Chapter Fifteen
824 Words
Familiarity Admiss Chaos
Lady Consort Elissa Duskmere
Night had settled over Ravenor Fortress.
What should have been a place of celebration now resembled a city of refugees. Hundreds of tents stretched across the vast stone courtyard, their lanterns glowing like scattered stars against the darkness. Children cried for parents who would never answer. Wounded men groaned as healers hurried between makeshift beds. Fear lingered over every soul sheltered behind Ravenor's towering walls.
I rested my hands on the balcony rail, staring at the sea of tents below.
So many lives...
All changed within a single day.
Behind me, Morvane slept soundly upon the chamber floor. His massive body rose and fell with slow breaths. Fresh bandages wrapped around his wounded leg, and I smiled faintly.
"You're terrifying," I murmured softly, "yet somehow... adorable."
A familiar laugh answered me.
"I never imagined I'd hear someone call a Dreadwyrm adorable."
I turned.
"Zephar!"
I hurried forward and embraced my brother tightly. For a brief moment, I forgot everything—the blood, the monsters, the screams.
He hugged me just as tightly.
"I've been looking everywhere for you."
I pulled away, relief washing over me.
"I should be asking you that. Are Mother and Father here?"
His smile faded.
"They're safe."
I released the breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"But Father was injured while helping people escape Yorkhaven."
My heart clenched.
"Injured?"
"It isn't life-threatening," Zephar reassured quickly. "The physicians treated him. He's resting now."
Guilt settled heavily upon my chest.
"I should have gone home sooner..."
"You couldn't have known this would happen."
I lowered my gaze.
"I still wish I had."
Silence lingered between us before another thought struck me.
"Have you seen Princess Nyxa?"
Zephar nodded.
"She made it inside."
Relief flooded through me.
"Thank goodness..."
His expression hardened.
"You weren't here when it happened."
"When what happened?"
"The General executed King Vaelor and Prince Rhydian at the gates."
I stared at him.
"So... they're truly dead."
"They never stood a chance."
I thought back to the executions.
The arrows.
The swords.
The absolute certainty with which the Ravenor Knights obeyed.
"Their deaths..." I murmured quietly.
"...were quick."
Zephar blinked.
"I expected you to be horrified."
"I was."
"Were?"
"I've seen far worse today."
My voice surprised even me.
"I've watched people lose their heads..."
"...their hearts ripped from their chests..."
"...children searching for parents who would never answer."
I swallowed.
"Compared to that... a swift death almost feels merciful."
Zephar stared at me in silence.
Then he smiled sadly.
"You've changed."
I laughed quietly.
"I suppose..."
"I've finally grown up."
He chuckled.
"Not completely."
"Oh?"
"You still spent half your fortune on dresses."
I placed a hand dramatically over my chest.
"I refuse to apologize for beauty."
He laughed louder.
"There she is."
The sound made me smile.
For one precious moment...
We simply laughed together.
It felt almost normal.
Almost.
Then curiosity returned.
"Zephar..."
He looked at me.
"Do you know what those creatures are?"
His smile disappeared instantly.
"I do."
"They were never meant to exist."
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
He leaned against the stone railing, watching the frightened refugees below.
"They were ordinary hyenas."
"Hyenas?"
He nodded.
"Prince Rhydian had them trained as palace guard beasts."
I remembered those crimson eyes...
Those iron claws...
Nothing about them had looked ordinary.
"But the prince grew greedy."
"He wanted an unbeatable army."
"He wanted the Crimson Hunt to be remembered as the greatest victory in royal history."
"So he sought forbidden magic."
My stomach tightened.
"A witch."
Zephar nodded once.
"She was ordered to alter the beasts."
"To make them faster."
"Stronger."
"Impossible to kill."
His voice darkened.
"The spell was twisted" then my mind flashed back to the woman at the cage, she must be the witch, they had met her and she now have the witch book, she had to tell Nyxa. Was there a spell to change them.
"They ceased to be animals."
"They became Apex Hyenas, or something more terrifying "
He looked toward the fortress gates.
"They forgot every command."
"Every master."
"Every chain."
"They no longer knew loyalty."
"They only knew hunger."
A shiver raced down my spine.
I remembered the hollow crimson eyes...
The iron claws...
The blood.
The screams.
I wrapped my arms around myself.
"I saw one."
Zephar's face paled.
"You what?"
"It looked straight at me."
Neither of us spoke.
A knock broke the silence.
"My Lady."
Yena bowed respectfully.
"The General requests your presence."
I blinked.
"The General?"
"Yes, my lady."
Theoren.
I sighed quietly.
"What does that devil want now?"
Zephar laughed beneath his breath.
"Be careful saying that where Ravenor Knights can hear you."
"I'll take my chances."
Straightening my gown, I cast one last glance toward the sleeping Morvane before following Yena through the silent corridors of Ravenor Fortress.
For reasons I could not explain...
I had a feeling this summons would change everything.
- Writer
