He was a powerful man, feared and respected. Power was often a terrible burden to carry, but someone else had to.
It was exactly how James de Macgrover felt on that chilly morning, as he somberly watched the clouds heavy in the heavy sky. Another storm was approaching.
His darkest, sternest gaze returned to the charge that had been intercepted by his men. He was the regent for years of a powerful clan and leader of the Order of Light. A heavy, annoyed sigh escaped his stern mouth. It was because of atrocities like these that the Order had gained a terrible reputation over the years.
Witch hunters! The regent's contempt was evident. Nothing had been discovered from the interrogation of the prisoners. It didn't take much for the Successrium Court to decide to involve the Corsair Armada in the matter.
James shook his head regretfully. They were sorcerers. There was an Elementary Law that should never be violated. Humans shouldn't know about their existence. But some sorcerers decided to abandon customs and traditions. Magic was always of interest to those seeking riches, power, and glory. He wondered how many lives had been wasted for so little. The shipment brought precious cargo to smugglers in the artefact and manufacture of valuable amulets.
Sorcerers' eyes always retained magic even after the body's death. The eyes were considered mirrors of souls. He was supposed to provide a ritual for the innocent slain by the illegal and degrading trade, with an honourable rest, but there was no possibility. He didn't intend to risk his loyal sentries being discovered by human guards.
If there was an intervention in the Successrium, soon there will be the arrival of wolves. Sorcerers and wolves were nature's rivals. A silent war was also waged and innocent lives were lost in perhaps unnecessary conflicts. But everything had suddenly changed. Since Koriander's death
James was surprised to think of his dead wife. Don't allow yourself to think or remember. He was a man who always kept his promises. His biggest mistake and weakness had cost the lives of the two most important people in his life. The wife and unborn child. For a moment, James thought of his missing daughter.
Had the child survived the merciless attack at Glenhouse? Koriander, far from clan rivalries, had decided to look for his sister, Lady Lizandra, for whom a peace treaty could be signed. James had only found the young wife's lifeless body. The unborn child she carried in her womb had simply disappeared without anything being found. The sorcerers had accepted the provocation as a declaration of war against the wolves. Sometimes James saw Lizandra and her daughters with envy and spite.
Humans were provoked into hunting witches and sorcerers. The castle in its first invasion had suffered from the women accused of witchcraft and purified in an act of faith by their uncompromising religion. James imagines the young wife with heartache and regret. She had died so ...young. The wolves had managed to save much of the castle's population, rescuing Lady Lizandra, but there had been no sympathy from them for a helpless sorceress.
If the child had survived, she would have been almost a teenager. The oracles of his people had prophesied the birth of a half-breed. For decades they hadn't enjoyed the honour of a half-blood in the clan. There was sadness in the old man imagining the girl who should have grown up in his domain, learned to master magic and who would never walk the paths of Glenhouse. Koriander had hoped that the birth of the child might bring peace and unity between the rival clans. A half-blood was always the chosen mate of alpha of the pack.
The long-awaited peace would bring an end to successive battles, innocent lives would be spared. He knew that both wolves and warlocks were in danger of extinction. Their world was threatened with the end. That unborn child could have brought a new beginning, a new era. All was lost.
The war had continued more mercilessly than before. Once again, the Glenhouse had been attacked. This time, the Successrium Court had intervened by bringing in the dreaded Ichichos, in an attempt to forbid war between them.
James hadn't ordered the place to be rebuilt. The frightened survivors had fled and were seeking isolation in the hope that they could live safely in hiding. He, spitefully and bitterly, had agreed to the demands of his people. Sorcerers sought revenge. The Order of Light gathered powerful warriors like never before. There were still those who asked for the Pieces of 4 found and that could be restored.
He shook his head with growing dismay. The years weighed heavily on his shoulders. He was old and tired. He would have accepted death with the journey's end. By Hecate! He had it all. Damn the wolves.
A high-pitched, furious scream roused his tumultuous thoughts. He looked around with little patience. Valerius was her most loyal man of trust. Sometimes Victor had a habit of over-fulfilling his orders.
-Victor, Victor. We are not killers like wolves! His voice sounded strong, though. - We didn't find what we were looking for. The traffickers escaped. Gather our sorcerers and be careful there are no witnesses.
His gaze was unrelenting on the man being brought in by the sentries. James tried not to notice the deep cuts that marred the man's face and bloodied nose with displeasure. Problems never came alone.
-We found this wolf nearby, my lord! - Victor Valerius spoke exultantly in his moment of glory.
James stared at the boy in bewilderment. Usually, they killed wolves. Why should that particular one be so important?
- I can watch, Victor. - He agreed reluctantly. - I need our sorcerers away from here as quickly as possible. I don't want humans to see us. Those who were unfortunate enough to attend or who were here must be silenced without pain or suffering.
Victor was careful to hide his anger at the orders. It was a war. Sometimes James was too tolerant. It took a steady, energetic pulse to fight wolves.
-My lord, I have news that should interest you.- Victor bowed respectfully. - This... this wolf brings reports that should be heard by your highness.
James de Macgrover looked back at his trusty man suspiciously.
