drake
We entered the bar at the Prancer Inn minutes later, seeking out Jace, Taleane and Coran. We found Taleane and Jace drinking at a table near the corner of the common room. When they set their eyes on both of us together fear was in their eyes knowing that they would be reprimanded for what they had helped Sarri do.
"Sir I'm sorry, we just thought that her highness would enjoy-"
I cut him off
"we will speck of it another time, right now we need to leave."
Instantly they stood at attention
"What's going on?"
asked Taleane
"I will fill you in on the way, go get our things ready. We will meet you out the back."
"Yes sir,"
They sang in chorus. Grudgingly not wanting to leave they went to get our things ready while we went looking for Coran. I held Sarri's hand the whole time so as not to lose her in the crowd. We searched for ages but could not find him. Suddenly a drunk warrior who had seen me before put a hand on my shoulder
"Comasha are you rounding up th troopsh already? Aresh we finally shending that shorsharish bitch back from whesh she came?"
I tried to calmly remove him from my way when Sarri went ridged beside me. Forcably I pushed the warrior away turning to her.
"What are you doing?"
I hissed
"Just wait"
she whispered I watched as she closed her eyes deep in concentration. I felt the power she had summoned then just as quickly leave her. She turned to me
"Coran's on his way."
"How do you know?"
"All Royalty have the power to talk to any member of their family if they be close enough to reach. Now come we have to go."
She grabbed my arm and began to drag me towards the back door, however just as we navigated the crowd a man blocked our path I assumed the drunk had returned but looking up my eyes met Nate's quickly I pulled the princess behind me.
"You will not start anything here you are outnumbered. Do not be a fool"
Nate began to laugh
"Idle threats Drake, don't worry there's no need for you to run. Sarri will be ours soon enough,"
I scowled at him as I remembered Sarri's dreams. "Alicia's plan will not work, is she really that foolish to think that by haunting Sarri's dreams she can convert Sarri to her side?"
I heard Sarri's intake of breath at my words, but I did not have time to deal with her right now. Nate began to laugh
"don't you see commander, it has already started." Quickly turning to face Sarri I watched with fear as she started changing before my eyes. I could feel the power within her build grabbing her by the shoulders I met her eyes for an instant they flashed yellow.
"Sarri please don't do this don't listen to her. You must fight it,"
slowly her eyes met mine as they flashed yellow again.
"Drake, don't let me hurt anyone." "Sarri listen to me, you can fight her. Don't listen to her please stay with me."
Her hands fell limply beside her as she looked to the ceiling. I could feel her fighting what was inside her. Suddenly she screamed as the power built to enormous levels. Everyone in the building turned to her scream, the music went silent as they watched. The disguise Jace had cast on her vanished as she returned to normal. She stopped screaming as her head snapped back to face me yellow eyes ablaze. "Sarri you must stop!"
She laughed pushing me away as she raised her hands before her, beams of light materialized out of thin air to rest between us. Suddenly Coran appeared at my side, he looked to me then Nate, and then rested on Sarri
"What happened?"
Quickly I answered
"There's no time to explain, you must get everybody out."
"Dra-"
"Now!"
I yelled. Quickly he turned and started to evacuate the inn. Sarri's energy began to randomly hit everything around her, even as they were almost out the door. Screams could be heard all around us. As I looked upon the carnage she was causing I knew I had to stop her, but how and without hurting her. I turned to get closer to Sarri but Nate stepped in my way.
"What do you propose to do commander? Even if you stop her this time our control over her will only get stronger."
I scowled at him, all I wanted to do was wipe the smug smile off his face but I did not have the time. Ignoring him I pushed past to get to Sarri. I saw in her eyes that she was no longer herself. The voice inside her had become to strong, fighting the power within her I cupped her face in my hands.
"Sarri listen to me"
before I even had a chance to finish she used her powers to force me away from her.
"You do not touch me!"
She yelled, I knew she was too far gone for me to get through to her so I had to try something else. "Very well Sarri if you will not listen to reason then I will have to stop you another way."
She laughed with evil in her heart
"you will not stand a chance against my power, commander."
