Fairyfly - 18. The Bronze Dagger

“Are you two alright?” the elderly healer asked, looking questioningly at Olivia and her brother sitting close together.

The boy was still clutching his sister’s hand, refusing to let go. He had relaxed a bit, but was still looking curiously at the two strange men, wondering who exactly they were and where they came from.

“We’ll be alright, so long as we’re together,” Olivia replied, hugging her brother tightly. “I can’t thank you enough for helping me, I don’t even know where to begin. You travelled all this way just to save Tristan and me. Thank you so much… And when you meet with Prince Terryn and Huck again, please let them know how grateful we are.”

“I’m certain you’ll see each other again. At least that is what Terryn is planning,” Esthor said with an enigmatic smile. “However, I must admit our reasons for coming here were not entirely altruistic.”

“Oh?”

“You see, I was hoping you would perhaps be willing to help me with something that is very important to me.”

“If I can help you, I will,” Olivia said with no hesitation.

Had Esthor and Pepin not intervened, Tristan would likely be a prisoner again, or maybe even dead. Therefore, there was no room for doubt in her mind. If she needed to use her skills to aid the man who saved her brother, she would gladly do it.

“I don’t know how much you’ve heard, but King Norius is responsible for… ahem, my current condition.”

“Yes, I know,” Olivia nodded, frowning at the memory of the king who held her locked up in his dungeon for weeks.

“Well, I have found a way to restore my sight, but for that I need the weapon that was used to blind me – the king’s bronze dagger. I was hoping you’d be come back with us to the capital and sneak into the castle to steal it. I know it’s risky and…”

“There’s no need for that,” Olivia said with a smirk that no one was able to decipher.

“What do you mean?” Esthor asked.

“I’ll be right back,” the Shade chirped, getting up from the couch and going out into the hallway. The small ornate dagger lay on the wooden floor next to the staircase, still wet from the ice statues that melted merely minutes ago. “I hope this is the one you’re looking for,” she said as she returned to the room and placed the dagger carefully in Esthor’s hand.

With his mouth agape, the sorcerer moved his fingers slowly across the blade’s handle. He could hardly believe his fortune! There he was, fully prepared to fight whoever he had to just to get to the coveted weapon, when it just fell into his lap.

“Does it have the crest of Alduin on the handle?” he asked.

“Yes,” Pepin and Olivia answered in unison.

“That’s it, that’s the one!” the sorcerer exclaimed happily.

“Now you’ll be able to see again?” Tristan asked curiously, seeming as excited as Esthor.

“Yes,” Esthor nodded, his bright smile not leaving his face for a second.

“Is there anything we can do to help?” Olivia asked.

“You mean aside from already giving me the most important piece of the puzzle?” Esthor chuckled. “I cannot thank you enough, but I will need master Khalgos’ help to perform the ritual.”

“It was my pleasure,” Olivia cooed. “It was the least I could do since you saved Tristan and me.” Before she realized it, she leaned over and wrapped her arms around the sorcerer.

It was only after a while that she realized how out of character that was for her. Ever since she was a little girl, she was forced to train to become a speedy, stealthy assassin and thief, never having time for friends. The only time she could let her guard down and relax was when she was alone with her brother.

“Still, should you ever need any help, my magic is at your disposal,” Esthor smiled.

After the long and stressful night, the foursome woke up the next morning in Olivia’s house. Tristan was the one who was most eager to return home and be with his sister. Still, the poor guy was too scared to sleep alone, so Olivia had to keep him company. After assuring them that he had cast various protective spells on their house, Esthor retired to the adjacent room, while Pepin took the guest room next to his.

It was nearly mid-day when all of them got up and gathered in the kitchen, well-rested but famished.

“I can make us breakfast,” Esthor offered. “Any wishes?”

“Fried eggs and sausages!” Tristan shouted, raising his hand as high as he could.

With a chuckle, Pepin and Olivia sat down at the table and watched as Esthor did his magic. With a few swings of his scepter, the table quickly filled up with plates stacked with fried eggs, vegetables, cheese and sausages, as well as jugs with milk, beer and cold water.

Looking in amazement, the little black-haired boy clapped in joy. He had seen very little magic in his life, so any trick, no matter how easy and trivial it was for Esthor, seemed like the most amazing of wonders to Tristan. Olivia smiled at him lovingly, happy to see her brother laugh once again, free from the clutches of Lucius and his men.

“Can Esthor live with us now?” the boy turned to his sister who couldn’t help but crack a smile.

“As much as we are enjoying your company, Pepin and I have to return to our own homes, to our friends and families,” Esthor said kindly, thinking of Rulf. “But you and your sister are welcome to visit anytime!”

“Promise?”

“I promise,” Esthor nodded.

The four continued eating and chatting, almost forgetting that just a few hours ago they were fighting for their lives. Their merriment was, however, soon interrupted by a ringing voice that seemed to echo throughout the entire house. Tristan immediately dropped his utensils, while Olivia grabbed the daggers that were tucked in her belt, ready to fling them at the first enemy that appeared.

