Forced into Fantasy

Adomis;

After a long trek up to the high tower I finally knock at his door and wait for him to greet me.

It is the middle of the day and he is usually pottering about up here, reading up on his various collection of ancient scripts or testing new potions and contraptions.

I lift my hand to knock once again and I hear the sound of the door suddenly opening inwards, his head pops out around the corner of it and his eyes meet mine.

He smiles.

“My lord, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?” he enquires, stepping out from behind the door’s cover.

The Mage is in his late fifties, has a bald head and several strange tattoos running down the sides of his neck.

He wears a long brown robe with a hood attached, though he only ever wears the hood on rare occasions.

There is a large golden pendant hanging around his neck, in the shape of a diamond with a large circle around it.

“Zarkin, I need a word…” I announce, glancing back down the staircase to see if I had perhaps been followed. I see that I have not and continue with my request.

“…In private.”

“Of course sire, please…”

He pauses as she steps aside and opens the door further to allow me passage.

“…come inside.”

Once inside I slowly make my way in past all of his strange shelves and desks covered in colourful potions and endless books piled on top of one another.

He’s always been rather messy, but to each their own.

He leads me across to where there are several chairs seated by a roaring fireplace and extends an arm as he speaks.

“Please, have a seat. Can I get you anything?”

I lift my hand as I speak.

“No, I’m fine thanks…” and then sit down on one of the chairs as he had suggested.

He does the same, but on the chair opposite me.

“So, what can I do for you?”

“Something happened to me yesterday, something I was rather hoping you would be able to explain in a little more detail for me.” I began.

“Of course sire, whatever I can do to assist.” he nods his head with a smile.

I take a moment before announcing the next part aloud to him, as if I am uncertain that anyone else should know that it had happened.

“I believe… that I may have… bonded with someone.”

Zarkin’s eyes widen with surprise.

“Bonded sire? With whom?” he asks.

“A young woman who at the time was a captive from a recent raid performed on her village. I don’t know much about her, other than the fact that her name is Ivy.”

“I see…”

“And there is something else, something I will need you to keep between us. You must swear to tell no one of this, do you understand?” I warn.

“Of course sire.”

“She bears the marking of the creator, Zarkin.” I announce.

His reaction is one of shock, disbelief and excitement, all mixed together into one.

He appeared to think for a moment in silence before looking up to meet my eyes before he asked his next question cautiously.

“Sire, would you allow me the pleasure of meeting with her?”

Ivy;

I’m currently sitting before the large fireplace in Adomis’ chambers; my prison as I like to call it.

I watch silently as the flames continue to dance skilfully before my eyes, the intense heat emanating from them warms my face and causes my entire body to warm substantially.

After my bath it feels quite nice, almost soothing as the hypnotic flames draw my sights towards them, blocking out everything else.

I’m now dressed in a fitted black nightgown with long lacy sleeves that reach all the way down to my wrists.

The dress was apparently left for me by the handmaidens during my recent trip down to the pool, as when I returned I found it lying on top of the freshly-made bed.

They also left food for me which I quickly devoured. I remember that the meat looked and tasted like chicken and came with a side of bread and crunchy vegetables.

They were delicious to say the very least.

It’s been hours since I last saw Adomis in the pool and I keep wondering what would have happened if I hadn’t of left when I did.

Would we have… you know?

NO! Of course not!

‘Keep your mind focused Ivy!’

Laying down on the fur rug beside the fireplace I begin to allow sleep to take me as I slowly close my eyes.

Little do I know what awaits me when I eventually wake.

I am startled awake by the unmistakable bellowing of horns sounding from somewhere nearby.

Frowning, I look around the chambers and notice that the skies outside are dark.

Is it night time already?

Did I sleep through the rest of the afternoon?

And what were those horns I heard about?

What the hell was going on?

With a mixture of intrigue and concern I pull myself up to stand, testing weight on my right ankle and noticing that it feels a lot better now.

Must have only been a minor sprain after all.

Weird, event he bruising and swelling has vannished!

I smile with relief as I make my way across the chamber towards the large balcony window.

Peering out into the darkness I can see torches moving about the castle below as the soldiers appear to be rushing around in some sort of a hurry.

Something is wrong, I can feel it.

Then I hear it; a sound that sends shivers up the base of my spine and at the same time almost deafens me.

A shrill animalistic roar that pierces through the skies and fills my heart with dread.

I’ve never heard anything quite like it!

Before I can even begin to wonder what in the world that sound was, the door to the chambers flies open with a loud ‘BANG’ and in marches a pair of fully armed soldiers.

“Milady, we’ve been sent on behalf of Adomis to collect and escort you.” the first soldier announces as they step into the room.

Both soldiers are dressed in full body armour and are holding the handles of their swords with one hand, as if prepared to unsheathe them should the need arise.

They appear to be on high alert.

Whatever’s going on, it must be serious!

