“Have you heard the news?”

Alec looked up from his broth at Quir, the youngest of their squad. “What news?”

“People are talking some Ele-something is the cause of everything! He’s the man to blame!”

“Ele..?” he asked as he took a couple mouthfuls. No one in the camp was called that… “Wait, you can’t possibly mean Elecar!”

The boy’s face lit up with joy. “Yes, yes, that’s the name! I heard he’s the one that destroyed everything! Isn’t it amazing how a single person could do it?”

“Don’t!” Alec roared. “Don’t you dare spread such sick notions! Who told you that?”

His loud voice brought a tremble to Quir’s lips, his head falling to his chest. Other people in the canteen glared at Alec for disruption, and he settled back in his chair.

“I’m sorry, Quir… I shouldn’t have shouted.”

“It’s- it’s okay. I heard it from Mala and her group as they discussed Elder’s sickness. He hasn’t left his room since yesterday morning, just sitting and, and mumbling to himself about how this can’t be.”

“Because it can’t!” Alec said with more force in his voice than he planned to. The thought itself was just so absurd.

Elecar was a hero like no other. Master duellist, soldier that never lost a single battle he was part of, councilman who managed to avert hundreds of disasters. It was only because of him that Alec was even alive.

His father was very fond of telling him the tale before going to sleep. It was about a shoemaker that was doing well for himself, too well for someone’s standards. One of the noble houses decided to buy his shop off, and when he didn’t agree they sent thugs with their insignia to make him see reason.

Those disgusting people dragged his mother, pregnant with him at the time, outside and started beating her as father was held up to see it. He screamed and shouted, pleaded but they laughed while the passerbies quickly scurried away. Not one of them looked back or hesitated for a second.

Then a man in a noble’s attire rushed out of one of the intercepting streets. He had no sword but a long dagger and used it to send the men crashing. Three around his mother fell before even being to understand what happened.

The leader of the brigand’s by then ran to father, putting a sword by his neck. He threatened to kill him if the noble made another step. Father screamed at the man to take his wife and run away, but he didn’t listen.

Instead the noble sent his dagger flying, straight at the bandit leader’s head. He died without making another sound, and while his remaining subordinates stared stunned the stranger punched them into unconsciousness. In less than a couple minutes the noble was the only one standing with six bodies, four of them dead, strewn around him.

He then proceeded to examine his mother and with father’s approval brought her to his friend’s hospital where she was instantly treated by both shaping and herbal tinctures. It was an honour reserved only for the richest but neither the noble, nor the healer seemed to care about his family’s dirty appearances.

To his father’s shock, his mother went into labour at the time. He thought something had went horribly wrong but the noble calmed him down, saying everything will be all right. If anyone could save his wife and child, then it was the man in the next room. There didn’t exist a more skilled healer in the world.

It was hard to believe with the man treating commoners like them but his father could do nothing but believe in those words. He didn’t dare to return to his home and look for money to pay for a healer in the city. What if more bandit’s had been sent to look for him?

Screams drove him mad but soon he was invited to hold a babe in his arms. Father was never ashamed to say he cried then, and then more than he saw his wife smiling at him with so much joy, her tired eyes resting on their newborn.

When the two fell asleep, father fell on his knees before the healer since the noble had left, and promised anything he had or would have for what they had done for his family. The healer told him to stand up and forget about it, go to his wife and rest. It was nothing much so he should calm down and stay here for a week or two.

He’d asked about the noble, but was told he’d left for some business and wouldn’t be able to return for a while.

It happened almost two weeks later and his father was told he could return home, no one was after him any longer. His father had questioned more, not able to understand how could that be true and the man said he was part of the commoner council. It had little power but he managed to pull some strings, shifting the noble’s view on the shoemaker.

This meant his father would have to work for the man that had sent bandit’s to beat his pregnant wife but he would be safe. No one would come after him as long as he was under that noble’s protection, and the contract the councilman had gotten for him was a very generous one. It would be no problem surviving and even saving up some for his son’s education.

His father had been considering places to run away to, so the deal caught him off-guard. He didn’t know how to thank the councilman for all that he had done for his family. But the man even looked annoyed at the mere mention of payment. He said that he wasn’t doing this for any reward. He’d become a councilman because he wanted to have the power to help those in need, and that was exactly what he’d done.

