Chapter 51 - Deception

Antrandis ran along the bank of the river, following the trail of dead wolves and hurried footsteps. He had seen the large gryphon take off moments earlier, scattering the wolves surrounding it. He slowed his run as an incredible single span of ice bridging the river’s diversion around the town came into view. Without even seconds to marvel at what he saw before him, a blue flash of light drew his attention on the opposing bank. He could see the boy standing in the dim light.

He ran into the clearing at the riverside to the sight of Snowshadow violently dispatching a wolf before looking up. A dull, thunderous roaring was becoming more intense, drawing his eyes up he saw what seemed to be a flaming meteorite careening toward the bridge of ice and the wolves upon it. Quickly sheathing his sword, he reached Snowshadow’s side near the tree line as she looked up at him.

“Incredible.” she said in the split second before the bridge and wolves exploded under the force of the monstrous fireball.

Antrandis held his arm up, deflecting some rogue pieces of falling ice and other debris with a faint smile on his lips. He shook his head as he met Snowshadow’s eyes.

“The boy wields fire, somehow he is replenishing himself. The girl…” she said.

“She is ice, but she can’t do the same.” he finished, shaking his head.

“Yes, evidently.” Snowshadow took in the scene before them, a few injured and disoriented black wolves walked in a daze nearby the remains of the bridge.

She watched Antrandis unsheathe his sword and advance on the remaining wolves, “The girl was bitten, my love.” she said hesitantly, “Should I follow?”

Antrandis’s step faltered, he looked at her, “Follow them, I have a quick matter to address…”

“Xiana, a quick matter? I heard. If she brought that bastard here along with her, I will...” a growl in both her thoughts and out loud.

He nodded, keeping eye contact with Snowshadow. The snarl of a wolf came from behind him.

He smiled, “Go, but return if they take to the air.”

She gave a nod and immediately exploded into motion, running at speed past the remaining wolves to the edge of the water and launching herself, her large tail balancing her leap as she literally flew through the air. She comfortably reached the opposing bank more than twenty yards away, alighting on the sand softly before shooting into the forest at speed without missing a step.

Turning from the sight, Antrandis looked to the nearest wolf and mercilessly beheaded it in one swift strike. A savage guttural snarl came from the forest, Xiana emerged aggressively from the underbrush as a dire wolf and tore into the nearest diseased. Ripping out its throat before moving methodically onto the next. Within moments the remaining half a dozen were dispatched, either by teeth or Antrandis’s blade. She looked at him, baring her fangs for a moment. Antrandis shook his head, listening carefully.

When he and Xiana had routed the remaining diseased back at the waterwheel, the sight of the gryphon tearing through the diseased ranks had been enough to make he and Xiana halt their advance in appreciation. It then had left, as if it had been called and their next few moments had been clearing the remainders as Snowshadow breasted her way though, trying to keep up with the gryphon’s flight to the children.

Satisfied that there were no remaining stragglers, he walked to the edge of the river. A glint in the sand caught his eye, crouching he picked up the small glass vial. Bringing it to his nose, he breathed in, the clean and pleasant scent toying with him.

“Rosewater?” he said under his breath.

Xiana laughed harshly, “Back at the square it is all over the place. Cinders and rosewater. The scent of a woman, not a child.” she came in close to his side, barely a whisper as she slowly slid a dagger from her belt, “He is listening. Far bank.”

Without warning she exploded into motion, making a grab for the back of his neck, dagger raised to strike. Her hand met empty air, Antrandis letting his leg fold under him, rolling under her grasp and kicking out with his left foot, knocking her backwards at a sprawl. Standing, he advanced, unbuckling his belt and throwing the scabbarded sword to the side.

“You couldn’t resist, could you?” he said menacingly as he wrapped his hand and forearm with the belt.

Xiana laughed, “You show your back to me like that? What do you expect?” ducking and slipping out of reach as Antrandis came in fast, striking.

“You even threw your sword down; you don’t consider me a threat?” she said, closing fast and stabbing with her dagger.

Antrandis blocked, but not before she landed her blade on his upper leg, cutting though his breeches and slicing his thigh, drawing blood. Antrandis grimaced, glaring at her as she danced out of reach, testing his leg before changing stance.

