SWNOVELS Chapter Parting Ways
A constant caw sound was coming from outside her window followed by tapping against the glass. She knew it was one of her crows, but by gods, if she didn’t need that bird, it would be ash right now.
Grumbling she draped her arm over her face blocking it out, but the cawing continued followed by a constant tapping that was threatening to bring on another migraine. Could the bird not sit and wait for her to raise? She was queen! No one forced her to do anything, especially not a messenger bird.
CAW!
Sighing she slapped the bed and rose, gliding to the double doors opening onto her private balcony, to find the crow hovering nearby excited to see her, dropping to the railing hopping nearer.
“So, as I predicted, he was there.” Dimas sighed again taking the note off the crow’s leg, she hadn’t opened it yet, but by the thickness of parchment attached, it just meant bad news.
The crow hopped awkwardly as she untied the rolled-up note, giving it a small pat on its smooth head, the crow closed its eyes taking the affection before hopping to the left, and taking off again into the early morning sky. Dimas spun from her balcony walking back in unrolling the notes, preparing herself for the worst. She froze reading it once, twice then looked up and around before the third time.
“What?!” She bellowed storming from her room down to her throne room. Her warlord was lucky he had ridden out with the last reinforcements, for he would have been added to the death pile had he delivered such news.
Pacing the throne room, she tried to control the rage in her, it was becoming evident that none would catch Drathis, she had handed his location to her men knowing where he would be, preparing them for his arrival, yet somehow, they still failed the one and only thing she needed doing. Perhaps the only way to get the job done was to go herself.
Yes, mayhap she could, with all she knew about Drathis how hard could it be to cloak herself under an innocent mask of magic and seduce the elf into thinking she was all he needed? Tricking him would be oh so easy, all she needed was a few simple spells to transform herself into the most irresistible woman and lure him into a trap.
She scrunched the letter in her fist making her way to her study, stopping as she spotted servants down the hall creeping into the baby chamber for morning feeding. Annoyed she turned going back to her room, recalling now that she had her spy, Layla currently on route to Talgrim to do that very thing for her.
If the little seductress could not capture him, she would go herself. Layla was to be the final chance as his capture, one Dimas was sure would work.
Looking down at the letter still creased in her tight grip Dimas returned to her room.
The letter had made it clear that Drathis had gotten into the castle, somehow without any of her men seeing him, and had fled with Galaleiath hot on his tail; Drathis had escaped with the help of a wizard in a carriage he had stollen, and Galaleiath had sent fireballs after them but, had obviously failed at capturing him as well, at least the brothers seemed to have not had a brotherly reconnection. She smirked slightly at the thought of Galaleiath trying to kill Drathis, she had predicted as such, score one for her.
But the rest of the notes had her frowning again; Drathis escape and Galaleiath’s fireballs had awoken both sides of the war causing many fatalities due to both sides not knowing who had been trying to attack first.
She groaned after reading it for the hundredth time, they had lost a lot of men, men she needed to take down the walls. The only glimmer of hope at the bottom of the note was the last line signed by Galaleiath.
There is another way, more to arrive shortly.
-G
Galaleiath had more information for her, and whatever it was had to be a winning factor, something too sensitive to send via crow.
***
A knock came at her door a few hours later, twitching her wrist the doors opened revealing her councilor’s.
“I take it you received your messages as well.” She turned back to her desk continuing her writing.
“Yes, your majesty.” A few said in unison taking one step in then stopping.
“Well?” She enquired, finishing up her last notes before folding and sealing it, further instructions to be sent with her messengers. Hesitating one member finally took a few bold steps forward pulling out his little scrolled-up note.
The rest of the messages had arrived at her different council members all relating to issues that needed resolving, each one of her members helped manage different parts of her kingdom, things she just couldn’t get the time to manage herself, unfortunately.
“How many?” Dimas snapped turning to face them, the hesitation to speak was always a sign of bad news.
“Dead or alive your majesty?”
“Alive, what good are the dead?!”
“Uhm,” the nervous reck looked down at his book then back up avoiding her eyes, “One thousand.”
Her eyes thinned skeptically as she watched him shuffle nervously, she scanned the man next to him who’s eyes enlarged slightly at the statement. Zitex had barred themselves up so well that getting anyway near enough to count how many were left had been an impossible task that so many had failed at, and now they finally had a count, yet the figure given was way off.
“Do you know what I hate,” Dimas sighed raising from her chair waltzing around them in a large circle, they watched her in frozen silence. “I can’t stand those that wish to insult my intelligence.” She said quietly raising her hand up curling her fingers into her palm, the action dragging the council member forward against his will till he was backpaddling right beneath her nose. “And you thought you might.” She smiled broadly, ear to ear as he fell to his knees in forgiveness begging for his life.
