Harlan's Venom
998 Words
The Marston citadel sat on the hill. Walls of gray stone rose high. Towers stretched toward clouds. Windows lit from inner fires. Guards held positions at gates. Spears ready in hands. The road up wound sharp. Statues of old leaders lined it. Faces cut in rock. Eyes blank.
Guards hauled Zhilak inside. His body jerked with steps. Pain stabbed his side. Breath came short. He saw the hall. Long space with tall ceiling. Tables ran along sides. Chairs stood vacant. Servants hurried. They placed seats for talk.
Harlan entered first. He claimed the head chair. Fist slammed wood. Echo filled room. "Call the group. This stops now." A helper bowed. He dashed out. Kayrwin chose spot by Harlan. Face without mercy. Niamon picked seat. Eyes fixed on Zhilak. Riven rested against wall. Smile held. Seraphina chose far chair. Hands clasped in lap. Elara waited by entrance. Worry marked her face.
Guards let Zhilak drop to floor. He hit hard. Dust lifted. Ache flooded chest. He pushed to sit. Arm trembled. Blood fell from face.
Harlan stared down. "Talk. Explain why you curse us."
Zhilak drew air. Words formed slow. "Orb decided. Fault Aether. Not me."
Kayrwin let out laugh. Sound cut. "Aether selects fit. You proved unfit. Practice lost effort."
Niamon added. "Bad name travels quick. Harrison learns. Bond snaps. Sever now."
Riven advanced. "Cast him off. Let wastes claim." Voice quiet. Eyes sparkled.
Elara came near. "He battled scout. Kept lives safe." Tone steady.
Harlan shifted. "Battled? He dropped. No system. No role." He rose. Approached Zhilak. Boot struck ribs. Snap rang. Zhilak sucked air. Sight whirled.
"Funds blocked. Holdings claimed. You depart bare." Harlan stated. Voice ice.
Zhilak raised eyes. "Mother. Aid."
Elara dropped to knees. Palm on head. "Harlan. Reconsider."
"Leave!" Harlan jabbed finger at door. "Or face same."
She gained feet slow. Tears wet cheeks. Backed off.
Guards yanked Zhilak. Pulled him out. Hall cleared. They led to small chamber. Door closed. Bolt slid.
Zhilak stretched on stone. Chill crept in. Pulse inside stirred. Faint. Vanished quick.
Outside, Dorian found Calanthor in yard. Blooms showed red. Trail bent. "Marston youth missed mark," Dorian noted. "Turn it. Claim our edge."
Calanthor agreed. "Bond changes. We seize control." Face set.
Thorne crossed paths. Found cloaked one. "Son holds nothing." One dipped head. "Veyra expects."
Ground trembled slight. Calls from barriers. Wraith entered. Shape like ghost. Eyes shone white. It glided. Guards slashed. Strikes passed empty space.
Zhilak caught sound. Rose careful. Door cracked. Guard shouted. "Remain inside!"
Wraith drifted by. Reached guard. Man yelled. Dropped lifeless. Zhilak seized stool. Smashed it. Splinter sharp. He charged out. Swung at form. Missed. Wraith spun. Limb extended. Zhilak sidestepped. Tumbled. Hurt surged.
Niamon arrived. Aura flowed. Wraith lagged. Riven joined. Strike sliced. Form dissolved.
They turned to Zhilak. "You pull this," Niamon claimed. Walked off.
Zhilak remained. Breath ragged. Pulse beat. Firmer. Then quit.
Guards burst back. "Stay put!" One locked door again. Zhilak curled. Side throbbed. Thoughts turned to mornings. Elara showed forms. "Balance feet," she taught. Grip tight. Now, grip slipped. Family broke him. Beat came soft. Like distant call.
Harlan paced hall. "Failure leaks. Harrison mocks. Bramwell spots gaps. Brighton waits." Kayrwin replied. "Finish fast. Exile to borders." Niamon joined. "Or chain in hold. Let decay." Riven grinned. "Hand task to me. I handle." Elara wept. "He pushed limits. Recall his stands." Harlan halted. "Stands count little without system. He vanishes." Talk dragged. Tones climbed. Helpers shrank back. Zhilak heard fragments through wall. Each piece stabbed.
Dorian and Calanthor walked yard. "Push Harlan now," Dorian urged. "Our Adept grows. Their Archon cracks." Calanthor touched arm. "Betrothal ends. I claim better." Plan formed. Steps plotted.
Thorne reached shadow spot. Spoke to Veyra's agent. "Boy empty. Harlan crushes." Agent smiled. "Fine. Harvest his spark for Crown." Veyra's voice echoed in mind. Sharp plan.
Voss and Myra met in quiet corner. "Orb behaved odd," Voss noted. "Full dark." Myra tapped book. "Aether conceals at times. Track the youth." They set watch.
Guards returned to post. One rubbed neck. "Kid draws trouble." Other shrugged. "Deserved fall."
Zhilak lay still. Pulse returned. Heat built. Then chill struck. He saw room bars. Iron cold. Outside, city hummed. Homes warm. His home shut him out. Elara's image lingered. Soft touch. Harlan's boot print stayed. Beat whispered secret. Or false dream. Door rattled. Footsteps near. Voice outside. "Council calls more." Lock turned. Light spilled. Harlan's shadow fell long.
Niamon entered room. "Father sends word. You hear sentence." She stood tall. Aura pressed air. Zhilak sat up. Pain lanced. "What now?"
"Banishment. Tomorrow dawn." She turned. "No return."
He gripped bar. "Why you?"
"Family first." Door shut.
Pulse quickened. Hand tingled. Sight cleared brief. Then dark returned.
Calanthor paced her chamber. Dorian knocked. "News spreads. Marston weak." She opened door. "Good. Our time." They sat. Maps spread. "Take north lands." Fingers traced lines.
Thorne slipped into alley. Agent waited. "Details." Thorne spoke. "Slap. Kick. No system." Agent nodded. "Veyra pleased. Prepare trap."
Wraith mist cleared from hall. Servants cleaned. Blood spots wiped. Statues watched silent.
Zhilak shifted. Stone bit skin. Memories flooded. First sword lesson. Elara's hand guided. "Strike true." Laughter shared. Now, laughter from Kayrwin echoed in mind. Riven's threat rang. Beat steadied. Like heart of stone.
Harlan sat alone. Staff in hand. "Weak link cut." Whisper to self. Plan for Harrison meet.
Guards changed shift. New one peered in. "Restless?" Zhilak silent. Eyes closed.
Pulse grew. Warmth spread arm. Fingers flexed. Vision sharpened. Then wave hit. Nausea rose. He curled tight.
Outside, stars rose. City slept. Citadel lights burned late. Council voices low. Decision sealed.
Elara slipped to room. Key turned quiet. "Son." She knelt. Cloth to face. "I fight this."
Zhilak opened eyes. "Lost cause."
"No." Hand squeezed. "Aether hides. Wait."
Door creaked. Footstep near. She rose. Kissed forehead. "Strength." Slipped out.
Pulse settled. Sleep came fitful. Dreams of orbs. Dark. Then light faint.
Dawn neared. Guards prepared cart. Exile road called.
- Writer