I smiled
"If you want to fight me then fight me like a true warrior, draw your sword." "Ha why would I even bother when I have the power to kill you with one blow without even resorting to steel?"
My laughter infuriated her
"Yes it would be easier to strike me where I stand, however there is no challenge in that? Are you honorable or do you cheat like the witch Alicia?" She laughed
"You dare question my honor you who hides behind your insufferable obligations and responsibilities. very well then I will let you have your last minutes to live fighting like every warrior should."
I smiled
"Then let us begin."
I sensed the anger build inside her. Suddenly Nate appeared at her side
"just be rid of him there's no need to play games." "Silence! You do not have the ordering of me. Be gone with you, I will deal with the commander how I wish."
He scowled at her
"Fine, do what you want. However when this is done Alicia will agree that you need humbling and I hope that I'm the one to do it."
He disappeared with one last look towards me through a temporary portal of his creation. The light around her died as she drew her swords.
"You wish to fight with steel then so be it. It will not change the outcome you will still be the one to fall."
She charged both her swords in hand, holding both my own swords before me I waited. As we clashed the sound of steel on steel could be heard for miles. She lunged, I blocked then countered. Both of us sort to gain the advantage over the other. She was fueled by a strongly blinding anger I was fueled by the hope of saving her from being controlled by Alicia, as our swords met again and again neither of us was able to penetrate the others barriers. We fought with quick strikes and strong force, we parted both of us panting with growing fatigue. I stood before her staring into her eerie yellow eyes so full of anger.
"Please Sarri you must fight this anger inside you. Fight the urge to join Alicia, please do not betray your kingdom, and do not turn your back on your people."
She scowled at me
"What do you know of it?"
I paused I had to say something anything to bring her back from this insanity
"I know you,"
"you know nothing,"
she yelled.
"You are wrong I know you better then you know yourself."
"No Drake you know nothing of me, I'm not the dutiful princess that's always expected to act proper. I will no longer have to carry around the burdens of an entire kingdom on my shoulders. With Alicia I will have a chance to be the true me, I will never have to relay on others. With Alicia as queen we can rid the world of all weaklings that have no place on this earth. First I will destroy you never again will you be able mess with Alicia's plans. She will be queen and I will be free to do as I wish."
Her words suddenly made sense to me, Alicia has realized that I am the only one who can bring Sarri back to her self I did not understand it myself but I knew I was the only one able to do it. I can not let Sarri destroy me or Alicia will have Sarri in her grasp. Knowing this I faced Sarri with new light
"Sarri, you must realize that this is madness. Alicia is pure evil, you can not mean to let her rule. You have too much good in your heart, I have seen it. What you are doing it is not you Alicia is trying to control you."
As she heard my words I saw her eyes start to change, I stepped closer to her. As she saw me move she returned to her former anger.
"Pitiful fool, you can not dissuade me it is futile to try. Alicia specks the truth, it is you who specks only lies. Manipulating me"
She laughed
"your efforts are wasted my mind is made up. Everything you say is shrouded with obscurities, I barely know you yet you think you know me."
Suddenly Coran returned to my side, Sarri's eyes rested on him
"Ah if it isn't my dear brother."
He stepped forward
"Sarri what's happening to you? Why are you doing this?"
Sarri turned to me
"why don't you tell him Drake, since you think you know me."
I sighed
"She has been slowly taken over by Alicia since the attack on Gradkail. The dreams she's been having, she hears a voice that is Alicia trying to control her. The voice is getting stronger every time she uses her powers. I believe it is Alicia that causes this to happen."
Coran looked at me shocked as well as angry
"Why didn't you tell me about any of this sooner. I could have helped her,"
I shook my head
"I had no proof only speculation if I was wrong my mistake might have done more harm then good. No one can help her now but herself."
I turned back to Sarri
"let us finish this."
She smiled
"with pleasure,"
I sensed a change in her power and became suspicious for she was too unpredictable I needed to act fast before she had a chance to plan anything
"I tier of this useless steel I would prefer tooth and claw."
