The trotting of horse hooves made a noise so calming Rath nearly fell asleep, the light chilly breeze carefully caressed the leaves as it passed through - the trio was on their way to Morniya, a humble village to the north of the capital and it's cold, ancient castle - Elaris' personal cage.
"So princess.. Do speak of this grand scheme of yours.." Lex broke the quiet and calm.
"My grand scheme?" She glanced at him.
"But of course.. We are saving the world aren't we now.." Lex mocked.
".. I don't have a plan.." She paused. "Yet." She looked forward to the never ending green path that led them closer to their destination.
"How is one of them going to stop.. All of them.." Lex sighed looking at Rath.
" We will figure it out.."
"Yeah.. I know.." Lex smiled bringing a much needed warmth to the conversation - Elaris felt alone in her decision, she felt selfish and guilty and this smile that had been by her side for years made her feel safe and supported. Lex always had her back.
"Hey, Little devil!" Lex nudged Rath, who was seated in front of him - rocking up and down along with the horse's sleep-inducing movements, with his shoulder.
"Yeah?" Rath raised his sleepy head.
"How strong are you really?.. Compared to your kind.."
"I honestly don't know.."
"What?" Lex was perplexed. "You are one of them, you grew up with them - how do you not know?"
"It's forbidden to use your strengths as a Night for any selfish reasons, never allowed outside the rituals.. And I never participated."
"Rituals?" Elaris' curiosity spiked yet again.
"Yeah.. They serve as a reminder of who we are, what we are capable of - our history.."
"Do go on now, little devil." Lex insisted.
"..We call it the Circle of the night.. My father made sure this tradition never went away." Rath looked to the side, sinking in bad memories. "Everyone takes their turn and.. They fight each other, almost to the death."
"Oh so like a tavern fight?" Lex chuckled.
"No.. It's much darker than that.." Rath's face got enveloped in darkness. "Seeing your friends be beaten senseless as every person in the crowd cheers for their demise, even their own mothers.. Cracks in their faces and skulls, broken arms and legs.. It's vile and disgusting.."
…
"..I'm sorry.." Elaris empathized.
"Everyone looked down on me for not participating. They said I had no honour, no right to even call myself a Night."
".." Lex's gaze softened with sadness. "No honour huh.."
"All my friends, one by one, eventually left me- their fathers despised me..my father most of all.."
"..What about this.. Cara girl?" Elaris gripped the reins of her steed, her brows furrowed, weighted down by a strange sense of sadness she felt.
"Cara?.. I don't know.. She's the prodigy - won every fight, got praised by everyone.. The polar opposite of me.."
"She cares about you, doesn't she?" Elaris asked.
"I suppose.. I'm not sure.."
"Oh little fella, she cares let me tell ya! This woman was about to tear out my guts if she felt I had any true intentions of killing you.." Lex glanced at Elaris. "Ain't that right, princess?"
"It's true.."
"Well either way - I don't know how I compare to any of them.. I can't help you with that.."
"You took out the entire military force of our kingdom by yourself didn't you?" Lex spoke without thinking and then glanced at Elaris to see her reaction.
She met his gaze with a sharp, cold stare that could be interpreted as -"You insensitive asshole".
"I.. Don't remember the fight.. I just remember feeling.. Sadness and.. Well- kneeling on top of all their bodies.."
"Then you fainted?" Elaris continued.
"Yes.. And then you took me away." Rath looked at Elaris and a very subtle, gentle smile carved its way on his tired face.
"What.." Lex mumbled to himself. "I just don't get why all of them would gather at that hill? They should have been at the dinner table awaiting the king's arrival.. And why the hell were you there, little devil?"
"My father.." Rath's eyes slowly watered, he gulped and shook. "He wanted to teach me a lesson.. To show me my true nature.."
"That's horrible.." Elaris saddened, her expression softening with empathy.
"There is one thing I do know.. I am powerless against him." Rath's heart sped up, his hands got even colder than they usually were. "He dragged me to that hill, said I had to fight them or he would kill.. "My human pet" ,as he called her, if I refused.. He had taken each of those knights' wives or children, probably sent a letter to all of them and with that forced them to show up and fight me.."
"..I'm sorry, kid.." Lex looked to the side.
"I didn't want to kill them.. I refused to do it and I.. Decided I would take Lara and run far, far away with her.. But right before I did, he.. Rolled his eyes, and pulled out her.." Tears went down Rath's face, they dripped onto the saddle, his face wrinkled and his jaw clenched in an attempt to stop himself from crying further. "He pulled out her head.." His voice cracked as he shook even more.
Everyone went silent - Lex and Elaris both looked so defeated. Elaris' eyes watered, Lex' brows furrowed with anger.
"I don't remember anything after that.." Rath whispered shakily with tears streaming down his face.
"He will pay!" Elaris fervently whispered, her soul burning with a desire to exact justice upon the evil of this world.
"Aye.." Lex added.
And with that - quiet and calm took over their journey once again. They ventured deep into dark forests, out, high up into the clearings of the grassy hills - north of the capital and then down the valley, before Morniya.
The sunlight dimmed, the skies dipped in the colours of the night, until, eventually, the moon shone over the two horses and their weary riders.
It was dark- but in the darkness -light shines the brightest. Little flickers of light in the distance, cozy and warm. They had arrived. Morniya.