“You should have known better.” With a flick of her finger against the man’s head, he burst into ash floating in the air before her, she took in a deep breath of satisfaction, she had been wanting to kill something all morning.
“Now, would anyone like to tell me the real figures? Or shell I create waves of dust? I don’t mind either way suits me just fine today.” She dusted her hands walking back to her desk.
“Zitex has nine thousand three hundred and twenty inside their walls, including the king and his, wives.”
She whipped around slightly surprised, “Nine thousand?” No wonder they had tried to lie to her, the number was much larger than she had assumed. “Who counted?”
“Galaleiath.”
She nodded; he was a trusted source.
“Fine, but our reinforcements will not be enough.” She looked pointedly at one of the men who bowed before stepping forward.
“We have only managed to recreate four Gorgaknights and those that flew back had been healed, your majesty.”
“Send them.”
Another knock came at the door and they all turned to see a roughed-up boy escorted by two of her guards, she raised an eyebrow at them, “What is this?”
“He has a message for your highness.” The guards said knocking him to his knees. She glided forward turning her nose up at the stench.
“Perhaps a bath before you see your queen next time.” She closed her nose with disgust stepping back, “What do you have for me?”
The mud-stained boy opened up his shirt to reveal papers tied around his chest with thin rope.
“My oh my this does look interesting.” With a smile, she moved her long fingers in circular motions allowing her power to untie the ropes around the boy’s frame and float the papers up towards her. Taking a hold of them she turned the pages over to find Galaleiaths seal unbroken.
“Ah, finally.” She turned from them back to her desk cutting the seal, “You are all dismissed, make sure the boy is rewarded.” She waved over her shoulder before opening up the bound pages.
True to Galaleiaths words, there was indeed another way; Zitex had kept a lot of their men inside the walls preparing their defense, but looking at the plans before her of Zitex underground tunnels, she smiled. It was like guarding the front door while forgetting to lock the back. They would attack from the inside out using the attack on the walls as a distraction. She ran through the notes and tunnel layout growing more excited by the moment, this was perfect.
“Guards.” She called turning to the door, it opened and her personal guards stepped inside, “Prepare Galaxy we leave,” She hissed cutting her own sentence short recalling her prized horse stollen by the elf. “Prepare my carriage, we leave for war in an hour.” Dimas smiled, Velda would need to hurry in getting whatever was inside that castle out sooner than needed, she wanted to see King Zitex on his knees when Galaleiath and her entered his throne room unannounced. It would seem Galaleiath’s rule over Zitex was nearer than any of them could have predicted.
Dimas looked out her window tapping her fingers, wondering again what Velda wanted out.
* * * * * *
“I don’t usually get jealous,” Drathis jerked awake at the voice, looking up to see Ashleigh smiling down at him, “Especially not of my ladies in waiting,” She continued, Drathis looked down to find his arms still tightly secured around Sinira who had woken with the same fright looking right back up at him.
“Morning,” He said softly, unable to pull away from her stare, she was even more beautiful when the light hit her exotic eyes and he had the sudden urge to kiss her forehead.
“Ok, now I’m really jealous, what happened here?”
And just like that the moment was gone, Ashleigh giggled folding her arms, Drathis and Sinira pulled their focus away back to her.
He realized then his arms were still holding her and he reluctantly released, leaning backward stiffly, trying to stretch out his sore muscles.
“Nothing,” Sinira replied climbing out of his hold, up to her feet, dusting herself off.
“Nothing hey?” Ashleigh mocked looking between them till she spotted the blood on Sinira, her smile fading instantly, “You hurt!”
Drathis stilled looking up at her recalling the night before seeing the dry blood on the side of her dress.
“No, no I’m fine really, it's his.” They turned back to him, but Drathis was already standing taking the blanket and cloak off his shoulders inspecting his cuts.
“Nothing to concern yourselves with, I will live.” He assured them looking from the dead fire to where he had hung his shirt and coat, catching them both still watching him, Ashleigh jumped slightly clapped her hands as a distraction stepping nearer awkwardly, trying to avert her eyes from his torso.
“Well, I need to thank you for saving me last night, need to thank both of you actually.” She said sweetly her eyes roaming over him.
“The creatures were after all of us, no thanks needed.” He looked around to where they had left the last dead body last night noticing it dusted with fresh snow.
“Actually, it seemed to be just after you.” Sinira chipped in joining their conversation, “Every time I attacked, they seemed to just entertain me, but were waiting for you.”
Drathis watched her, unsure how to answer, the truth could be a dangerous thing. “Where is Galaxy?” he asked changing the subject.
“I Don’t know, she seems to like to wonder.” Ashleigh scanned around them.
“Seems to.” Drathis echoed looking towards the waterfall, thankfully the fog had lifted and they could finally see what was around them. A few yards away chewing on stubborn bits of grass that had survived the snow stood Galaxy peacefully, no signs of stress or danger.
