Chapter 29: Rumors

  Darius Ishtar

  "Captain!" His voice rang out over the tulmut of injured men's voices. The young mustached man turned to him looking up to meet his eyes. He looked determined but Darius could see blood leaking from the left side of his face. A single gash bled profusely but even from horse back he could tell the wound wasn't deep.

  "Your Majesty?" He called questioningly.

  "Get them up we must move." Another knight came up on his other side, her visor was down but he could easily tell it was Olena.

  "Is that wise Your Majesty? There are several wounded," The question was spoken with a respectful but inquisitive tone. He glance down the line as far as he could. The torches provided scant light. The were many injured but he had only been informed of two deaths so far. While even losing two of his men was a blow it was one of the better of the outcomes. He flicked his reins as he urged his course forward. One of his other knights a red bearded behemoth that used to be his trainer trotted up beside him.

  "Hellgarth, what have you to report?" He had sent the knight to get a casualty report shortly after the short battle had ended. The big man re adjusted himself in the saddle. Hellgarth reached up and brushed his long red hair out of his face before replying.

  "Twelve wounded. Two dead. They can be moved." Each one of his answers was clipped and succinct. His eyes held a serious coldness, not cruel but focused.

  Darius focused his eyes scanning the underbrush expecting to see more yellowed eyed predators. "We are too exposed out here," he explained to Olena. "Wolves are ambush predators, if we stay they will come for us again and again. We need to move and reach the Refuge now!" The dutiful knight said nothing more only galloping ahead to give orders. Darius pulled on the reins to stop his horse and scanned the now bloodied column.

  "Are you sure he is your son?!" The question came from the back of his mind and to his shame it wasn't the first time the thought had more than passed by. Even after their conversation back at the castle. He shook his head gazing up at the starry sky far above. Both moons had already passed their zenith. Their blue silver glow was only muted by the torches placed every ten men in the column. A chill wind ran through the trees as he just took in the scene for a moment. It caused him to rap his cloak tighter around himself.

  It was about then that he caught wind of the soldiers talking in hushed tones a few feet away. With all the noise it was hard to make out what exactly was being said but he caught snatches.

  "Fire, from his hands..."

  "Did you see how fast they were moving, I couldn't even see them."

  "The big one man handled that wolf like it twas me own pup at home..."

  "How does we they're human?"

  "Cursed indeed!!"

  Voices like that rose all around him but after awhile he did his best to tune them out. Nothing he could say would change their view on the matter. In fact, he might even make it worse. He turned his horse and went back to the front of the column where his son and his four other teammates were helping wrap bandages on a few of the soldiers. At a quick glance the one his son was working on only had a superficial cut to the forearm nothing that wouldn't keep him from marching or fighting. as he looked on his Son's eyes snapped up to meet his. The soft golden glow of his son pupils seemed to bore into him. The gaze gave him an immense feeling of otherness, something other than human. His son's eyes narrowed slightly as if he could see the turmoil in his father. Darius shuddered but managed to push down the feelings tearing through him. He met his son's gaze and gave him a nod. He couldn't afford to show such worry and weakness right now. He knew from their talk just how fragile Julien's mental state was now. He'd failed to be a father in the past but this time he would be there to help his son. who knew what this transformation was doing to him, either physically or mentally. The fireball had been a new development though, he would have to ask his son about it later. Although, the shock on his son's face afterward led him to believe he wouldn't have many answers either.

  Stolen story; please report.

  It took them most of two hours to get moving but after stretchers had been fashioned and more than a few guards were set to move in the darkness beyond the road to act as advanced warning, they were ready to go. The column had shortened considerably now over four ranks two to either side of the stretcher bearers moved through the forest. He sat to the side watching the column move his eyes tracked the wrapped bundles laid on the last few stretchers, they were all to still. By the end of it five total had died three more from their wounds. guilt crept up his throat as he watched the column pass by. Five more families he would have to explain to. He pushed the guilt down as he forced his eyes away. He couldn't afford it right now, he could deal with it later. A weight did settle upon his shoulders, but it was miniscule when compared to the weight he already felt. He was their king, it was his job to make sure as many of them made it back home as he could. A cold voice at the back of his mind reminded him that this was all to protect his family. What was a few sacrifices when compared to that? He tried to shake the thought loose but it stubbornly persisted. He didn't want to be that kind of ruler. But, he also knew the other nobles were waiting, with bated breath. Ever since the death of his father it had been like sharks smelling blood in the water. One mistake. One Misstep, and that would spell the end of his family's life probably at the end of a sword.

  It took another two hours to reach to hill glorified as a mountain that was the refuge. His son leading the way they ended the cleared zone in front of the massive hill. It was called a hill by some and a mountain by others. But, he had seen mountains before. This, was no mountain. It was however the tallest flat top hill he'd ever seen. The fact that it could be seen from the capitol walls was a testament to just how tall it was. He surveyed the clearing as the column marched in good order out of the forest. He didn't see anything but then again they hadn't expected to. The site for the battle Captain Eryk had lead was on the other side of the hill. He leaned back in his saddle as the Knights and other commanding officers immediately went about setting up a camp. "we really should name this damn hill," he muttered to himself.

  "What could we possibly name it?" His son said as he stopped his horse next to him.

  "You know i'm starting to dislike that enhanced hearing of yours," He deflected. His son already thought bad enough about him he didn't need to add terrible at names to the list. His son just shrugged at his words than turned his golden eyes at the sheer face of rock before them. about halfway up the mountain Darius could Make out a small trails but the bottom have was sheer rock for a good fifty feet.

  "So where are these giant doors you mentioned?" Darius asked, sweeping his hand toward the hill. His son turned a look on him like he'd just asked if he could see the sky.

  "What do you mean its right there," he said pointing at the sheer rock face that he had just been admiring. In his mind the dark thoughts got louder. Is he delusional? Is he really my..." He cut the voice off by stomping on its head. at least in his mind. He then gestured at the mountain. He would trust his son.

  "Show me." His son's golden eyes seemed to look right through him as they studied him. Then Julien's eyes widened in understanding.

  "You can't see it can you?" he asked a slight tremble in his voice. Darius could only muster up the courage to nod. Julien turned to the other knights around them but each shook their heads. Julien seemed to think about this for a moment before he slid from his horse and approached the wall.

  "Your Majesty," Sir Hellgarth began leaning into whisper. "I must ask again are you sure he..." his voice trailed off, not that he had been paying much mind to the older knight, as his son's hand touched the stone wall palm flat. Something imperceptible lifted from his eyes as two massive thirty foot doors seemed to shimmer into existence. There was a lot of cursing among the knights and several of the guardsmen had stopped what they were doing to stare openmouthed at it. Darius just found himself grinning.

  "Well, How about that?"