There was no need for any payment.

So, his father had asked only for one thing, their names and being allowed to spread the tale. The councilman shook his head at such a request but said his friend was called Kallum and he Elecar. It was a name known by his father, there were many rumours about the man actually working to aid the commoners but he’d never believed them before. It sounded too preposterous, like someone’s wish fulfilment.

But now he knew better, and would be able to tell others about it. This city had its own guardian. His child would live in a place where someone cared whether he lived or died.

Alec had grown up with this tale, and promised his father to become like that man, Elecar. His dreams were thwarted when he found out only nobles could become soldiers but he’d never never forgotten it. Elecar’s shadow always gave him hope, and pushed him forward when things seemed too horrible to be able to move.

And someone was saying that such a person had schemed to destroy the world? They were mad. It was impossible. Besides, Elecar would have had been in his nineties by now. How could an old man like that even destroy the world?

Someone had to be jealous, and wanted to foul Elecar’s legend now that he was no longer here to defend himself.

“Do you know who spread this nonsense?” he asked the cowering boy before him. His expression must have been pretty severe and he tried to relax it back to normal.

Quir hesitated before answering, his big eyes catching Alec’s. “They said it was the shaper! That’s why everyone believes it!”

“The… the shaper?”

It was worse than he could have believed. Why would a shaper want to ruin the legend? It had nothing to do with him! Elecar was the hero of the commoners!

“He said he saw it all happen…”

“Ah! He must be mistaken then!” said Alec with relief washing over his features. “With all that happened, he must have seen wrong! I heard the destruction hit the shapers really hard! Even the Mistress was affected!”

“Really?” the boy asked with interest.

“It was something about the Energy currents, power that is used by the shapers. Commander had said something had went wrong with those currents and that’s why everything happened. The shaper must be mistaken!”

“For sure! Commander knows it all! I’ll go tell everyone now!”

“Yeah, do it,” Alec encouraged him with a pained smile. He could have said Commander told him the world was destroyed by evil squirrels and everyone would believe it. Their trust in him was so unmovable, his insides retched every time he saw it.

It was hard to finish eating the cold broth with his stomach in revolt but he forced himself. There wouldn’t be anything till the evening and that was far away from now.

Eating slowly, he saw his worst nightmare entering the canteen.

Commander pushed through the doors, his large form taking up all the space. He looked over the people eating breakfast, his eyes landing straight on Alec. “Collect everyone.”

Another expedition.

It was way too soon. If this continued, he was certain their health would quickly start deteriorating. No matter how young and resistant they were, being exposed to sun so often, heat frying their heads simply couldn’t be good.

He stood up from his seat and ordered the crowd, “Soldiers, prepare for leaving. Find everyone and be in place five minutes from now!” His squad mates quickly saluted and ran away to get the few remaining parts of their armour, gauntlets and helmets they had left behind.

His own were at his side, and he put them on without eagerness. Heat assailed him in an instant, but this was only the beginning. The day hadn’t even started yet.

Outside he went towards the southern gates, Grey and Commander were already waiting for everyone. Others joined in moments, their breaths ragged but eyes shining with excitement. None of them minded the heat spells, Commander having said it was nothing, curse of the weak. Once they got strong enough, sun would have no effect on them just like on him.

“Everyone is here, we can depart, Commander,” Alec said in a deadpan voice, body straight as an arrow.

“Where’s the other girl?” he asked with a glare encompassing all the squad. “I clearly remember there being two of them.”

“De- Denni is busy!” Lyra squeaked out, not daring to raise her head to face the Commander. It was something the man liked, it stroked his ego but the words had been chosen wrong. Alec knew a storm was coming and had no power to stop it.

Commander exploded the next moment. His eyes bulged out as he roared at the girl twice smaller than him. “What did you say? I didn’t give her a leave of absence! Get her to me! Now!”

“Right this moment!” Alec interjected before Lyra could say anything more. The girl might be a fearful one but her instincts of preservation turned off the moment her friends were threatened. “I’ll be right back!”

He ran to where Denni was, ignoring the exhaustion mounting up. Commander couldn’t be left simmering in his fury for long or something horrible would happen. Not once had he pushed him over the edge, and this better won’t be the time either.

