Chapter 181: I Don’t Want to Die, But

 

  “I knew we shouldn’t have followed Stryg,” Freya Goldelm groaned.

  “What would you have suggested!?” Kithina crossed her arms.

  “Not going to a bloody cliff!” Freya yelled.

  The two dwarves walked into each other’s personal space and glared at one another. Kithina was slightly taller than Freya, but Freya’s piercing golden eyes and extravagant jewelry made her countenance seem larger.

  “Had we gone straight to the river town we probably would have made it by now,” Kegrog sighed.

  “Exactly!” Freya nodded.

  “We don’t know that,” Callum Veres shook his head. “Have you all forgotten what happened an hour ago? We literally came across a murderous lamia and whatever the hell that grey creature was. Who is to say we wouldn’t have encountered something worse had we tried going to the town?”

  “It doesn’t change the fact that we’ve now gone deeper into Widow’s Crag. There aren’t any river towns for half a dozen leagues in any direction,” Nora Azol said.

  “Everyone is exhausted, I don’t think the commoners can keep walking through the night. Especially the children,” Kithina admitted.

  “None of this would have happened had we not followed Stryg. And is no one going to talk about why the fuck the deadly lamia tried protecting Stryg? Is he hiding something?” Freya pointed at the blue goblin.

  Stryg sat in the grass far away from the others, but his sensitive ears caught every word. He kept his head down and pretended to not hear them.

  Clypeus Gale clapped his hands loudly, “Enough with the accusations. It doesn’t help our situation. If you are all looking for someone to blame, then blame me. I am the team leader, I was placed in charge of this mission, and I was the one who chose to follow Stryg’s plan. The blame lies with me alone. If someone has something to say, say it now and be done with it.”

  Freya bit her bottom lip and turned away with a scowl. Kegrog sighed, but said nothing. Kithina and Nora simply nodded. 

  “What’s our next move?” Callum asked.

  “...Kitty is right, everyone is tired. This cliff is far enough from the trail, we should be safe here, for a while at least. We’ll rest for a few hours,” Clypeus said.

  “Then what?” Freya asked, her voice dripped with skepticism.

  “Once we’ve had some sleep, we’ll re-examine our situation and decide on our next move,” Clypeus said.

  “Fine,” Freya grumbled.

  “I’ll relay the message to the other students,” Callum jogged away.

  “I’ll tell the families, they’ll be happy to have a chance to sleep,” Kithina walked over to the commoners.

  “I’ll keep the first watch,” Kegrog pulled out his bow and sat down on a particularly large rock.

  “Thank you, everyone,” Clypeus bowed his head as they all left.

  Only Nora stayed behind. She grabbed his hand, “Well done calming them down.”

  “It was nothing. How are you feeling?” Clypeus wrapped his arms around her.

  “I’m tired, but I can’t complain. Those commoners have been carrying their children throughout the entire night. I’m surprised they can even stand.”

  “Yeah… How’s our child?” Clypeus whispered.

  “Cly, it’s too early to tell, but I think we’re fine,” Nora smiled wryly.

  “You’re sure you’re both okay?”

  “We’re fine. Stop worrying so much about us and go check up on the uncle, yeah? He hasn’t said a word to anyone since we got here, at this rate he might throw himself off the cliff.”

  “Right,” Clypeus nodded.

  He kissed Nora and made his way to Stryg. The goblin didn’t even bother looking up at him. Stryg’s pointy ears seemed to be drooping more than usual. Clypeus sighed and sat right next to him, bumping shoulders.

  “Everyone’s going to get some sleep while they can. But you already knew that, didn’t you?” Clypeus flicked the goblin’s ear.

  Stryg snapped at him and bared his teeth. The vampire stared at him calmly.

  Clypeus broke into a grin, “There’s the deadly goblin I know.”

  Stryg slowly closed his mouth and sighed, “...I messed up. I should have never told any of you about this cliff.”

  “So you forgot that Loh told you to go to the second cliff, not the first. Big whoop. We all forget sometimes, it happens. At least now we know where to go next,” he shrugged.

  “Wait, are you saying we’re actually going to the second cliff? You’re still listening to my plan?” Stryg asked.

  “Yeah, it’s the best shot we’ve got at this point, we’re too far from the trail. I’ll wait until everyone has slept some before telling them though,” he winked.

  Stryg’s ear twitched.

