Proofreader: BrokenOlive

Chapter 44 - Dawn

Raval's POV

Asperd Kingdom, The south wall, Late fall.

For almost three years we have been fighting against the armies of the south. The first year I was made to help craft bows and the second year I was sent to ‘help’ closer to the battlefield, making sure that the bows were holding together well enough. As the third year came we moved closer and closer to the real battle, we did less and less craftsmanship as the weeks passed until we were sent to fight. If I'm to end my days in this sandbox then I will stand side by side with the young, I will not cower behind the wall as the nobles do. If my end shall come then let me end will all my pride intact so that I may face the gods with my head held high.

As the first rays of sunlight hits my face I allow myself a short moment to think of a better place than here, not just any place but my home. I close my eyes and recall the smiling face of my sweet Elisa, my beloved wife. I think of my cool headed son and what he might be like in a few years. Forgive me, my beloved, forgive me, my boy, for I will not survive until dusk. Forgive me, my ever loving wife, for I will not see your smiling face again nor will I get the chance to feel your soft skin under my hands again, forgive me. Son, I pray that you grow up to become a strong and outstanding man. I will pray for whatever darkness that clings to your soul to go to the afterlife with me, let me rid you of that burden.

I'm all too soon reminded about where I am as the scream of the wounded and the dying echoes around me. I'm too old to fight head on with the people of this land, my body can't handle the strain anymore. The rain of arrows fall.

“Sir! Please get back, please!”

Ah, why do you follow me out here on this field of death? I send you back with the traders, why are you out here?

“Lark? What are you doing here!? Get away from this place! It is no place for a young women to be in!”

A look of confusing crosses her face for a short time but as always she is a quick thinker and answers me shortly after.

“I'm sorry, sir! I can't go back.”

Silly child what are you saying?

“What are you saying? Go back now!”

She shakes her head violently while pushing herself forward between the mass of fighters. I wave her back.

“Go! Get away from this place!”

Go, leave, run! Why are you coming close!? Why?

“I can't leave you, sir!”

Why must you push me to do this? I force the words out of my mouth, they sickens me to my very core.

“Lark, leave, return home, that's an order!”

She never stops moving towards me, never does her steady look weaver as she forces her way between the fleeing men. You silly girl, you will die here, don't you know that?

“I can't, sir. I promised master that I would stand by your side!”

Boy!? What did you tell her!?

“I don't care! Leave, you will die here!”

She is almost by my side. No, turn around… Run you silly child.

“I'm not leaving you, sir! I promised!”

“What did you promise him?”

She is by my side now, patting as she answers me.

“That I would not let you die alone!”

…

You silly boy, all life's precious you know.

…

I grab her hand as the sky blackens.

“You kept your promise.”

She has tears flowing down her cheeks but as she answers she sends me a beaming smile.

“Yes.”

Riin's POV

Shadowfell, Somewhere along the northern border, Date Unknown.

Week Thirty-eight

Five days has passed since Elder Cree killed the Nighthaunt, five days of hacking away at the endless bodies of undead coming at us. Standing in this mess of a battle I think that I preferred it when the Nighthaunt was giving them commands, at least then they were moving in a way that was predictable, now it's just a cluster fuck of restless man eating rotten bodies coming at us at random. But nonetheless the terminating continues day and night, we move in shifts so that there is always someone killing them off.

The Shadar-Kai seems to have a deep rooted hate for the undead, I understand that it has to do with The Lady being a goddess of fate and a guide to the death, but their hate seems to me more like that of a child trying its hardest to get the parent’s attention. I should know… For they remind me too much of myself when I lived with the women that I called mother…

“Master.”

Ivani’s voice brings be back to the present, turning in the direction of it I find her kneeling in my line of sight. Impressive if you ask me, taking into account that I'm resting on top of a tower and she is on the ground. Hmm, what a nice view, I'm glad they don't have bras here, heh.

“What is it?”

“The second in command’s son wishes to speak with you, master.”

Oh?

“Tell him I will be there is a few minutes, will you.”

“As you command, it shall be done, my master.”

She bows her head before standing up and running off in the direction of Varo’s house. What a shame, really, I was enjoying the view very much, oh well. I push myself up to a sitting position. What is up with Varo’s ability to interrupt my peaceful moments? Maybe he- a window popping up stops anything I might have thought about him.

[Bloodmark]: Link to [Slave: Lark, Human] broken due to: Death.

Lark.

…

Lark went with my father.

…

Lark is.

…

Dead.