The girl was by Shea’s place as expected. He grabbed her by the hand, and dragged her to the meeting place without any explanation. Her annoyance was quickly exchanged with a mellow look as it met with the thunder in Commander’s eyes.

Without even knowing what she’d done wrong, she fell on her knees and apologised profusely.

“I’m so sorry! It was a mistake! Commander, please forgive me! I will never do it again. Please!”

Commander watched her for some time before ordering her to stand up. “That’s why I said we don’t need any woman in our squad. They’re nothing but useless baggage! Get up and should I never hear about you being ‘busy’!”

“Yes, Commander!” she answered with a salute, helmet hiding the tears in her eyes, but they were evident from her voice.

They set out at a steady pace, Commander in the front and Alec bringing up the rear. He was quite far back but could still hear his squad members getting admonished for not wearing their armour properly, or having some parts loose even if it was for ventilation.None of that mattered to Commander, he just wanted to see himself at the forefront of an armed force.

Today’s sun wasn’t as bad as at some days and they went further than usual before people started falling. Commander shouted, roared while pointing fingers but that did little to keep his squad on their feet. The heat was just too much for wearing heavy armour.

It took them way past midday to reach the designed houses. There were a couple of them so at lest some kind of loot was guaranteed.

Commander didn’t give them a moment’s rest and ordered to start looking. The process was a slow one, everyone separating into groups of two to scavenge each part of the first house. Like always, Quir came to join Alec and together they went towards the second floor.

The house itself was in good condition, few of the walls cracked or fallen over. Most of the furniture was filled with sand and dust, but mostly intact. Destruction must have went around this house. There were some cases of that happening but no one in the camp could explain why. What did those houses or people do to be saved? Was it mere luck or some divine judgement?

Whatever it was, it saved a lot of things. They should be able to collect a lot of pretty things for the Mistress, being able to leave the other houses for another expedition. It was worrisome that each time they had to go farther and farther from the city. Soon there would come a day when they couldn’t reach anything in a whole day.

“Look, there’s a chest there!” Quir exclaimed, dashing towards the other side of the room. Floor creaked under his steps but nothing gave way.

Alec approached him at a slowed pace, watching as the boy took out his sword to bat away the lock. Metal clang against metal as it resisted but Quir wasn’t one to give up. He hit and hit until he was the one victorious in the end.

Opening the chest, his expression faltered. “It’s nothing but dresses! Just dresses!”

He reached to shuffle through it, look deeper in but Alec caught his arm. “Don’t. Better bring Commander here.”

The boy nodded and ran off to find the older man. In the meantime, Alec searched the rest of the room but found nothing of use. Some trinkets, old paintings, jewels and a box of glass beads.

When Commander came he took out one dress, looked at it for some time and ordered them to take the chest out, they will be carrying it back to the city. Alec’s eyes glazed at the stupidity of it but his mouth stayed shut. If he got himself killed, his squad won’t survive much longer with their idealism.

Others returned from their searches, carrying various items of convenience. Grey had apparently found some food but it was half rotten so Commander didn’t allow to take any of it. Everything was going to be for the Mistress and she didn’t need such foul food. He was enraged for having even been called for that.

As they were packing everything for the journey, voices sounded from further away. Alec signalled for his squad to seize what they were doing and carefully they moved around the house.

Out in the distance, Scavengers argued at the farthest house’s entrance. It was impossible to understand their words but it most likely had to do with what to take back. One person was rummaging through a taken out chest, separating items into different piles while two kept picking things out and shouting at each other over them.

The remaining five, ignoring the argument, watched their surroundings. They were positioned to oversee all directions so approaching them without being noticed was impossible.

Not that there was a need for that. Alec was glad they had already collected more than they could carry. Otherwise, he was certain Commander would have ordered an attack.

“Let’s go men!” the person in question shouted out, holstering his great sword in the air. “We shall protect our territory from those scum!”

Alec’s heart skipped a beat at the proclamation. “But Commander,” he dared to venture, “we have enough items right now.”

“Ha! Don’t be such a pussy! Those scum have invaded our home turf and must be eradicated! Do you want your home to be populated by trash like them?” Commander boomed right by Alec’s ear.

