”

“Your majesty!” the two sorcerers rushed forward, “Release him!” they demanded pointing their staffs.

Drathis cocked his head to the side tightening his grip on the king’s one hand sliding the sword closer over his neck, Drathis eyes had tamed but his temper hadn’t the encounter with Mani was still ringing through his mind.

“Release the king or,”

“Or what? Are you going to kill, you? ENSLAVE ME?” Drathis roared shutting his eyes before they burst into light again. He didn’t want to kill anymore he just wanted out, he breathed in deeply.

“Just give him a horse.” The king commanded Drathis shoved the king forward.

“Let’s go retrieve one together,” He whispered to the king, walking forward pulling the king along he pulled the sword from the king’s neck pointing it at the wizards, “Drop your staffs.”

They ignored him looking at the king, the king nodded, they obeyed.

After an awkward switching of rooms locking the guards and wizards in the throne room, Drathis dragged the king into a run for the stables.

“Once you are out those gates, my men will come after you,”

“Then you shall explain to their wives why you sent them needlessly to their deaths,”

They reached the barn filled with horses; the king had ranted the whole way, Drathis turned to face him now trying to get his message across.

“I do not belong to you and your world, the more you interfere the more death will fall at your feet.”

“You bring a war to my door regardless!” The king shouted as Drathis sat him down on hay binding his hands with reins, he looked into his eyes.

“I did not want to, you captured me, I would never have even come here if your soldiers hadn’t had interfered, whatever war you now face, you face alone, let it be a lesson for your greed.”

“I am not greedy.” The king snapped focusing only on the last part. Drathis scanned the barn looking at the horses grabbing a saddle.

“How many slaves does one king need?” He frowned turning back to the horses, he needed one with strong legs, the activity around them now had them spooked all except one, tied to a wall at the very back.

A dark beauty, a powerful eighteen hands in height, its main was longer than usual, pitch black, and stared right back at him with the same curiosity and slight recognition. Drathis reached up slowly to rub the great beast’s neck but his hand recoiled as it touched the horse’s fur, it was ice cold, he had felt something like that only twice before from a creature.

Tightening the saddle, he climbed on untying the horse making his way back to the struggling king.

“This is your last warning,” the king began.

“Hold on to that warning, I am not done with you yet,” He cut the king off picking him up placing him on the horse, bursting out the barn back into the courtyard to see it surrounded.

“Open the gates.” The king called out after Drathis sword returned to his neck.

The main gates opened and Drathis trotted out holding the king close, all eyes and arrows were facing them.

“You won’t make it.”

“They will not shoot and risk your life.”

Passing through the gates Drathis kicked the horse into a full sprint until just out of reach from the walls and arrows of the kingdom

“Now, you may give your last warning.” Drathis shoved the king off the horse into the snow not stopping, pushing forward.

He turned back to see the king land in the snow as his people burst through the gates to retrieve him.

He locked eyes with the king for a brief moment then faced forward kicking the horses to go faster, it picked up speed, launching them off into the wilderness at a frightening pace.