…

I gave her a order to never leave his side.

…

No, he might still be alive.

…

Yes, he couldn’t have died! He just couldn’t have!… But Lark is dead… And knowing my father, he would not let her die before him… Even if she was a slave.

…

No, he might have ran.

…

Who am I kidding?

…

Of course he would never run and leave a young women to die in his stead.

“Master?”

There is a chance that he is still alive.

…

A chance that it's only Lark who's dead… Yeah, Lark could have died of a disease… Or… Or…

“Master…?”

An animal attack? Fuck! I can't think straight!

…

Think! Think god darn it! Use that brain of yours! Breath in… deep br-

“Mas-”

“SHUT UP!!!”

Ivani's POV

The last few weeks since master returned from the forest after having been attacked by a Nighthaunt's undead has been a constant fight against their relentless attacks. Master had taken to teach me hand to hand combat with focus on holds and locks as he called it. He is just as relentless in his teachings as the undead is in their attack. My body is covered in sweat from the moment I wake up to the moment I drop unconscious on my bed. I can't count the time I have been thrown to the ground and held down, unable to breath until I was at the brink of passing out just to be released and told to ‘do it again’. I kind of wish master would use me as his heated looks implied that he wants to, I'm jealous of Ashko in a way, master showed interest in him. Other than the looks of lust I get when we train, he has not laid his hands on me or asked me to his room… Am I doing something wrong? Do I not have a desirable body? Is my chest too small or too big? Do I smell, I hope that's not it! It was master himself that told me to train more! Argh!

I saw Ashko at some point running like a madman around the town bringing water, food, and messages to the different guards and groups located along the wall. Theadis and Shagi are working by carrying wooden logs around the town, looks heavy.

One of the Elders arrived today as the first daylight came to us, bringing news that the Nighthaunt was brought to its knees, now the cleanup can begin. We work in teams to avoid them wandering around and getting picked up by something else. I heard the guards talking about there being more Nighthaunt's in the area but I don't believe them, Nighthaunt are entities of old for them to suddenly appear, that's just nonsense.

The second in command son waves me over as I'm drying myself off from another training session with master. I dislike this man, he was one of the people that tried to get us to look bad infront of master. I give a slight bow, I don't owe this man any respect but I cannot be too rude to him since his father holds a good rank within this town.

“How may I be of help?”

His eyes looks me over, down my lightly moist body, I can feel his mind thinking of ways to get me, I ignore it. He gives a slight smile as he seems to think of something, I can only hope master don't give me to him.

“Get your master to meet me at my house, I have news that would be of interest to him.”

“I will go find him at once.”

I'm glad to be out of his sight, he too old… I mean he's around my grandfather's age, not that I mind sleeping with older men it's just sex but if I have to give my body to someone then I would rather it be master. I walk along the wall and find master on top of one of the guard towers, I wonder if it's that good up there? Master tends to sleep there a lot so it must at least be peaceful… And here I am, ruining his peaceful moment…

“Master.”

A short moment pass before I hear his voice, it's thick with sleepiness.

“What is it?”

“The second in command’s son wishes to speak with you, master.”

“Tell him I will be there is a few minutes, will you.”

“As you command, it shall be done, my master.”

I bow my head before standing up and running of in the direction of the second in command son's house. The sooner I get the message to him the sooner I can go back to training again.

Seventy-six… Seventy-seven… Seventy-eight… Sev- My counting is broken by a foot giving me a ‘push’ to my rib cage, ah and here I was almost at eighty ‘push-ups’ as master calls them. Looking up at the foot I find the owner… The second in command’s son and he is looking at me with a promise of pain…

“When you came back and said a few minutes I expected you to inform me if he was going to be more than a few minutes! I have guests waiting! Go find him you useless cowered!”

I nod and run off to the guard tower, master is normally never late to anything… I find him sitting on the roof still, his back to me, why is he not moving, did he fall asleep sitting up?

“Master?”

He is not reacting but he is mumbling to himself… Is he talking to that familiar of his? I better wait until he is done.

…

He stopped mumbling but he is still just sitting there… A hand is placed on my shoulder, I spin around and find Ashko looking at me with a nod towards master and answer him in a whisper. I shake my head I don't know what is wrong.

“Why are you here?”

He answers back in the same low voice.

“The second in command’s son is really angry that master is not at his house. He told me to go see why you had not brought master to him.”

His cheek is slightly red, I guess that the second in command’s son ‘pushed’ him too… We look at eachother for awhile before Ashko takes a deep breath. His voice is slightly higher than mine

“Master…?”