“Why? What’s going on?” I question them.

“And what the hell was that sound?”

“There’s been an attack on the castle. We need to get you to somewhere safe.” the second soldier begins to explain as they march across the chambers to where I am standing by the balcony windows.

“Where’s Adomis?” I ask, seeming cautious of being left alone with strangers.

“Please, you must come along with us now.” the first soldier insists, holding out his armoured hand for me to take.

“There is no time to lose.”

I hesitate at first but then when a second terrifying roar fills the skies once more I quickly nod and take the soldier’s hand, allowing the pair to lead me out through the doorway of the chamber and down the hallway.

Only one thought circulates over and over within my head as I am marched along down one hallway after another…

Where the hell is Adomis?

Adomis;

General Tabius and I currently stand at one of the larger balconies, peering out into the darkness of night across the outskirts of my castle.

We are in search of the creature that has come.

A creature unlike any other.

A fucking dragon.

A 'Wreather' to be precise.

The Wreather is an extremely dangerous species of dragon, nocturnal and blood-thirsty.

They roam the skies at night and can hibernate for weeks on end without any food.

But their greatest asset is their ability to blend in with the darkness of the night.

Their shiny black scales assist them to merge with the shadowed sky above, allowing them to sneak up and swoop in to catch their prey before it is even made aware of the beast’s presence.

It’s quite common for us to have visits from different species of dragons roaming across the lands every now and then, but this particular one has been frequenting this area as of late and appears to have chosen my lands as it's newest hunting grounds.

This particular one is malevolent and what’s worse; extremely smart.

In the past it has only taken a few villagers or townsfolk before disappearing back into the darkness for weeks on end, but tonight feels different.

Tonight I can practically smell the blood that fucking beast will spill if I don’t do something to stop it.

And stop it I will.

“Are the ballistas aimed and ready General?” I quickly check.

“On all four sides of the castle?”

“Yes Overlord. When the beast shows its ugly face, we’ll be ready for it.” Tabius announces confidently.

“Good. Make sure the ballistas are aimed in each and every direction. I don’t want that bastard to get the drop on us.” I remind him before turning and marching off to check on the other side of the castle’s defences.

Once I arrive at the other side of the castle I can sense the fear in my soldiers as they glance around at the skies above them, their crossbows aimed and at the ready.

Several brave men are perched at each of the ballistas lined around the castle walls, waiting for their chance to fire at the winged creature.

They see me arrive and show their relief as I place my gloved hand onto one of their shoulders and nod, a sign to show that I am fighting alongside them; with them.

I do not fear the danger of battle, nor the coming of death.

When my time comes, it will come...

I accept that.

And that is what makes me so good at what I do.

I lead by example... and most importantly, I show no fear.

Ivy;

The walk seemed to take forever and at the end of it I am being led down one final corridor towards what looks like… outside?

'Hmm... that’s strange. Why would they be bringing me outside when the castle is under attack?'

As I am walking along towards the waiting carriage I can now see I can’t help but wonder why I haven’t seen any other soldiers during my entire escort, just the two currently leading me along.

I want to ask them about it.

To question where we are going, but every time I try to say something they ‘shush’ me, insisting that it’s far too dangerous to make any noise.

Once we reach the last open doorway I step out into the outer courtyard where there is a grey horse-drawn carriage silently waiting for me.

One of the soldiers opens the carriage door and the other goes to usher me inside, but I suddenly freeze.

A fearful chill runs down the base of my spine as I am almost smothered by a wave of powerful dread.

Something is wrong, I can feel it in my gut.

This all seems strange, given the fact that a bloody dragon is meant to be attacking the castle.

I can’t hold my questions in any longer.

“Why am I being escorted to a carriage?” I enquire, glancing at the soldier beside me.

“The Overlord’s orders. We are to escort you to a safer location until the matter is sorted.” he explains vaguely.

“But doesn’t a carriage seem a little dangerous, what with a friggin’ dragon flying around out there?” I challenge, my hand waving around blindly in the air to back me up.

“Not to mention the fact that you still haven’t told me where I’m going!”

The soldier beside me glances across towards the one holding the carriage door open, as if he is at a loss for words... or he is finding it harder to lie to me now.

My gut immediately sinks.

I am seeing red flags as I look between them with uncertaintity.

I quickly take a step backwards, away from the soldier and stop when my foot suddenly hits something on the ground behind me.

As I turn my head to see what it is my eyes widen and my mouth opens to scream…

There on the ground is the lifeless body of a soldier with his throat sliced wide open, blood pooling all around him and his expression; one of pure horror!

“Aaaaah- mmmph!”

My scream is suddenly muffled by the gloved hand of the soldier closest to me as he grabs me from behind.

His powerful arm wraps around my waist and his hand covers my mouth, preventing me from crying out for help.

I kick and struggle against his grip but he is stronger than he looks and before I know it I am being dragged across towards the waiting carriage...