- What do you mean by that?
Victor flashed an overconfident smile. James knew of the boy's ambition.
- My lord possessed the ability to read minds. You can test the same or listen to what I found. - Valerius' voice was loud for everyone to hear.
James could curse. Victor tried to incite the sentries against the wolves once more. The injured wolf was an old man and had visible signs of being tortured. Irritation crossed his face. His sentries knew his orders. Neither women, children nor babies were to be hurt or molested in this war. He again considered the decision. The accusing eyes of a young man glared at him with hatred in front of the bodies of his murdered parents. That look full of suffering had put a stop to the violent deaths caused by sorcerers in the hunt for wolves.
Valerius pushed the man violently in front of him.
-Kneel, animal. It is the lord of the White Order who stands in front of him. Show respect and reverence. - The order came abruptly.
The angry wolf bit back a groan and spat contemptuously on the ground.
-Victor, Victor. I already explained to you...
-You can change your mind when you hear that a newborn child has been taken in by the pack as one of their own. A girl. The child was born on the same day that Lady Koriander met her death at the merciless hands of these animals, my lord.
James de Macgrover's eyes flash, firing electrical charges in fury. A girl?
-Speak, wolf! - He ordered brusquely.
He was a sorcerer. He mastered magic like no other in his clan. Some spells conjured up the truth. Merciless and relentless, he projected violently before the man who was lying on his feet causing the wolf to gasp.
- Die, wretch. - The wolf screamed wildly.
James glared at him in anger. He had been very careful to control his explosive and violent temper in those years. Someone needed to rein in his people's fury of revenge. He took a deep breath and his eyes gleamed silver like moonlight.
-DOMINUS!
That spell was always painful. The more the person resisted, the greater the pain that dominated him. The features of that wolf in front of him were livid, but James showed no mercy. He was also a warrior.
Valerius lowered his face, hiding his sudden pleasure. It was a satisfaction to see the Lord Regent reacting to the news with fury. The old king secretly still harboured hopes that perhaps the mischievous princess was alive.
Another more painful groan echoed. The wolf writhed again in agony.
-Talk about the child. - Victor ordered exultantly as he pressed his fingers soaked with wolf weed on the exposed part of the prisoner's shoulder.
-The child! James' voice was relentless steel that induced his will.
The fallen man growled, uselessly baring his helpless fangs.
James' gaze, however, didn't show any compassion in the tone of command obligatory for him to be obeyed.
-The child, wolf. What became of the child?
-The child... the child was brought to the castle by Lady Lizandra. - The voice was apathetic and airy.
A flash of pain crossed the Regent's gaze for a single moment. He thought of Koriander again. Lizandra was her sister. Was it possible that Lizandra had mercifully saved the newborn child? A girl. James took a deep breath.
Was his daughter alive?
- The girl... - Anxiety betrayed him, awakening an overwhelming hatred. He was getting impatient. If he pushed the wolf any further… he couldn't help but notice the trickle of blood escaping from the wounded wolf's mouth. He was going to end up killing the wretch. - What became of the girl?
Kassandra!
Kassandra was alive somewhere under the wolves' domination. He just thought his daughter breathing filled him with an unprecedented rage at the knowledge that the child had grown far away from him.
There were customs and traditions. A child always belonged to the father. It was the wolves' obligation to deliver such a young child to the family.
-My daughter... - he hissed like a furious animal. - What became of my daughter?
The wolf snarled again, panting, its faces white with pain. The child had been kept safe among the wolves. The Council of Elders feared her abilities as a powerful descendant of sorcerers. The prophecies made by the oracles brought fear to the wolves. The girl should be kept safe and away from everyone.
-You won't find the girl. - The wolf spat like arrogant words.
He knew his fate would be death, he could see his sentence decided in the eyes that stared at him with obvious contempt. The girl...she was a sorceress protected by wolves. As tradition dictated, she belonged to the pack's alpha. For a moment Raios thought of his daughter who still lived in Scarlet. Your beloved Caroline. He knew he would never see his beloved Carol again...
For three long years, Raios lived in exile. The Council had decreed their exile from the midst of the wolves after their arguments were heard with trepidation regarding the half-breed they harboured. He knew he would never again roam the green forests of Scarlet. He'd known alkyl the moment he'd been abandoned by his people far from the clan's confines.
-I'll find the girl! - James assured with double anger.
The sentries stared at him with expectation and surprise. Valerius could hardly believe it.
-Summon the Duke's Revenge! James' scream reverberated through the sudden silence. - Release the Ichichos! May the wolves feel the Wrath of the White Order. Once again!
Rays didn't even scream. Valerius was a violent and bloodthirsty warrior. Before the old wolf could react, he had his neck broken in a single blow.
James showed no mercy. He walked away, coming to his senses, without finishing the job. But Valerius... He didn't quite have the same leniency to spare a wolf's life.
He intended to bring his daughter back to the clan. The wolves had made a terrible mistake.
They would now feel the power of the Duke's Revenge. This time, the ICHICHOS would obey his orders. Wolves would regret violating traditions. James had conjured a pact to ensure the missing daughter was found.
All he cared about was keeping his daughter safe