Ignoring Coran I reentered the fight, I had to stop her before she changed if that happened she would surly destroy the whole city and everyone in it. However she anticipated this seeming to get stronger as she fought back my swords. I had no chance, with her powers it was as if my body no longer wanted to fight, but at least I succeeded in turning her attention away from transforming.
She penetrated my barriers cutting me on the shoulder then the thigh. Our swords clashed together in a desperate struggle to gain control of the battle, however it did not last long with her strength she forced me to my knees. All four swords crossed with each other. I struggled to keep them away from me.
Suddenly she sliced her swords like scissors that cut straight through my own stopping inches from my throat, leaving two hilts in my hands. I threw them away as I stared into her eyes. She stood above me while I stayed on my knees, staring down she smiled.
"Finish it your highness, for I would rather die then watch you betray your kingdom, to slowly kill your true self and your people at Alicia's side."
She did not move
"Do it!"
I yelled at the top of my lungs, she still stood with her swords resting against my throat. Still she did not move, I sensed her struggle with the voice inside her. Stepping back she dropped the swords at her side and fell to her knees, her hands went to her head.
"Stop, please stop!"
She yelled I watched as Coran ran to her side. "Sarri! Are you alright?"
She did not move nor answer
"Sarri please talk to me."
Slowly she lifted her head to face me
"I'm sorry,"
she whispered then she collapsed in Coran's arms. Suddenly a portal opened behind Coran and Sarri, instantly standing I faced Nate unarmed.
"Well who would have thought, I guess her minds stronger then we thought. No matter she can not fight it forever."
"What do you want Nate? She is still with us, why surround the city to capture her if you are so sure she can be controlled?"
He laughed
"Whoever said we were here for her? To start a new rule in Dralic we must first rid ourselves of the old one."
The realization hit me hard, as well as Coran. Turning Coran yelled
"You can not do that, with no towns or cities there will be nothing to rule you will destroy Dralic leaving only a baron wasteland."
Nate smiled
"what do you care Coran bustard son of a king. You will not make any difference in this world anyway, you have no say in it's rule now nor ever will." Coran gritted his teeth at Nate's words, but Nate ignored him and turned to me
"Well Drake until next time, I suggest you leave this place before it goes up in flames."
Without another word he was gone. Quickly I picked Sarri up into my arms
"What are you doing with her?"
"We're leaving."
Shock entered Coran's eyes
"We can't leave, Nate Will storm the city with Alicia's army any second. We have to stay and help them."
I ignored him as I continued to the back door of the building. I felt him rip me back frustrated at his delay I spoke through gritted teeth
"Look we have not the power nor the numbers to save the city there are enough warriors here to help the people get out they were all trained for this and know what to do when they are outnumbered. All we can do is get the princess away from this place before we become trapped she can not be captured before we even have a chance of ridding her of this thing that Alicia has done to her. Now come we need to find the portal."
Coran sighed as he realized that we have no choice but to leave.
"Fine!"
He yelled
"just bare in mind that I'm only doing this for Sarri's sake and if I thought she could go through this alone I would stay here myself. Follow me I know where the portal lies."
Nodding I silently followed with Sarri still in my arms. Outside we met the others
"Where have you been? We heard all the noise and were afraid you did not make it."
Taleane stepped forward as her eyes rested on Sarri still in my arms.
"What happened? Is she alright?"
I nodded
"she'll be fine, she just needs some rest, but for now Coran is going to get us to the portal. Where's Lucas?"
Jace pointed just as a figure started down the ally leading a horse by the reins.
"Good."
I turned to Coran
"well lead us to it before we are caught in the middle of a battle we can not win."
Coran scowled at me then mounted the horse that was held by Jace. Gently I placed Sarri in her own horse, then with it's reins in my hand I mounted my own as I lead both horses after Coran. Taleane and Jace followed behind me and Lucas rode at the rear of the line.
We rode in silence as we finally stopped before the rear of the town church. Coran turned to me
"I need your power to help open it."
I nodded then dismounted to stand next to him. Together we joined our power to create the rune to open portals. Like the portal to Killarai once opened the surface of the church wall became like a watery doorway. On foot we lead our horses through the portal, me leading my horse as well as Sarri on hers. As we reached the other side I asked Coran
"where are we now?"