“I am insulted.” she said, tasting his blood from her blade, her eyebrow raised suggestively.

Suddenly he closed the distance, within her reach, her dagger sent flying with a vicious slap to her hand. Her momentum halted, she tried to turn, his hand gripped vice-like around her wrist and twisting. She screamed out, turning with his twist, else her arm would be broken. He quickly planted his knee into the back of her calf, dropping her to her knees before using the momentum to push her face down to the sand, pinning her and securing her other arm.

She gasped, the breath knocked out of her. His knee on the small of her back as he bound her wrists with his belt. Suddenly she was wrenched off the ground. Struggling to catch her breath and spitting curses as he pushed her along. She attempted to drop into a roll to find he had anticipated it, twisting the binding, drawing a scream from her.

“Shut up or I will bind your mouth too.” he said roughly.

She twisted in his grip, getting her eyes on him, “At least I got a taste of you again.”

“That’s all you’ll ever get, Xiana. A drop of blood here and there, nothing more.” he said calmly before twisting the binding again, causing her to let out another scream.

“Gods, you are sadistic.” she whimpered.

“I know you like it, Xiana.” he said, leaning close to her ear.

“Fuck you!” she spat.

He bent and retrieved her dagger from the sand, showing her.

“You wouldn’t use my own blade against me?” she said with panic in her eyes and in her voice.

“Groumangand, why is he here?” he asked calmly, letting her feel the steel against her side, under her ribs.

She flinched, reflexively trying to distance herself from the edge.

“Groumangand? Speak!” Antrandis said more forcefully.

She looked fearfully into his eyes, “He must have been tailing me since I left Dekkarsmann, I don’t know why. He just saw an opportunity, sudden power, a dragon falling out of the sky, the scent of two children.” she said with a sharp cry.

“He is not here with you?” he asked forcefully.

She laughed involuntarily, “Cruel, cruel boy, ‘Randis, everyone has their limits. You are insulting mine.” she replied as she attempted to struggle, letting out a small cry as she felt him tightening his grip on the belt.

He leaned in, restricting her movements further, “I never knew you actually had limits, Xiana.” he said, his voice close and in her ear.

Sudden laughter cackled from across the river, loud and raucous. Both Antrandis and Xiana looked to the sound. The laughter continued until it died out.

A rough voice, akin to the cawing of crows, burst out, “You speak of limits! How rich! Limits you ignore when it pleases you.” again more laughter.

The jade webbing in Xiana’s eyes flared as she yelled out across the river, “You killed Celes, you prick!”

A dark chuckle just broke over the sound of the flowing water, “No, I believe you did, I heard your words loud and clear through her very ears. What were your words again?” Groumangand shouted out, “Oh yes, ‘Goodbye Celes.’, goodbye…” he said mimicking Xiana’s voice.

Xiana struggled, pulling Antrandis forward a little, screaming angrily, “You bastard! I swear, if I so much as smell you in Dekkersmann again I will hunt you down and gut your worthless ass!”

“Only if you can catch me, wolf-bitch. So much fuss over a pet. It is touching, it almost brings a tear to my eye!” again his terrible laughter pealed out over the river.

Xiana struggled, shooting Antrandis a panicked look. He gave a sharp shake of his head.

“Ahh, Antrandis! I can taste her you know. That young flesh, the power! I just watched her and the boy run right past me, close enough to touch, they did not seem to be in a good state! Every moment you speak to me you are wasting time, time, time for her to be mine.” Groumangand giggled to himself indulgently.

Antrandis tilted his head slightly, listening carefully, his lips twisting into a slight smile, resisting the urge to answer.

“Ahhhh… I wish you the best in finding that tasty morsel, fuck boy of the gods. But since you have captured the wolf-bitch, my paid service in tailing her has concluded. It is too dangerous for me to stay here. Even I know she is nothing more than a catch and release, even your esteemed presence can’t hold her for long. Her Daddy won’t be happy. Daddy won’t be happy!” he let out with a short laugh, amused in himself before an uncomfortable silence reigned.

“No words? Speak, fuck boy! Speak!” Groumangand’s voice growing angry as he continued to shout in frustration, “Speak!”