  “I’ll be damned, those kids we’re telling the truth,” a voice muttered from a distance.

  “Someone is here. Several of them,” Stryg picked up his spear and stood up.

  “Shit.” Clypeus pulled out his twin short swords and ran off to alert the others.

  Stryg hid among the tall grass and waited for the threat. Four figures riding centaurs emerged from the darkness. He didn’t recognize any of them. The one at the forefront was a vampiress, judging from her crimson eyes. 

  Two cloaked figures rode beside her, Stryg couldn’t make out their faces. He quickly forgot them when he spotted the one at the back.

  It was the tallest man Stryg had ever seen. The brawny giant loomed over his centaur, the man had to be at least 7 ft tall. He had shaggy long hair, yet his beard was immaculate, with a few beads hanging from the end. A golden band tied his loose hair into a top knot.

  Stryg felt his stomach drop, he recognized the golden band. He had heard the stories from the Mothers of Bloodfang. The golden band was worn by certain people of the Dusk Valley Tribes. Particularly one person in each tribe, the chieftain.

  The other students rushed into the clearing at the base of the cliff to face the strangers. Stryg slowly emerged from the grass and joined them, careful to stay out of view. The four strangers dismounted from their centaurs.

  “Don’t take a step further,” Clypeus pointed his swords at them. “Who are you people?”

  “You dare point your blades at my lord!?” The vampiress whipped out her two-handed ax.

  “It’s fine, Nokuti,” the giant man placed his hand on her shoulder. He stepped in front of her and smiled at Clypeus, “It may be dark, but a sophisticated vampire like you should be able to discern our identity from our apparel, no?”

  Clypeus looked over the strangers’ clothes. The giant man and vampiress were clothed in dark brown leather and furs, while the other two wore grey cloaks. 

  Clypeus narrowed his crimson eyes, “You’re valley savages.”

  The giant man sighed, “Is this what we should expect from the youth of Hollow Shade? Ignorance?”

  “We have no time for your games,” Clypeus frowned.

  “Games? Games? Contrary to your city’s beliefs, our lives are not of so little value as to be hunted for sport,” the giant man growled. He stabbed his steel spear into the ground, “We are of the Valley and we have been here long before your ebon lords arrived in our lands. We have stood vigilant since the dawn of the Dusk. We are the Heart of Dusk! The Keepers of Dawn! And we will not let city scum run rampant in this valley.”

  Freya stepped forward, hammer and shield in hand, “And what are you going to do about it? Do you think we are afraid of a bunch of barbarians? Think again, you freak of nature!”

  “I’m going to kill this bitch,” Nokuti muttered.

  The giant man reached into his satchel, “Your friends were afraid of me. I wonder, will you be too?”

  Marek tossed a couple of bleeding heads at Freya’s feet. 

  “Ugh! What the fuck!” She jumped back in revulsion.

  “...I know those faces. They were our classmates, they ran when we encountered the lamia,” Kegrog swallowed numbly.

  “We found them running and screaming in the dark. At first they didn’t want to say anything, but with a little persuasion, well, they told us where we could find the rest of you,” the giant said.

  Clypeus shook with fury, “You bastards! Who do you think you are!?”

  “I am Marek, leader of the Cairn Tribe. I have come to repay an ounce of the kindness Hollow Shade has shown my people.”

  Clypeus’s eyes widened, “What?”

  “The warlord?!” Nora gasped.

  “Oh, shit,” Callum said.

  Freya’s arms trembled, she took a shaky step forward, “Y-you think w-we’re af-fraid of you!? B-bring… bring it!”

  “Please, let me kill this bitch already,” Nokuti groaned.

  Marek shook his head slightly, “Not yet. We are not savages, let them first make peace with the gods.”

  Clypeus took a deep breath, he glanced at Callum and Nora. “Kegrog, get everyone away from here. I’ll buy you time.”

  “No...” Callum mumbled.

  “What? What are you saying, we all have to run!” Nora grabbed his arm.

  “Nora, Do you trust me?” Clypeus asked.

  She frowned, “...To the very end, but now’s not the time-”

  Clypeus gripped her hand, “Then leave, Nora, please. We cannot win this battle. Callum is a Veres, I am sworn to keep him safe. And you… I can’t stand by and watch you die.”

  “Neither will I! We run together!” Nora shouted.

