The Forsaken Hero

”Bethiv?” I asked, my tail flicking excitedly.

The servant glanced at my expression, relaxing a touch. ”You know him? Then please, follow me. His Majesty is entertaining them in the audience chamber.”

”His Majesty?” Luke muttered, twisting the words with a snort. ”He’s already got everyone calling him that?”

”Shhh,” I shushed him, giggling as the servants nearby gave him sharp looks. ”He’s not like the other kings.”

”Oh? I don’t see how that’s true.”

”He’s...honest. I think. I hope.”

”Except for the part where he was fine with the church killing you?”

”I told you I wasn’t upset with that. It’s past now, and it gave you the chance to save me, remember? You liked that part, didn’t you?”

His cheeks flushed as he looked away. ”I just did what had to be done.”

I giggled again, grabbing his arm and pulling him along. It was nice to laugh, to let the gravity of Haven slip away. Strange, normally Enusia was the place I wanted to escape.

The servants opened the doors, ushering us into the audience chamber. It was filled with people, from elvish nobles to armed guards. In the middle, in a large open space, was a trio of Last Light Soldiers. They wore the light armor of scouts, with bows slung over their backs and short swords on their hips. Aerion sat on his throne, listening intently as the leader spoke.

”Thus, we must strike...my Lady!” he cried, turning with a salute the instant he sensed my aura behind him.

He and the other two saluted, their report forgotten. Aerion’s lips pursed in displeasure, his eyes narrowing at me.

”Forgive the intrusion,” I said meekly, letting go of Luke to curtsey to Aerion. Luke remained standing, staring down the king.

Aerion sighed and waved his hand. ”Please, no need for such formalities, Oracle. Our kingdom is in debt. I won’t have you lowering yourself before us.”

A murmur rippled around the room, the nobles with scathing looks, while almost every common soldier and servant nodded approvingly. But I didn’t bother reading their reactions beyond that. With Luke at my side, glaring at anyone who got too close, I met my soldiers, smiling brightly.

”Truly, your beauty grows by the day,” The leader said, bowing slightly. ”We’re heartened to find you in good health. My name is Avrass, if you don’t recall, Head Ranger of the Last Light Ranger Corps. I’m here on direct orders of Commander--”

”You’re hurt!” I gasped, hand flying to my mouth.

At first glance, the three were in good health, if a bit gaunt, their eyes worn and wearied. But as I stood before them, I could see the limp in one’s step, the arm that seemed a bit too stiff. Most apparent was the half-healed scar on Avrass’s cheek, mirroring Luke’s but on the other side. His brow was red and puffy where it crossed his socket, but fortunately, the eye didn’t seem harmed.

”You’re hurt,” I whispered, my heart sinking. I reached up, taking Avrass’s face in my hands. He flinched at my touch, eyes wide and panicked, but I ignored his protests and soul cast a healing spell. He sagged as it washed over him, knitting the wound together, and took a long, shuddering breath. I let my power flow outward, enveloping the other two as well.

”Thank you, my Lady,” Avrass said, a dreamy look in his eye. He shook his head, regaining his composure. ”Your kindness was unwarranted.”

”You must be exhausted,” I said, turning to look at the other two. ”Why are you still here, not resting? To have come all this way...on foot?”

He nodded, straightening. ”Yes, but that hardly matters now. The Commander dispatched us with the utmost haste.”

”Please sit down,” I said, gesturing to the wall, where a few chairs were arranged.

”But my Lady--”

”Please, can someone fetch them something to drink?” I asked, turning to a servant.

Behind them, Aerion chuckled, leaning back on his throne. It wasn’t until he waved that they hurried off, and the elves cleared out of our path. The soldiers sat, and Avrass accepted a goblet of water with a grateful nod.

”So, what’s got you so far from your company? Are you not still defending the eastern border?” Luke asked.

I gave him a look.

”It’s alright, my lady. We appreciate your concern, but...our matter is urgent,” Avrass said, chuckling faintly. ”We were sent to inform Sylvarus that the Risen are preparing another offensive. The apostle of fire destroyed the shard of the nearby city, but they are massing such that it seems they intend to attack Sangra City yet again.”

”But how were you injured?” I asked.

”Oh, just another skirmish with the Risen. They’ve been testing our defenses, slowly bleeding our strength out.”

”And Bethiv sent you out like this...?”

He shrugged, scratching his cheek. ”We’re the quickest, most mobile force the company has. Besides, our wounds were minor and hardly required the mage’s energy.”