He did not look at me
"We are perhaps a day from Archgrote."
A mixture of emotions raged inside me, on one hand we were closer to safety by days and would soon reach the sanctuary, but on the other hand Archgrote was a vile place full of strange people with strange customs. No one fully knew whether they were with her majesty the queen or if they supported Alicia and her evil ways I had hoped to avoid Archgrote all together. From behind me I heard a groan escape Sarri's mouth, facing the others I ordered them to make camp. It wasn't exactly safe so close to the portal but I needed to see Sarri properly to know whether there was any damage to her mind and to her body. Coran who had also heard Sarri gently lowered her to the ground.
"Sarri?"
Her eyes slowly began to open. I sensed that she was very weak, but I did not move to get closer. "I'm sorry,"
she whispered
"I did not mean to hurt anyone. I couldn't control it."
Coran silenced her
"it was not your fault Sarri you just need some rest."
"Is Drake alright?"
He snuck a quick glance at me then answered.
"He is fine just get some rest ok?"
She nodded too exhausted to argue. Taleane put some blankets down for Coran to rest her on, as she went back to sleep. Leaving her he turned to face me
"What happened?"
I shook my head
"I only know some of it and even then like I said before is only speculation. That speculation I have already told you."
"No you only gave me a brief summary, there must be more to it. How do you even know what you told me is right?"
He stared at me waiting for an answer
"I merely observed what was happening to find what I did, but like I said I had no way of knowing if I was right until tonight when Nate confirmed my suspicions."
He stood before me as he slowly calmed down "alright I believe you I know you would never do anything to harm my sister, I only wish that you had informed me of your suspensions earlier that I might have kept a closer eye on her."
I knew he was referring to the fight he had with Sarri that resulted in her going out on her own but I said nothing about my knowledge of it to him. As I sat down with Taleane, Jace and Lucas i quietly filled them in on what had transpired in Bailnet and what Nate had revealed to me. Like Coran Jace had the same reaction
"We should have stayed to help."
I sighed, but I did not have to answer for Lucas answered instead.
"We could not help, our mission is to protect the princess, to do that we had to get her out of Bailnet before the battle had began. Even if we had stayed we would be of no help. Alicia has vast numbers at her disposal even if the princess could use her powers we would risk Alicia's power over her be complete, we would have lost her to evil. Sometimes many must be sacrificed to save millions."
Jace looked upon us mortified by our reasoning, he was too young to comprehend the fullness of what was happening.
I made to reassure him when the portal was suddenly activated. All of us stood, even Coran and Sarri who woke at the sudden sound. Through the portal came many members of Alicia's army. All of us drew our weapons, my swords were the only two I had left that were sheathed at my back. Without a word we were forced into battle with the unexpected enemy. There were perhaps thirty warriors against six. They were strong I could tell they were Alicia's finest warriors. I snuck quick glances at the others finding that they were doing well I returned my concentration to fighting. However strangely those we fought suddenly stopped, swords in hands we watched as they stepped back to form a circle around us. I glanced at the others who wore the same worried look that I did.
From between the line of warriors a woman made her way to stand before us. She was of slender build she wore red warriors garb. Her clothes matched her fiery red hair perfectly, just as her sharp features, she was attractive beyond measure any man would fall before her feet just in the hope of having her. However she held no spell over me. Her eyes like Nate's were a beast yellow. "Well,well,well, we did not think we would come across the precious princess and her guard so fast."
She looked upon us one at a time, lastly she rested on me.
"Drake the commander of the royal guard, now where have you been hiding? I have missed you dearly"
I scowled at her
"leave this place Nardia, you have no business here."
She smiled
"That's no way to speak to an old acquaintance, I was hoping to have some fun, for old time's sake." "What is in the past will forever be in the past Nardia."
My anger grew as I stared into her eyes.
"Awe and I thought you still cared."
I drew my sword and rested it at her throat, she stilled her warriors when they moved to stop me.