“Esthor!” the voice called out. “Can you hear me?”

“Who’s that?” the Shade asked suspiciously, wondering who would know to look for the sorcerer in her home.

“Relax, it’s only Khalgos, my master,” Esthor explained, getting up from the chair. “Pepin, can you take me to a window, please?”

“Of course,” the healer replied as he got up and took Esthor by the hand, leading him to the nearest window.

Olivia and Tristan remained seated, observing curiously as the sorcerer muttered some strange words and blew on the glass. As he wiped away the mist with his hand, Tristan was shocked to see the face of an old man with a goatee appear in the window.

“Esthor, my boy, there you are!” Khalgos exclaimed, pleased to see his student. “Is everything alright?”

“Master, it’s good to hear you! Yes, everything is alright, we are all fine here.”

“Good, we’ve been worried. Terryn and Huck have been pestering me all morning to call you.”

“Not true!” Esthor could hear a voice cry out in the distance and chuckled. Master must have been having a great time putting up with the two of them, he thought.

“Let them come closer,” he suggested and turned back to where Olivia and Tristan were sitting. “Liv, would you like to speak to your friends?”

Curious, the Shade got up and approached the window. As Khalgos stepped aside, the faces of Prince Terryn and Huck appeared.

“Liv! It’s so good to see you!” Huck exclaimed.

“Are you alright?” the prince asked, almost at the same time.

“Yes, I’m fine, and Tristan is too. Thank you for sending Esthor and Pepin, they’ve been so helpful. Only now I don’t know how Tris will live without Esthor,” she smirked, glancing back at her little brother who blushed and covered his face with his hands.

“You two should come here,” Terryn suggested. “Did Esthor tell you he needs your help?”

“Yes, we’ve worked it out.”

“Good! Oh, Khalgos wishes to speak to Esthor again,” Huck said, stepping away and letting the old master return.

“Esthor, if everything is in order over there, you should return as soon as possible. Not just for the dagger…”

“I already have it,” Esthor smiled, pulling out the king’s dagger and showing it to his master.

“What? How?”

“Liv had it, I’ll explain when we return. But what’s the matter?”

“It’s Norius again, he has banned all magic in the kingdom. Only his own sorcerers are now allowed to practice it. I have warned all the sorcerers and witches I know, but you know how people are. They have started accusing anyone they have a grudge against of using magic. Fifteen men and women have already been accused – falsely or not, I do not know – and arrested by the royal guards.”

“What!? That is ridiculous!” Esthor spat, wishing he was there to teach Norius a lesson. “Mark my words – once I restore my eyes, Alduin will need a new king.”

~~

Crouching in large blackthorn bushes, Fendrel patiently observed the castle of the King of Alduin. It was starting to get dark, but he could not yet strike as he had intended to. The plan was to wait for nightfall to spring into action and attempt to climb the southern tower, in hopes of breaking into the chambers of either of the two remaining princesses. Of course, he knew very well it would not be as easy as when he did it the first time. Since that slut’s death, the security must have been heavily increased, Fendrel thought. Her pathetic sisters are probably guarded night and day. I will have to wait for the perfect moment to strike.

As he made a few steps forward in order to get a better view, he noticed something – movement at the top of the tower.

“Damn it,” he muttered, realizing what he was seeing. Norius has placed guards all over the castle. Now I’ll never be able to get in undetected!

Furious and foaming at the mouth, the Lykos growled and reached up for a nearby tree, tearing off the first branch he could find and angrily throwing it away. The Fever was affecting him more and more, making it very difficult for him to control his emotions.

As the branch he threw landed on the fallen autumn leaves lying on the ground, Fendrel stopped and froze. Someone was nearby, watching him.

“Show yourself!” he grumbled, looking all around until he saw a dark figure stepping out from behind a tree.

The king’s useless guards are no match for me, he thought. However, as the figure stepped out of the shadow, Fendrel saw it was not a human but another Lykos.

“You,” he scoffed. “And where is your sorcerer friend? Come out, finish what you started!”

“He’s not here,” Rulf stated, slowly stepping forward.

“And you think you can defeat me without him?” Fendrel asked, eyeing the wolf that stood merely a dozen feet away.

“Are you afraid?”

“Don’t make me bloody laugh,” the older Lykos replied sarcastically, looking at Rulf with a mixture of contempt and devious satisfaction at the pain he was about to cause to him. “What are we waiting for, then?” he asked, immediately rushing forward and almost knocking the other wolf to the ground.

Quick on his feet, Rulf jumped to the side, dodging the first attack. Wasting no time, Fendrel turned around and swung his right arm, aiming at Rulf’s face, but the young Lykos swiftly bent down, lunging at Fendrel and knocking him back. Getting slammed into a tree only made Fendrel even angrier. Roaring in fury, he quickly jumped back up, his red eyes firmly fixed on the other wolf that came rushing. Parrying a blow from Rulf, Fendrel overpowered him and knocked him down to the ground with brute force. Every time Rulf would attempt to land a blow, Fendrel managed to block it with his forearms.