He is not reacting to Ashko's voice either… But he soon after starts to mumble to himself again, what do we do now?

“What are you two doing? The second in command’s son is really angry.”

Shagi's slightly lowered voice sounds behind us and we both spin around to find him and Theadis standing and looking at us.

“Master is just sitting there… Not reacting to us calling him at all…”

“Oh? Let me give it a try.”

He smiles and takes a deep breath before half yelling out to master.

“Mas-”

Not that he manage to say much before master’s voice makes him close his mouth faster than I have ever seen anyone do so.

“SHUT UP!!!”

Master finally turns toward us, but I now wish that he did not. He has the same look on his face as when he beat up the two young warriors who tried to sleep with me. Pure rage. His voice breaks the chatter of the town and the guards come running out of the tower looking for the source of the yelling.

Riin's POV

“SHUT UP!!!”

Master, master is that all they can say!? I'm trying to think here for fuck sake. When will they shut their traps!? They keep yapping! Can't they get a clue when I don't answer them!? Stupid little shits! I should just shut them up for go-

“What happen to your face?”

Did some peice of shit touch what's mine again? Great timing, I'm in need of a punching bag right about now. Guess I didn't get the point across last time…

“E-erm I fell, master.”

World's most lame excuse… Is that all he could come up with? Oh well, I can't be asked to care too much about that now… Why they fuck are they all just standing there? Argh, my fucking head!

“What do you want anyway?”

Wasting my time…

“The second in commands son is requesting that you come to his house as soon as you can, master.”

Ah, that's right I was on my way there when all this shit came crashing down on me…

“What does he want?”

If it's something random I'm going to fucking kill him.

“A caravan of plane travelers is waiting for master in his house.”

Plane tra- Ah! Awesome timing! They can get me back home!

“Why the hell didn't you say that as the first thing!”

Wasting my fucking time playing a thousand questions, shit. I dont have the time for this crap.

I almost kick the door in as I enter Varo’s house, shitty rotten door if you ask me. I find seven people looking rather shocked at me, what? I don't have time to waste on knocking.

“I'm here so what do you need? I'm in a bit of a hurry, I heard that you guys can travel to the mortal realm, is that true? If so I need a lift.”

Varo looks even more shocked than the rest of them, what, never heard of non-polite speech? Come on, come on, answer me you fucking greezers! Wait… They don't look that old, oh well, what's said is said. The eldest looking man of the bunch speaks up first.

“I give greetings to you as well young warrior. What seems to make you in such a hurry to return to your home plane, if you don't mind me asking?”

What the fuck is up with today and the thousand questions!?

“A slave of mine was just killed and she is together with my father who left to join up with some nobleman, I need to go see what is happening as soon as I can. Now can you get me there or not?”

They all share a look, what am I missing? Something is wrong here? The older man speaks up again.

“Do you not know child? A war has raged between the Asperd Kingdom and the Southern Lords armies for the last three years now…”

War… A war… Lark is dead and a war is going on, father left to help out the nobleman of our region… But that was only about a year and a half ago… Right?

“What do you mean with the last three years… Since I’ve come here not more than a half year has passed, at most one and a half year since I last saw him…”

Did I count the days wrong due to the constant darkness? No… Even if I counted it wrong I did not mess up with that many weeks… What the fuck is going on here? This time it is Varo who gives me a sad look. Tell me for fuck sake!

“What!?”

“Boy… The time in the twin realms passes much faster than the mortal realms time, Shadowfell’s time is estimated to pass about double the rate of your home realm… Did you not know?”

Did… I… Not… Know...? NO! I DIDN'T FUCKING KNOW ABOUT IT! SHIT! FUCKING FUCK PIECE OF FUCKING SHITTY SHIT! Think how many weeks did I spend here… Twenty.. Thirty… Thirty-eight? Yeah, that sounds about right… Fuck it… That means I have been here almost two years…

“Two years… I have been here almost two years…”

Varo looks at me with a shocked face, what the hell are you looking so shocked about, huh? Are you not the one that just got told that they spent two years in some godforsaken village in the middle of nowhere surrounded by mutated shit that wants to eat you!

“What do you mean with two years… Just how long did you spent out there before you found our young?”

Why the hell does it even matter?

“Some fourteen week, that is if I'm not all wrong about the passing of days...Why?”

“F-fourteen weeks?”

Fucking hell why does it even matter…

“It doesn't matter now anyway… So, can you or can you not get me back?”