Xiana twisted in Antrandis’s grip as Groumangand’s anger at his silence played out across the river. She saw the smile growing on his face as the bastard continued to rage. Her eyes widened, realising he was listening for something, his eyes following movement over the trees. She quickly turned, just making out a sharp whistling in the distance.

“What is that?” she asked quietly.

“Listen.” he said.

Focusing on the whistling, it grew louder until it turned into a shriek that rang out, culminating in a crashing and snapping of branches then a dull thud in the forest beyond the river. Groumangand’s taunting and rage grew silent.

“Oh, fuck! No, no!” came his sudden panicked screams.

Sounds of something crashing through the forest, then some more of his panicked screams rang out. Xiana looked to Antrandis in concern.

“Stay back, you fucked, winged bitch. Fuck, fuck, stay back!” Groumangand yelled.

The sounds of shattering timber and sudden repeated cracking thuds and grunts. Suddenly a blood-curdling shriek of pain reached them, followed by crashing through the forest, along with cries and pained whimpering. Suddenly a flash of crimson light shone through the trees and the sound of tearing air along with a roar and then the vacuum of silence.

Antrandis breathed out, “He teleported. The slippery bastard got away again.”

Xiana glanced at him curiously, feeling him release his hold on her bindings, “Winged bitch?”

Antrandis nodded as Winter emerged from the forest, standing on the opposing shore, her features still aggressive in the form of the valkyrie. Holding something in her hand, she jumped and with a few rapid flaps of her wings she cleared the river and landed in front of Antrandis. Her eyes on Xiana, wary.

“Is she with or against us?” Winter asked bluntly.

“With, for now.” replied Antrandis as he looked at what she held before meeting her eyes again.

She shrugged, “He called me a winged bitch.” she said, dropping a bloody hand and forearm on the ground at their feet.

Winter glanced at Xiana before she inspected her inner arm. Groumangand’s black rot was advancing up her arm from a bite mark. Xiana watched Winter calmly remove a tooth from the jagged tear, crushing it between her fingers, her eyes started glowing from within. She gave Antrandis a disappointed look.

“Too many trees. Else I would have taken more, much more.” she commented.

Xiana watched on in fascination as the black rot reversed its momentum, finally the cut closing up of its own accord. Winter paid it no heed.

“I heard rumours, but, I.” said Xiana as she looked at Antrandis.

Winter met her eyes, “Rumours they will stay Xiana Mataskiere, Dark Empress of Dekkarsmann. Daughter of Telios, god of truth and lies.” her voice loaded with a threat.

She immediately looked back to Antrandis, “I saw the gryphon land nearby, the caves in the mountainside.” she said as she pointed to the rising valley on the other side of the river, “It is not far.”

Antrandis concentrated, “Snowshadow is still following, and the girl has been bitten.”

Winter nodded slowly.

“You said you could reverse it?” Antrandis looked at Xiana.

Xiana’s eye twitched, feeling his eyes scrutinising her, “I came here seeking an audience, if I heal the girl, you will hear me out?”

“You have my word. You save her, I will hear what you have to say.” said Antrandis.

Xiana nodded, “I can reverse it, save her even, if you find her quickly. When the moon sets, the time is up, Antrandis. Anything past midnight, she may have lingering effects. It could even be sooner.”

Antrandis looked to Winter, she nodded, immediately moving a few steps and taking to the air in a sharp flurry of wings.

Xiana watched Winter’s flight, “If I do this, will you take me seriously?” she asked quietly.

Antrandis shifted behind her, taking her bound wrists, “I always take you seriously. If I didn’t there would be one of your daggers in my back.” he said.

She closed her eyes, tilting her head slightly, shivering as he undid the belt binding her wrists, feeling the tingle of blood rushing to her fingertips.

She sighed involuntarily, “By the gods, ‘Randis. I could do that with you all day. If ever?” she said, her voice low, turning to look at him.

“No.” he said dismissively.

She shrugged, watching his movements, “No harm in asking.” she said, rubbing her wrists, “Thank you.”

He glanced at her, “Don’t thank me yet.”

Shadow of the Eclipse: Chapter Timeline

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