Desperate, Rulf grabbed a fistful of dirt with his left paw, throwing it in Fendrel’s eyes.

“You miserable…” Fendrel roared as Rulf managed to punch him across the face, attempting to escape his grip.

“Like hell you are!”

Slamming him to the ground, Fendrel slashed Rulf’s arm with his claws. His chest was quickly rising and falling as he looked at his prey, ready to eviscerate him.

“Stay where you are!” a powerful voice suddenly interrupted them, causing them both to look up in shock. They were surrounded.

Barely several feet away, Zane and four other guards stood all around them, their swords drawn and ready to attack.

“This ends now!” the commander ordered.

All of a sudden, a crow appeared and swooped down in Zane’s face, almost scratching his eyes out.

“Bloody bird!” Zane yelled, covering his face with one hand and swinging his sword with the other, chasing the bird away.

Taking advantage of the commotion, Rulf slashed Fendrel across the face and instantly pushed him away from him, sprinting away on all fours. One of the guards immediately rushed after him, but stopped at the voice of his commander.

“Others will get him!” Zane shouted. Knowing that about thirty other soldiers were hiding in the forest nearby, he was confident Rulf wouldn’t be able to escape.

Stepping closer to Fendrel to make sure he doesn’t get away, the commander never took his eyes off the wolf’s even for a second. For a brief moment, he wondered if he made the right choice to go after the Lykos instead of Esthor. With his wild, red eyes, foam coming from his mouth and blood dripping from the cuts made by Rulf, the wolf looked frightening. Still, Zane had never been a coward and he was not about to become one now. He would defeat the cursed beast even if it’s the last thing he does.

“Find Ezhal,” he ordered and one of the guards immediately left, leaving Zane with three other men.

“Need backup against me?” Fendrel sneered, hoping to provoke the man who was clearly in charge.

“No, just someone to dig your grave after I’m done with you.”

With a low growl, the Lykos made a small step toward Zane as if ready to pounce on him. Suddenly, he changed directions and lunged at the guard to the right, knocking him to the ground before the man even had the chance to swing his sword. With a rapid swipe of his claws, Fendrel slashed his throat and jumped, leaving the man to bleed out.

“Monster!” Zane roared, dashing toward the Lykos as quickly as he could, ready to strike with his sword.

Just before the blade could connect with his flesh, Fendrel grabbed the dead guard’s shield and parried the blow. Four men surrounded him, but only one dared to attack. The other three stood by, waiting for him to slip up and make a mistake. Fendrel quickly realized he would not be able to repeat what he just did and kill another guard. The bloody commander was not giving him a second of rest, as he kept swinging his sword at him.

Though none of the strikes connected, as Fendrel managed to block them with his shield, he could not get any damage done either. Whenever he would try swiping or lunging at Zane, the man would either expertly dodge it or block it with his own shield.

As the Lykos advanced toward Zane, with murder in his eyes, the man stepped back and tripped.

Now is my chance, Fendrel thought as he dashed toward him, holding his shield in front of himself.

“Now!” Zane yelled, glancing at the man behind the Lykos.

Sorcerer Ezhal, who had just arrived, promptly pointed his wand to the wolf, who suddenly felt iron chains wrapping around his body from neck to toe. Falling to the ground, he started writhing and grunting, cursing at everyone.

“Let’s take him to the king,” Zane ordered, observing the wolf with pride.

“Commander, what shall we do with him?” another voice called out.

As Zane turned around, he saw two guards arriving with another sorcerer. Rulf walked behind them, now in his human form, his arms and legs chained up. His clothes were dirty and tattered, while his arms were covered in scratches and bruises.

“What is your connection to this Lykos over here?” Zane asked Rulf, pointing at Fendrel with his sword. “Why were you fighting?”

“I want him dead as much as you do,” Rulf replied calmly.

“Of course he does, I killed his beloved princess,” Fendrel growled, drawing the attention of everyone around him.

“Don’t!” Rulf said, looking at the other Lykos, but he paid no heed to Rulf’s words or the look of fear on his face.

“That’s right. How do you think I got to the princess? She let me in,” Fendrel said, looking Zane in the eyes and enjoying the confusion on the man’s face. How dumb these humans are. Pathetic and weak. “But she was expecting him, not me. It was almost too easy, sinking my teeth into-”

“Enough!” Zane shouted angrily, hitting Fendrel in the head with the pommel of his sword, knocking him out on the spot. “Take them both to King Norius!”

One of the sorcerers raised his wand, and after a few moments, Rulf fell down to the ground, unconscious. Now that both Lykos were chained up and out cold, the sorcerers lifted them in the air with their magic, and the entire party started making their way out of the forest and toward the castle grounds.

Big thanks to all my readers, I look forward to seeing your reactions! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!