The older man stands and walks the few steps over to me, and lays a hand on my shoulder.

“The Lady of these lands trust in you and so does her people, we came here on Elder Uwan's word child, we came to bring you home.”

Ah, home… That word sounds strange… Yet I find myself longing for it. All I can do is smile to the men standing here. The burning rage is slowly disappearing and I'm left tried.

“Thank you.”

I'm coming home, mother… I'm coming home… Father… Father, a word I used to hate and despise… Now I find that I said it too little and too late… So, this is what it was… Grief… So, this is the feeling called grief… The emptiness… The rage… The helplessness… I never told him ‘I love you, father.’ not with my feeling of the figure I knew as a father and now… Now I find that I'm too late… Too late to tell the man that it was not him I hated, that it was another… Grief… I don't like this feeling… The feeling of something trying to rip your insides out with its bare hands and it is slowly succeeding… I don't like this feeling one bit.

A light squeeze on my shoulder brings me back to the room, to the men staring at me with feelings of understanding this grief… But they don't… They don't understand that it is not the grief that is slowly killing me from the inside but the fact that I did not tell the man that I cared about him and now it is too late. For even if my life ends, I shall not cross paths with him again… While he shall walk on the white planes of the afterlife, I… I shall burn in the everlasting fires… I don't fear this… I don't fear my death that is to come, what I fear is the fact that I shall never lay eyes on that man again… Never shall I see his smile as he calls out to me…

“When do we leave?”

Ah… Even my voice is a bit horse, well it's all good as long as I don’t start to cry.

“At dawn, young one,”

“I will get my things packed up.”

Varo speaks up just as I turn to leave.

“Fear not for the death, young warrior. You shall meet again at the Queen's palace.”

I can't help but to smile, a bittersweet smile…

“No, that man and I shall not meet, not even in the afterlife, our paths are too far from each other. As far as the shadows of this place and the light of the Feywild.”

He speaks no more, for I have made my point as clear as the daylight that alludes this place.

I take my leave… I need to get away from the eyes that hold pity in them, I can't stand the sight of them feeling pity for me. I don't need their pity, what I need is for them to bring me back home… “Home…”

Ivani's sweet voice reaches me.

“Master?”

“Huh?”

I turn around and find the four of them standing in my door peeking in, they seem unsure if they should enter… Its not like them, come to think of it I did yell quite a bit at them…

“Don’t just stand there and block the door, get in here and help me pack.”

They slowly come into the room, looking around… They want to say something, they might as well be standing with a darn sign saying ‘May we please have a word.’... Brats… Ah, I find myself smiling.

“Speak up if you have something to say.”

“Master let us come with you!”

Theadis voice is as clear as the night sky. I look at them and into their eyes, they will come with me even to the unknown of my world, all I have to do is say the word.

“No. You will stay here.”

“Master!?”

The four of them speak up at once, a cry of defiance. The first to form a longer question is Shagi.

“Master, please tell us why you do not want us with you. Are we that unreliable?”

I laugh out loud at that.

“Unreliable? No, you are not. The reason is simple-”

They are staring holes in my soul, wanting to hear the answer. It seems that they have all but forgotten about the things that has happened the last few weeks…

“- You have your own war to fight in. Prove yourself in it and I shall deem you worthy to stand by my side and serve me as the lady want. But if you can't even handle the undead that roam this world don't think for one second that you can handle my world.”

They look at me with big eyes, I see shock and shame pass by… Fucking brats… No, I'm a brat as well, am I not? Yeah, this body of mine is but a child…

“Heed my command and follow!”

They hurry and kneel in a line before me, ah… that brings back memories of the first time I laid my eyes on them, heh.

“We hear and obey, Master!”

Ah, so eager they are… But who am I kidding, I'm just as eager to see that battlefield, to prove that the time spent was not a wasted time. Yes, the time to prove myself has come, wait for me… Wait just a short while.

“Go forth and slay the undead that plague your lands! Prove to all that you are my warriors! Show them my faith in your abilities to fight, your strength to stand with your head raised high on the battlefield! Only once you have slaughtered your enemy shall you be allowed back by my side! Now, go out onto the world with your heads raised high and scream at the top of your lungs that you are the rulers of the battlefields! Become my sword, become my shield, become my shadow!”

The unity of their voice rings out clear in the lightly lit room.

“As you command, we hear and obey, master!”

The last of the light slowly fades away as the day finally comes to an end, now I eagerly await the new dawn.