His answer to that was that he didn’t really mind but that great sword was but a swing away from his neck so he shook his head in silent defeat. Another battle, another unnecessary danger. At times, he thought Commander was doing this just to get rid of them, but that wasn’t it. The man would have no qualms of killing them all himself if he decided to do it. He was just that kind of person.

“Attack!” Commander yelled and the squad answered with wild screaming.

They hefted their weapons, starting to run without any plan. It pained Alec to see them so disorderly but that was nothing new. Commander didn’t care for their survival, just appearances and as long as Commander didn’t tell them, his squad didn’t do anything. Making them practise swordsmanship every other evening was already a challenge.

The impact should have held most of the damage but with their mistimed rush, giving plenty of times for the Scavengers to react, it was his squad that suffered. Quir stumbled upon his own armour too large for him and fell midway to the enemies. Others reached the destination but lost their weapons in the first few exchanges.

Only him, Denni and Grey were what kept their friends from being killed. Them and the Commander who had went in like a hurricane. His great sword flashed at speeds that should have been impossible with such a heavy weapon, Scavengers falling before it like leaves.

They had average skills with their swords and axes but that was the same as nothing compared to Commander. He went through them all in moments, not one left standing as soon as he closed in. All Alec and his squad had to do was not get in the way of that monstrous skill.

When all were dead, Alec turned away from the ten bodies. “Let’s go!” he ordered his squad, helping those on the ground to stand. None had anything worse than shallow cuts or bruises so they could make a quick retreat to where they had left their findings.

“Running away again?” Commander cackled, the great sword hefted over his neck. It made him look like some unstoppable hero from a fairytale but Alec couldn’t help but feel it wasn’t smart. Not once had he seen the passing soldiers in the capital doing something like this.

He didn’t answer, ushering his squad to move faster. Now the true nightmare will begin.

There was no need to turn around to know what was happening behind. Bones crunched as skin gave way and everything shattered to pieces. Commander loved to ensure no one pretended to be dead. By the time he was finished, you couldn’t tell the corpses apart. Worse, you couldn’t even figure out which piece belonged to which body and how many of them had been in the first place.

Blood and intestines scattered all over the ground.

Alec had had the misfortune of seeing it up-close once. The sight of human flesh flying in all directions would haunt him forever.

Midway they picked up Quir and then took up their bags. It would be a long trek home and they better start it as soon as possible. Sun was moving towards meeting the horizon and taking away their light.

“Commander is so cool!” Tyr whispered, watching longingly at where they had left the older man. His twisting silhouette could still be seen from their position. “I wish I could be like him!”

“Ha, have you forgotten puking your guts out last time we were out?” Denni mocked him.

“It was unexpected! I wasn’t ready for a hand to come flying straight at my face!”

Alec ignored their bickering, hoping this was all that it would remain. Only Denni and Lyra were closing in on their twenties.The rest of his charges were barely adults with fifteen years under their belt, Quir being even younger. He knew some might follow in Commander’s footsteps and that scared him more than anything else.

It would tear this group apart but worst of all, he’d have to see them abandon their humanity. No sane person could go and hack already dead corpses for entertainment. And that’s all it was to the Commander. Ensuring death was just an easy excuse.

Not a chance he thought a second about it, else why hack the corpses into such little pieces.

The trek back would have been uneventful had Hugh kept his mouth shut. When they were nearing the city, he stopped in his path, getting close to Denni. “How is your shaper girl doing? Is she waki-”

Alec dashed to shut him up but the damage was done. Commander rounded on them, eyes blazing. “How did you call the Mistress?”

The boy shrivelled under his gaze, face becoming paler than paper. “No, no!” Tyr exclaimed, ever eager to show off. “Those two we brought back last time!The girl is a shaper!”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes! Yes! We’ve seen her do it!”

Commander laughed, his smile brightening up. “Ha, it all adds up then. That shitty brat was protecting his mistress. No wonder, he was acting so brave.” He then turned to Alec with a gleam in his eyes, “I maybe should raise him up to squad leader for such heroics. What do you think?”

This time no one dared to say that Iago was a shaper too. The girl was one thing with her open nature and smiles compared to Commander. There was no competition who the squad was more afraid to anger but it was a whole different matter with Iago.