"I will never care for a woman who betrays her people and her race. You do not deserve to live for what you've done."
She looked upon me with an infinite calmness "Power isn't power unless you use it Drake you of all people should know that."
"If having power makes a person turn out like you then I gladly recede my portion of it. I will not become a monster that murders innocent people with no thought to anyone but your self and the power you gain from it."
She laughed
"I always said that you needed to lighten up Drake, it seems that still stands."
She faced her warriors and nodded, instantly they disappeared.
"We will meet again Drake."
"Looking forward to it, next time you will not leave in one piece."
She laughed, and then disappeared through the portal she had arrived in. Lucas who knew the history between Nardia and me touched my shoulder.
"Put away your arms Drake, she is gone."
Nodding I sheathed my sword, turning to the others I ordered
"get some sleep we continue in the morning." Leaving the camp site I went to keep watch away from the others. All my thoughts were of my past, Nardia was the one person I ever let in. I trusted her with my deepest secrets and she betrayed that trust, she betrayed everything I believe in. She knew of my past and all my inner feelings. So deep was my thought that I did not hear Lucas approach. He sat beside me, I did not look his way. "I thought she was dead."
I heard him sigh
"She practically is…. Listen Drake, she is not the person she was. Alicia has the power to turn anyone away from everything they believe in. Look what she is doing to the princess."
I turned to face him,
"Once Alicia has someone in her grasps there is no saving them. Nardia is evil, even with the history that you hold with her you can not let your thirst for revenge control you."
I sighed
"I can not guarantee that, my anger is all that I have all that ties me to my past. My family are dead my foster parents do not need me, I have no family off my own. Without my anger what do I have?"
Lucas looked to the ground
"I can only give you my advice and hope that you use it. You are still young Drake there is still time, let your anger go and you will have a family like I know you want. Let someone see past that anger to see the real you. You are a good man Drake do not let this anger destroy you."
Lucas stood but before he could leave I answered "You are also a good man, you should take your own advice. Do not worry about me I will survive I always have."
He smiled then left me to myself.
I waited for everyone to fall asleep before I returned back to camp. However just as I sat Sarri began to groan in her sleep, quickly I moved to wake her from the dream I knew she was having. Gently I nudged her awake, instantly she turned to stare at me. Without another word I sat away from her even as she rose from where she was laying to sit next to me.
"Thank you,"
I merely nodded
"Coran told me what was happening with these dreams I've been having."
I turned to meet her eyes
"I'm afraid, what if I can't fight her?"
I saw the very fear she spoke about in her eyes
"I am no seer to tell you what your future holds all I can say is that we are all here to help you. No one here will allow Alicia to turn you against your people. You just have to believe in yourself, believe in the strength inside you and you will be free of her."
She smiled sadly.
"I hope your right,"
staring into her eyes her face changed
"You loved her didn't you?"
I turned away I knew whom she was talking about but I wasn't sure I was ready to tell her of it
"I'm sorry I should not pry."
She moved to return to her blanket when I did not speak, I stopped her with my hand not wanting her to leave.
"No It's fine,"
she sat back down, sighing I continued
"it's not what you think, Nardia was like a sister to me, I thought I knew everything about her she certainly knew everything about me."
I paused lost in memory
"she's very beautiful."
I laughed
"yes and she knows it, she uses her beauty to get into your mind. She embodies the essence of innocence to trap you into telling her everything, you don't even realize what your doing until it's too late."
Looking into Sarri's eyes I saw something I did not understand, I could not turn away for the force of it. "She betrayed you?"
I nodded still lost in her eyes
"she betrayed us all she was the cause of all this, she let Alicia into the city. It's because of her so many are dead, it's because of her that you are fighting a raging battle in your very mind." Realization entered her eyes, but she did not speak nor did she look away. Slowly her hand touched my cheek they were so soft on my skin
"I see now."
I looked at her quizzically sadness was on her voice "I see why you close yourself your afraid, afraid of being hurt again."
Quickly I stood
"I am not afraid of being hurt, I'm afraid that if I get too close I will no longer have the strength to do what I must. I'm afraid that if I have somebody who cares about me that somebody will stop me from what I mean to do that is what I'm afraid of." Sarri also stood confusion set on her face.
