Hellion's Reckoning

“Over the last six months I’ve been traveling the Vale,” Thaddeus explained to them as they climbed the winding stairs into the Ravenmoon’s attic. “North to south, east to west.” As they approached a large wooden door at the top he shimmied down and slipped beneath the door. Inias, Keira, Varen, and Ashryn were the only four permitted to join in the meeting. They heard something click and the door swung open, Thaddeus sitting upon his key.

As Inias passed Thaddeus leapt onto the boy’s shoulder, “I warned you,” the mouse said, turning to Varen, who was quietly shutting the door behind them. “It was two centuries back, during the last Scarlet Night. Ivaran broke that fateful eve when they stole his beloved mate away.”

“Aunt Gwen?” Inias asked, kneeling before the map. “I’m afraid so. Talos’ high priestess stole her away. She was pregnant with their first and only child. Aubron had warned him of the priestess’ madness, but he chose restraint.” Thaddeus scampered down Inias’ outstretched arm, his tiny paws skittering across the map until they reached the shaded depths of Ravenmoon forest.

“No one could have predicted this,” Varen defended, his voice firm. “Two centuries ago, the thought of Fae turning against their kin was unthinkable, even for us Hellions!”

“But you let it go on,” Keira challenged her father, her voice quivering with suppressed anger, her eyes welling up with tears as she stood beside Inias and Ashryn. “You accuse Inias of standing by, but we’re the ones suffering because you wouldn’t stand for our people when they needed you most. How long did it take you to see the king for what he is?”

“All I did was for our clan,” Varen glared, pointing his finger at her. “You are but a child, incapable of understanding the sacrifices that had to be made in order to shield us.”

“That’s the same hollow shit my grandmother used to spout,” Ashryn stepped between Varen and Keira, narrowing her eyes. “I could sense it in her eyes – the guilt she bore; it aged her before her time. You all chose to turn a blind eye, allowing the lower born hellions to bear the brunt of suffering rather than risking yourselves against the king’s tyranny.”

Inias stood at his feet and turned to Varen as well. “Just as I told you!” Thaddeus chirped from the floor before Inias could add his thoughts. “Your children would bear the consequences, and now it is left to them to right your wrongs.” Varen barred his teeth at the mouse, eyes glowing with a silvery light. Thaddeus lowered his bifocals and glared right back, whispering something. Varen’s eyes became red and burned, smoke pouring as he snapped them shut howling in pain.

“Perhaps it’s best if I leave.” Varen growled, and for the first time Inias caught his voice crack. Blood dripped from his closed eyes as the mouse repositioned his glasses. “I believe that would be best, yes.” The mouse growled right back as Varen stumbled around the room. Keira grabbed him and guided him towards the door. As it was shut, they heard him shouting for a servant or guard to guide him to his room. “He’ll heal,” Thaddeus muttered.

With a shake of his head, Thaddeus turned to the three young hellions and clicked his tongue. When they turned, he motioned for them to sit. The three took spots around the map, Inias between them. The mouse climbed upon a small wooden box and struggled to push a candle across her. “Can one of you light this?” he asked, climbing down the box and onto the map. Ashryn nodded and blew on the candle. A spark of flame left her mouth, bringing the wick to life. The flickering flame illuminated the dark edges of the map, revealing the vibrant colors he had painted. “Wow…it’s really beautiful.” Keira grinned, dark eyes sparkling with curiosity as she leaned over the paper.

“I’m guessing you came up with a plan in those six months?” Inias asked, tracing the delicately drawn towers of Nightfang castle. “I’m afraid, given the situation, your only option is to take as many as you can and flee north. The surrounding powers, for now, are too great to overcome.”

“Give up? Run away?” Ashryn countered him, slamming her hand against the parchment. “After all, they’ve done.” Inias shook his head and growled, “That’s suicide. The magistrate would catch us all.”

Thaddeus shook his head and sighed, “Indeed, which is why we need someone to remove him.” Inias spread his fingers over the city of Dusk Haven, just outside of it where a set of fields was painted. “Ailog’s land, right?” Inias asked. “Correct,” Thaddeus nodded, running over the map towards his hand. “He’s been collecting slaves from his campaigns. Most hellions.”

“All those big strong workers just sitting out here,” Keira tapped her chin with a purr, “He’s been building our army for us.” Thaddeus nodded and tapped his foot about a tiny speck above the painted farmland. “Two hundred twenty…seven. On top of your fifty knights remaining, and the maenads.”

“Will they fight for us again?” Inias asked Keira, who seemed to still be pondering. “We won’t give them a choice,” she answered. Bacchus was the forest guardian. This was their home and if a foreign army came to invade, they would defend it with their lives. It was likely the one reason Ivaran and Ailog had yet to send an army. “The king commands a host of thirty thousand, a few hundred will not be enough to repel him,” Thaddeus spoke, outlining the path they would take out of the Hallow, “Hence our need to retreat.”

Ashryn ran her finger over the painted forest. “We’re going to lose the forest, aren’t we?” she asked in a whisper. “Lure him here, let the maenads rip him and his army to pieces.” The mouse answered her, holding a red wand in his hand. With a wave of it, the city of Dusk Haven seemed to stir as tiny, inked figures emerged in the tiny streets brandishing blades. “I’ve set a viper loose within Ailog’s court. My most gifted student, a prodigy. Once she’s completed her goal, the city will tear itself apart.”