”Are things so dire, ranger, that your forces have not the strength to recover from minor skirmishes? Or that your commander has not the compassion to allow them to?” Aerion asked.

Avrass bristled. ”Commander Bethiv has more honor than any pointy-eared noble I’ve ever met. Our forces have been fighting for almost a year straight, from demons to the circle, and now we’ve held the line against the Risen. Had Lady Xiviyah not ordered we stand fast, your forests would long since have fallen to their darkness.”

”I did not intend to make light of your suffering, nor your contributions. Forgive me, but it’s taken much of my focus and thought to set our own affairs in order,” Aerion said.

The elvish nobles gaped at him, disbelieving their ears. Even I stared at him, tail frozen mid-twitch. An apology? From Aerion?

Aerion rose, walking into the chamber proper. The elves parted around him, bowing respectfully. he stopped before us, gaze resting on Avrass.

”Friends, for I have no other words to call you, you have fought our fight without us for too long. Perhaps you are right, and we’ve taken the mercy and generosity of the Oracle for granted. Allow us the chance to right that wrong, and show you what we ’pointy-eared nobles’ are capable of.”

He turned to an aide. ”Send for Commander Whitemarsh. I swore to our people we would drive the Risen from this land. It’s time we make good on that promise.”

”Yes, your Majesty.”

”You’re...sending reinforcements?” I asked.

Aerion chuckled, shaking his head. ”No, of course not. I’m sending everyone. Every Garrison, mercenary, and adventurer. Every sword we can spare, every spell we can cast.”

”Your Majesty!” an elf gasped, one I recognized from the Crimson Dawn. ”That would leave us open to the de--” he bit his tongue, glancing nervously at Luke.

”Peace,” Aerion said, holding up his hand. ”I hadn’t intended to reveal this to the public yet, but I suppose this is as good a time as any. An agreement has been reached between the representatives of the Demon Horde and me. We no longer have reason to fear their invasion.”

All eyes turned to Luke, who shrugged. ”It’s the truth. No demon under my command will set foot in the forest, or wing to the skies above,” he said.

An excited whisper passed through the room, but Aerion raised his hands, bringing quiet before the gossip could spiral out of control. ”As King of Sylvarus, I declare war on the fallen nation of Ornth, and its ruler, the Hero of Undeath. Marshal every sword, spell, and skyship. We march on the morning of the second day.”

As the elves broke into haphazard cheers, I grasped Avrass’s hand, tugging on him until he got to his feet.

”Come,” I said, ”You must be tired.”

He shook his head, gently taking his hand away. ”Perhaps, my Lady, but we should get back to the Company. They’ll need us.”

”The three of you?” I asked, tilting my head.

”We don’t have many rangers,” he admitted, lowering his eyes. ”Just twenty of us. Every bit of intel and stratagem we can share saves that many more lives.”

I frowned at him, opening my mouth, then closing it as an idea struck me.

”Zephyriss,” I said, summoning my staff. ”To me.”

Ignorant of the gasps and fear circling the audience chamber, I opened a gate, calling the storm demon to my side. From the look of things, she had been flying somewhere high over Sylvarus.

”Yes, Oracle?” she asked, peering curiously around the room of terrified elves, smirking as the guards half drew their swords.

”Please, take what storm demons you have with you and reinforce the Devoted on the border. Tell Inciderus I’d like you to work with Bethiv as his scouts.”

She eyed me for a second before nodding and streaking back through the portal as it closed. I stared at it as the stars vanished, lips parted in a silent gasp.

”They can do that?” Luke asked, moving beside me.

”I...I didn’t know. It’s two-way...?” I mumbled, rubbing my horn.

Luke put a hand on my shoulder, pulling me back from the gawking court. Even Aerion stared at me with that calculating gaze, sending a shiver down my spine.

”Let’s go,” he murmured, sliding his hand down my arm, taking my hand. He turned to the soldiers. ”I trust that’s good enough for you? A demon lord in place of three rangers.”

”Y-yes, my Lord,” Avrass said, as slack-jawed as everyone else.

”Then close your mouth and keep up. You’ll make Xiviyah worry if you don’t,” he said, squeezing my hand.

I nodded faintly, still staring where the portal had been but seconds before. Luke pulled me away, but my feet moved on their own, my thoughts racing.

”Where are we headed?” he whispered as we left the chamber behind.

”Hmm? Oh, Haven. Definitely, Haven,” I said.

”And them?” He nodded at the soldiers following meekly behind us.

”Them too. There’s someone I want them to meet.”