“We need to leave, they shouldn’t risk sending men to track us, but you never know.” He stood stretching his back, clicking his neck, finding himself watching Sinira again.
“Yes, we must, my uncle will worry.” Ashleigh agreed, making her way to the carriage, “We need to turn back and go left.”
“We?” Drathis frowned watching them leave.
“Yes we, help Sinira untie those horses.”
Drathis snorted folding his arms, “As I said yesterday, I have my own heading, this is where we part ways.” With a whistle, he called Galaxy back to him.
“What? No, we need you.” Ashleigh protested.
“For what? Sinira can smoke almost anyone with those hands.” He looked at her as a slight blush crept onto her cheeks.
“Who will drive the carriage?”
“I am not incompetent Ashleigh.” Sinira said softly stepping up next to her friend “I will guide us back to your uncle safely.”
Ashleigh nodded turning back to Drathis, “I can’t believe you would abandon us,”
“I am not abandoning you; my intentions were clear yesterday.”
“I have lots of money.”
“I’m sure you do.”
“Name your price, I could give you so much.” She smiled sweetly a spark of mischief in her eyes.
“Freedom.” He said coldly.
“Fine, I do suppose you have your own agenda, I’m sorry I won’t get to see you again.” She sighed softly putting her hand out for him to kiss, he looked at it then at Sinira hiding a smile.
“Stay safe.” He shook it releasing, Ashleigh pulled her hand back in shock, huffing as she turned to enter the carriage slamming the door shut.
“I’m sorry, royals can be a bit, eccentric.” Sinira stepped nearer to him putting her hand out to shake his farewell. “I guess this is where we part ways, it was nice meeting you, elf.”
“Dray.” He corrected taking her hand.
“Yeah, whatever.” She clicked annoyed.
He raised her hand to his lips, looking at her through his brows as he planted a gentle kiss on her knuckles. “Why is a name so important to you?” He released her hand watching her hold it with her other as if she had been burnt, yet favored to have it put back in the fire again.
“I, ah,” She cleared her throat straightening her cloak, “I know the elven history, the houses of power by name, if I know yours, I’m sure I can place you.”
“You mean connect me to my parents, family line.”
“Yes exactly.” She said slight excitement in her voice looking at him earnestly.
“And once you know my name and place it in this book of yours, what then?”
She frowned a look of pain crossing her features, “I’m just trying to find how many of us are left out there.”
“Were you able to place Galaleiath?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
A knock came from the carriage window with a muffled voice, “When are we leaving?”
“Soon,” Sinira shouted back then looked back at him. “Galaleiath, as unfortunate as it is, is from the only line of living royals left, three families were said to have escaped the war on elves, but only one was found in a mountain range among the dwarfs, their remains have been buried and protected, a bloodline I am unable to trace, the second family, well that’s a bit of a sad story too, but Galaleiath is a true king the last of his bloodline.”
Drathis cringed at the words his jaw muscles leaping with tension.
“What?” She asked grabbing his arm, “You know something, you have to tell me!” She begged gripping his arm tighter.
“I know nothing.” Drathis snapped pulling away walking back towards Galaxy.
“Why are you lying?!” She raced after him grabbing his arm again, “Dray, who are you?”
“Just go, back to your life.” Galaxy trotted up beside him ready for their next adventure.
“No, wait.”
He spun facing her deadly close, his eyes taking on a green glow as he let the fury building in him seep through, “You sure know a shit load about our kind for someone that just wants to connect the dots for some sort of puzzle, but I am not the missing piece. I am not some extinct animal you can file away in some library; I am very much alive and intend to stay that way.”
Sinira backed up slightly her eyes huge with fright, she hadn’t seen him up close so filled with hate before.
“I am not trying to sell your soul; I just want to find my family.”
“Your family? And elves are the answer? Wake up princess, we don’t have the answers go get yourself an oracle.” He snapped slightly stunned she hadn’t feared him, something about this woman just brought out a side of him he couldn’t control, he wanted her to see how dark he could be, wanted to rage against her, see how much she could take.
“Are your so dim-witted you won’t even let me explain?!”
“You have nothing to explain, I’m not the one trying to find out who the hell you are!”
“Right.” She snapped scrunching up her nose, he felt his heart sink as he watched her hurt be masked by a wall of defense, “You so very right, you bloody bastard,” Anger now taking a hold of her, “Goodbye Dray, I’ll just place you as a brother to the low life dark elf as Zitex.” She glared at him before turning around back to the carriage.
Breathing heavily, he clenched his jaw again backstepping to Galaxies side grabbing her reins, looking after Sinira, and odd longing in his chest to stop her. He didn’t know this woman, always ended up arguing with her over shit, yet she was one of the least annoying humans he had met he wanted more time with her. Breathing out the irrational thought he swung up onto Galaxies back taking one last look at her before turning to leave.
“Nail on the head princess.”