Fated to rule

Hope

The day of Hambic's arrival came. Dendrick, thanks to his ability fully recovered, packed several things. Stepped out of his homestead by the second entrance, mostly for animals, and whistled three times always in a different tone. A fully grown, muscular, majestic white stallion appeared on the horizon and run straight towards Dendrick. 

"Hello, Phillip."

"I need you on this trip, old friend," said while he was patting its blaze. "Once again, you and me. What do you say?"

It almost seemed like the horse understood him for it was nodding its head with a long silver mane right after Dendrick finished the question.

"I knew I can count on you." The old man smirked at the animal, but his smile quickly turned to a frown. "What about Gellerion? I haven´t seen him yet. Shouldn´t I go search for him?" Saying that he looked into Phillip´s baffled eyes. These two deep black pools were staring right back at him with uncomprehending expression. "Yes. You won´t help me with this decision. On the other hand, I think somebody could help me with it. Come on boy, let´s go so the man won´t wait for us."

...

Water was gently carrying Gellerion´s body away. The stream was slow, but the boy´s head was immersed, and by each minute passing, he was getting closer and closer to drowning. A silhouette of somebody suddenly appeared under the water right in front of Gellerion´s face. 

"Wake up, boy." Said a soft, lovely voice, although Gellerion, still in unconsciousness, couldn´t hear it. 

"Wake up." Repeated the creature with a slight raise in its voice. Compared to a normal conversation, the underwater being was still whispering. Seeing the fact, her voice is not strong enough to wake him up, pair of petite arms formed with part of her upper body and neck. The rest was completely transparent. Even though she knew it was forgiven to touch a mortal, she couldn´t resist. Something was attracting her to the tall, young man. The water lady pressed her lips to his and sucked the water out of the boy´s lungs so he wouldn´t sink again. 

Soon after, her tiny arms grabbed Gellerion´s well-defined shoulders, and with a lot of effort, turned him upside down, so his head was now looking up to the sky. The polite stream inhabitant also made sure he won´t lose his two-handed sword and sheathed it to its scabbard attached on Gellerion´s back. Right after she did everything she could, several pairs of rounded eyes, shining in the dark, appeared from behind. 

"Please don´t...!" She wasn´t even able to finish the sentence before she was dragged down to darkness by other creatures living there. They weren´t fishes she could command to. These creatures with tentacles instead of the tail fin and smaller, similar to human´s hands, covered with scales ended with sharp claws. They called them Sabtocles in the River kingdom. Ugly, malicious and insidious monsters, being hungry for every last drop of blood or piece of meat. They usually couldn´t attack anything near to surface. Living in the darkness didn´t allow them to approach the light, but this time, the river lady canceled the spell protecting her from evil beings in order to save the young man.

...

Dendrick was standing right in the middle of a burned village. Fortunately, he found a water well near a building, so the exhausted four-legged friend got at least a bit of refreshment. After a complimentary slap on Phillip´s skin, he decided to go through the Dollage. His eyes were slowly filling with dread. Death bodies of men, women, even children were all over the village mostly burned or killed by a blade of dull goblins. Now he realised what Norrick told him. His friend was worried about strange, dark purple symbols. Dendrick approached one of the dead goblins and looked for the mark, but he couldn´t see any. Ready to examine it, his hands moved closer to the creature.

"DO NOT TOUCH IT!" Shouted Hambic from behind "IT IS GOING TO KILL YOU!" 

Dendrick shrank back as he didn´t notice the man´s presence. 

"Step back!" The tall man obeyed and turned towards the stranger. "You must be Hambic!" Said calmly. 

"Yes, I am. Who are you? Where is Norrick?" 

"Norrick is dead... I am his friend, Dendrick." This message obviously filled Hambic with sadness. "This won´t be easy to say to the king. How did it happen?" The visibly older man came closer with dark steeled staff in his right hand. "His soul was poisoned by Melliana. We... I wasn´t able to do anything." He wasn´t sure if he should tell him about Gellerion, so he fell silent. "The dark mad sorceress? This Melliana?" 

"Yes." Nodded Dendrick. "I think this case is over then. It is obvious that all of this was caused by dark magic. Nevertheless, you said that his soul was poisoned. When did it happen?"

"Just two days ago. Why?"

"I would like to see him and do some spells. Dark magic is powerful, but my magic is too, even though I haven´t used it since the Great War. I will need some equipment for it." By a stroke of light Hambic disappeared, and after 2 minutes came back the exact same way as he vanished. 

"Alright. I´ve got everything. Can you show me the way?" 

"Of course. Of course. But... Why you took all these thing right now? You could just wait until we get to my home." 

"Well, I couldn´t. This spell is practicable only two times. There and back again. Then I need to gather my power back. Also, it is limited by distance. Now stop staring at me and go! My time is valuable." 

Dendrick quickly led him to Phillip and helped the old man get on the horse. Whispered something to the horse´s ear and stood up in front of the wizard. "What are you doing!" Scolded Hambic. The tall, hairy man looked behind then back forwards and in a single jump turned into the great beast. Phillip loudly neighed and started running the way Dendrick led him. The wizard tried to hide his amazement under his long gray beard, although it was hard. He never saw the living exemplar of Blagod. 

All three of them now continued furiously on the way back to the homestead.