He might not have threatened them and shaped the food, but unlike the girl, he felt like a true shaper. There was a wordless distance between him and everyone else that no one could pass through. One look was enough to know he wasn’t someone to be trifled with. Where Commander could beat one to death, a fate of angering a shaper was ten times worse. Even your mortal enemy would weep upon seeing what has been done to you.

“If that is what you choose,” Alec said, lowering his head in acknowledgement. “Should I call upon him once we reach the city?”

“Bah! You’re no fun!” Commander complained, hitting Alec’s chest with the back of his hand.

It made the squad leader stagger but he managed to keep his position. He kept his expression neutral as his heart kept apologising to Iago. Sorry, he was so sorry for all of this. He hadn’t managed to protect the girl. Now she would be sent to the Mistress and corrupted until there was nothing of her old self left.

Mistress would make sure the girl understood the truth of being a shaper.

This might have been a fate awaiting Shea but she had different concerns upon waking up. Her throat was so dry, it was like the desert itself. Not a drop of life saving liquid for decades. Every breath tortured her throat, not even considering making a sound.

Opening her eyes, she saw a table not two paces from her with a plate and a decanter on it. She was certain it would contain water to soothe her parched throat but first there was getting to it. Each and every muscle in her body screamed the moment she tried to move them.

Untangling her limbs was a torture of its own. How long has she been sitting in this cross-legged position? It could have been a day or a week, there was no way to tell by the stray rays of setting sun.

She pushed herself off the ground, and half-crawled, half-dragged herself to the low table. Her hands shook as she brought the decanter to her lips, splashing water all over her tunic. Some of it went to appease her throat.

After more than half the liquid was gone, she let the decanter slide down from her fingers. It hit the ground with a thunk but did not break. She stared at it for a moment, then closed her eyes and curled into a ball on the ground. It was too tiresome to think.

Scorpius watched her deeply breathing form for a bit before deciding to leave. He saw her get up and that was something new. Prior to this, as far as he knew she hadn’t moved a hair from her position. It might mean that the test has been survived.

It was better to let Iago know about this. He would know what that meant and if there was a need for worry. She had collapsed so quickly after awaking, not even taking the food prepared for her.

While flying to the tower, he heard noises coming from the south. Armour clanking and so many youthful voices that had to be the young soldiers. It was hardly worth a check, but he went to see them nonetheless. You never knew what one might find in the least likely places.

None of them posed him any danger but he made sure to stay out of sight. So many collapsed houses was like a play field for him. Hide in a hole watching them pass by, then crawl to a drop and start flying again. Look through that opening while passing through that tunnel to reach another great hiding spot.

They’d reached the noble houses before Scorpius had even realised. He’d been so focused to keeping himself hidden that he’d forgotten to pay attention to his surroundings. This was much closer to the shaper woman living there than he would have ever liked to be.

But since he was already here, and the soldiers were waiting for her to appear, he might as well wait to see this woman. Curiosity might have been part of the reason but he told himself it was all for being a better help to Iago. Now he would be able to judge who their adversary was.

Not that she should be one. He wondered why Iago didn’t want to meet her so much but couldn’t figure out a reason. The man was a shaper, quite a great one but didn’t want to do anything with his kind. Even his interactions with Shea never went in that direction. Scorpius couldn’t remember hearing them talk about it once, not counting their last conversation.

And even then, his words were forced rather than coming freely. It hadn’t seen so at the time, but the more he thought about it, the more sense it made. There was something going on with Iago and shaping. His talent at it coupled with his secrecy, lack of any interest to be around his kind pointed only in that direction.

What did that mean to Scorpius?

He folded the wings around himself, closing his eyes for a moment. It meant nothing. Iago was still his saviour and the only person that would mind him dying. Whatever secrets he held mattered not. He would share them when the time came, or not. It was unnecessary.

Their relationship - could he really call it friendship already? - wasn’t based on truth, or any other lofty ideals. He knew Iago was single in his acceptance and open heart, and that was that. This was the only thing that held any significance.

“Is this all you brought back?” came a familiar voice from down below and Scorpius focused his eyes on the woman that had left the mansion.

She was flanked by three servants, one holding an umbrella over her head while the other two stood with their heads down a step behind. This ensemble gave a fitting background to the woman in their midst.