  Stryg hit the soft back of her neck. Nora’s eyes rolled up, she fell over unconscious. Stryg caught her with a soft touch and passed her to Kegrog. Clypeus’ mouth hung open in surprise.

  “What did you do?! She’s one of the strongest magi we’ve got!” Freya yelled.

  Stryg grabbed Freya’s shoulder, “You’re in charge now. Keep them safe for us. Promise me.”

  “I…” Freya swallowed, “I promise.”

  “Us?” Clypeus furrowed his brow.

  Stryg nodded to Freya and turned to the others, “Kegrog, gather the commoners and leave as quickly as you can. Callum, take the other students and go.”

  “...Understood,” Kegrog shouldered Nora and ran.

  “Stryg, Cly, we can’t leave you,” Kithina said worriedly.

  “Kitty, we need to go,” Callum gently grabbed her shoulder.

  “No,” she shook her head vehemently.

  “Kitty, leave or I will knock you out and have Cal carry you,” Stryg said sharply.

  Kithina took a step back, tears stained her freckled cheeks, “...Damn you both!” 

  She turned and ran. Callum followed her.

  “Stryg, what do you think you are doing?” Clypeus asked, confusion in his eyes.

  Stryg glanced at their enemies, “I don’t want to die, but if today is my day, then I rather die on my own two feet protecting my friend.”

  “The Unfaltering Shield, huh? You stole my line,” Clypeus smiled to himself.

  “Maybe,” Stryg grinned half-heartedly.

  Callum looked back at them and faltered in his steps. For a brief moment he was reminded of the Veres vault and the large portrait of the founders hanging at the end of the room, Veres I and Gale I smiling at one another. An overwhelming guilt suddenly swept over him.

  “I’m so sorry,” Callum grimaced.

  He turned his back and kept running.

  Marek watched the students retreat into the dark, “They won’t get far, you know.”

  “We’ll see,” Stryg gripped his spear.

  “Dawn, Vaughn, chase down the ones who ran away. Leave at least one alive for questioning,” Marek said.

  The two cloaked figures nodded silently.

  “Wait a sec. Look at that... goblin? His grey hair and blue skin, even his eyes somewhat... He looks a lot like the twins,” Nokuti pointed her ax at Stryg.

  “It’s dark, but I think I see it. The resemblance is uncanny. What do you two think?” Marek asked.

  The twin arch-magi lowered their grey hoods and stared at Stryg’s pale lilac eyes. Stryg stared back at them and their dark purple eyes. They did sort of look like him. Stryg didn’t know what to make of it. He hissed at the twins.

  “He is… not really like us,” Vaughn said.

  “Correct,” Dawn nodded.

  Vaughn narrowed his eyes, “He almost seems…”

  Dawn’s eyes widened, she spun around, “Marek, we need to get out of here now!”

  “What? Why?” Marek frowned.

  Nokuti crossed her arms, “Are you serious? We just found these Hollow Shade novices and you expect us to leave? They are the next generation of enemy magi! We need to kill them.”

  “Forget that! If we stay here we will all die!” Dawn shouted.

  “Why?” Marek asked.

  “Just listen to her!” Vaughn yelled.

  “Marek, I don’t think I’ve ever seen either of them so… spirited,” Nokuti muttered.

  Marek clenched his jaw, “I swore on my mother’s grave I wasn’t going to let any spawns of Hollow Shade escape, I’m not going to start now. Dawn, Vaughn, you have your orders. Go hunt down the others.”

  “You imbecile,” Dawn glared at him.

  “What did you say?” Marek did a double take.

  “I don’t care who you are, if you insult Lord Marek again, I will kill you,” Nokuti pointed her ax at the arch-mage.

  “Threaten me again,” Dawn said coldly. Blue lightning crackled around her hand.

  Vaughn grabbed her arm, “Don’t, sister, please.”

  Dawn glanced at her brother and sighed. The lightning faded away. 

  The twins left towards the direction the students had gone.

  “They aren’t even taking the centaurs,” Nokuti noted.

  “Leave them be, no one knows what the twins are ever really thinking. They have never failed a mission, they won’t start now,” Marek said.

  He turned to the two teenagers that had been oddly quiet, “Have you finished making your peace?”

  “Remember the plan,” Clypeus whispered.

  Stryg nodded.

  “It seems you have,” Marek raised his spear.