"I don't understand what is it that you must do?" "You wouldn't understand."
Turning away from her I left the camp, however she stopped me before I'd gotten too far. Shrouded in darkness she spun me around to face her
"what are you planning Drake!? What is so bad that makes you fear getting close to anyone?"
I tried to move past her but she stood her ground, the look in her eyes told me that she would not give up short of forcing her. I clenched my fists in anger "you really want to know?"
Putting her hands on her hips she nodded,
"Fine! The only reason I joined the royal guard was because I knew that one day I would have my chance, I would have my moment of revenge for what Alicia and her deranged minions have done, I knew I would one day face them and I alone will see to their downfall. Even if it kills me they will die by my hands."
She shook her head in shock
"But that's crazy Alicia has the power of the elders you could not possibly kill her yourself. She can only be killed by another with the elder's power you'll die trying."
"Don't you think I know that?! That doesn't change anything I will find a way."
As she looked at me her face changed
"So much anger, what happened to you to make you like this?"
I looked away without answering. I heard her rather then saw her step closer as she cupped my face in her hands forcing me to look into her eyes. I grabbed both her wrists
"Listen to me. You must listen, you have to let go of this hate. You must let someone in it's the only way, if you let someone in they will give you the strength to fight. You let someone in and you will no longer fight in anger or hate you will fight to protect them as you fight to protect me. You are a kind man this anger will kill you in the end."
Her words had no effect on me
"just as I told Lucas before I will tell you once," gently I pulled her hands from my face.
"Without my anger I have nothing, I have nothing because of Alicia and her evil I will not let you or Lucas take the one thing I have left. Alicia will not escape my anger,"
"Oh Drake,"
I shook my head
"nothing you say can change me or my decision, go back to camp your highness I will keep watch from here."
Without a word she turned and left. Facing the dark I said
"you can come out now Lucas."
Slowly he stepped out as his body shimmered into visability it is the whole reason was good as a spy being able to become invisible had its uses, he held an all knowing look in his eyes.
"Don't start Lucas,"
he held out his hands in innocence
"I said nothing."
"You did not need too, I know that look."
I had known Lucas for many years he was a lower rank commander with his own legion of warriors. "She only said what I've been saying for years."
I sat on a fallen log mentally exhausted,
"Yes and I do not need to hear it over and over again."
He sat on the ground before me
"you need not worry I've given up trying."
"Good,"
He smiled
"What are you smiling about?"
"You and the princess seem close."
I shook my head
"So much has changed in so little time. I'm gone two months and look what you've gotten yourself into, the battle at the portal, Adryin and her warriors, the princess's continuous loss of control of her powers you not telling anyone of your suspensions now you and the princess…."
He paused
"you are walking on very thin ice my friend."
"There is nothing between the princess and myself as for the other things even I am allowed a few mistakes."
Lucas laughed
"A few? Are you forgetting the time you stormed into the Draklo Forest without permission from the wood nymphs?"
"I was only young and new to my command anyone could have made the same mistake."
"What of the time when you tried to drink from the Aceal Lake?"
"Alright, alright, enough so I take risks. If I had not then we would have not made peace with the wood nymphs nor would we have found out about the healing powers of Aceal Lake."
"Yet now you have acquired the interest of the princess. I thought you would have learnt from your mistakes with Nardia."
I turned to stare at him angrily
"she was not my mistake."
Sadness entered his eyes
"I know, I should not have said that I apologize. However now I fear the princess is walking the same path."
I shook my head with certainty
"She will not, her mind is stronger then Nardia's." "No one can fight Alicia no matter how strong their mind you of all people should know that. I do not mean to doubt the princess's power it is just that once Alicia sets her mind to someone they always loose in the end."
I looked to him with more force then even I thought possible.
"I will not let that happen again, Alicia will not have her. I will not let the princess be turned to evil used for evil proposes."
Lucas stood,
"I have faith in you my old friend, if anyone can save her it will be you."
Turning he left.