Dressed in a wine red dress, a shawl in a lighter shade on her shoulders, she stood like a queen among peasants. Every minuscule movement of her body was calculated and refined; haughty. It was exactly like a person that would order a nosferatu massacre and then continue eating lunch while chuckling about the new dress style in the court.

He’d seen people like that but never to this extent. This woman reached the heights of aristocratic splendour and didn’t seem to even be trying.

“Yes, Mistress,” Commander said, falling on one knee and the rest of the soldiers following suit.

One almost fell over, barely catching himself on his hands. The woman sent him a contemptuous look, her lip curling into a mocking smile. “Your soldiers are as splendid as ever, I see.”

Commander didn’t react to the taunt, only lowering his head in recognition. “Mistress, there has been word of a young shaper girl having joined the camp. Would you want to meet her?”

At this news the woman’s eyebrows rose a fraction. “Shaper girl you say? I shall wait for her in the garden. You are all dismissed.” That said, she turned away and left with her entourage in tow.

The soldiers knelt until she was out of sight and then jumped to action. Apparently, that command was of utmost importance judging by how they all ran off without a word said. Only Commander stayed back, following his soldiers with a glare.

His anger was mostly focused on the unfortunate soul who had caused him embarrassment before the Mistress. The more he thought about it, the harder his hand clenched the sword’s handle.

Scorpius felt sorry for the soul at whom this storm was aimed at but it was none of his business. He crawled out of his space and flew as fast as he could towards the workplace. Today, as yesterday Iago had left to aid the survivors with cleaning out the temple.

A bat flying around there would be quite auspicious so Scorpius made sure to keep to the shadows and listen for any sounds. Soon, he got close to the building but there were around ten people milling around. There was no way he could get any closer without being noticed.

From the house over, he could see Iago entering and leaving the house but not once did he look up. It was no surprise with him being human, or at least not having augmented senses like those of shape changers.

Thinking it over, Scorpius resorted to the only tactic he could think of. He shifted into his human form and pulling a hair from his head, wrapped it around a stone. It was small enough to be easy to throw but large enough to be easily noticed.

Once Iago had left the house and dropped the stone into the cart, he threw it at this feet. The man jumped back on instinct, his eyes ignoring the stone and staring straight in the direction where Scorpius was hiding.

“Evic, I’ll take a break now!” he shouted out to one of the largest men Scorpius had seen and then trudged away.

His steps weren’t hurried and it was awhile before Scorpius dared to show himself, certain that no one was close enough to oversee them. “I’m sorry. I di-”

“It’s fine. I’m just a bit jumpy,” Iago said, waving it off and sitting down on a fallen boulder. “So, what happened?”

“Shea woke up and…”

“And?” Iago prompted him, not showing any emotions on his face. He sat as calm as if Scorpius had said it was going to be hot tomorrow. “It isn’t all you wanted to say, is it?”

Scorpius shook his head. “The soldiers told the Mistress about her, and she wants to meet the girl now. Everyone rushed off to bring Shea to the mansion.”

“I guess it was inevitable,” Iago murmured, brushing sweat off his forehead. “Someone had to survive, and try to bring the old world back.”

The words were somewhat confusing but Scorpius thought he got the gist of it. “I heard before her being called Winteridge. Have you…” He let his voice fade away as a look of pure terror flashed through the shaper’s eyes.

Iago sprung up, grabbing Scorpius by the scarf to drag him closer. “What did you say her last name was?”

“Win- Winteridge!” he answered with a quiver to his voice. This was the first time he’d seen the man like this.

His eyes had widened, pupils dilated as his breathing grew heavier with each intake. After hearing the surname, he released Scorpius and turned away, shaking all over. Hands clenched into fists as he murmured words too quiet for even nosferatu to make out.

Blood dripped from his palms but the man didn’t seem to notice.

“Iago..?” Scorpius asked tentatively, uncertain whether he should leave or stay here. Instincts screamed for him to run since all people in a rage lashed out at his kind, but he held those thoughts in. This man was not like all, or that’s what he was trying to tell himself now.

Reality was interfering with his internal image.

Then the shaper twisted around, taking giant steps towards Scorpius. “Lead me there! I need to see that so called ‘Mistress’ myself.”

*****

Author's Note:

Thanks for reading. Comments, opinions, suggestions and reviews are very welcome!