Slay the Dragon

CHAPTER 22 - ERYS

The sun setting down gave them the signal to climb up to Ashfa ranges. Vahlyr led the group over the steep, rocky path towards the top. The night wind blew colder and stronger as they ascended. Erys found the path almost similar to the carved stairs in Volcron. However, it was too dark for these humans to see, so they had to go slow.

Erys couldn’t help himself but look up ahead where Mave was being helped by that Izan. It somehow made him frustrated. He didn’t know why, but he hated seeing them. It might be because she was still avoiding him while staying close to that man.

Earlier that time her foot slipped on a broken stone, causing her to fall backward. Good thing Erys caught her and said, “Are you okay?”

“Hands off.” She immediately moved away from him and continued climbing. “I don’t need your help.”

Erys was left speechless by how she replied. She was literally about to fall off the steep path and hurt herself. Did she want to die more than getting saved by him? She must have hated him that much. Why would he even care? He asked himself. She’s only a human … a dragon hunter.

But the mystery behind this girl made him so curious that he longed to talk to her more.

“Careful,” Izan told Mave. “Here, take my hand.”

And she did. She even thanked him for that … only for that!

Erys lifted his eyebrows in disbelief. This girl’s a racist, he thought with a sigh.

“Sellsword,” called Forsyr who was behind Erys. “You certain we’ll encounter fewer hunters in these ranges?”

“Aye,” Vahlyr answered as he continued his climb. “Only three bastions await us up ahead.”

“Three what?” Erys yelled up to him. “Are you out of your mind?”

“Relax, mate. The bastions are only guarded by scouts … scallywags I’d prefer calling them. Keep those hunter garments on and you’ll have no worries. We just pretend we’re reporting to the south, savvy?”

“Wait, you didn’t tell them?” Izan asked.

“I did now.”

“Hold on,” Erys said in a louder voice. “Can’t we just take the mountain side? Why the hell do we have to go straight to those bastions?”

“Didn’t you hear what I’ve said yesterday?” Vahlyr replied. “The ranges are surrounded by more hunters. They’ll get suspicious of us. The only path where we risk for less notice is at the top … Ask this lady here. She’s a hunter.”

Mave only gave a shrug.

“You better not cause the same trouble like what you did last time. I’ve had enough of your foolishness,” Vahlyr turned and continued his climb. “One mistake and they would light those fire alarms.”

Erys and Forsyr glanced at each other before heading on.

“Three bastions? This is madness, Erys,” Forsyr whispered behind him.

“I think we’ll be fine, Forsyr … as long as we stick to his plan,” he replied.

It took them a long time before they reached the end of the climb. Erys found himself so high that he couldn’t see any more clearly the ground far below. The cold gust of wind sent his hair and his cape into a flail.

“Tell me something about these bastions, chronicler,” Erys asked Izan as they walked over the rough path. He had to know what he’s about to face ahead, else they would catch him off-guard.

“The bastions …” Izan started, “Were built from the concept of the serpent. Are you familiar with the Amev Family in Shavath, Mave?”

“I know only one,” she replied. “Estes Amev, the Archon Hunter.”

Izan nodded. “They’re a well-known family of talented dragon hunters, with their signature serpent style swordsmanship. Before, they had found the Ashfa Ranges as a form of a snake. And so they built the three bastions, each symbolizing the serpent’s head, body, and tail. It is a form of communication, that when the Head Bastion spots a dragon flying in the north, it lights the fire signal to the body, then to the tail, and then to the Fortress of Ravareth.”

Erys frowned. Now he understood what Vahlyr had said earlier. They had to be careful if they didn’t want the bastion to signal the others.

When they finally glimpsed the head bastion rising in their view, Erys was surprised. The bastion appeared to be a lot bigger than what he imagined. A pair of stone towers rose high on both sides of the iron gate where two hunters stood on guard outside. The right tower hung an enormous metal bell while the left tower carried tons of wooden logs. Above the gate spread the crimson banner of Ravareth and the golden sunburst of the Empire.

Seeing the huge weapons at the top of the front walls had made Erys swallow hard. Behind the crenellations, several machines were aimed at them, armed with huge, deadly spears. They’re called scorpions, Izan told him. These weapons would be deadly for a dragon flying in sight.

The moment they came close enough, the scouts called them to halt. Erys and Forsyr tried to look down as much as possible as Vahlyr began to speak with them.

“Ahoy, mates,” Vahlyr said. “You remember the sellsword who crossed the three bastions a few days ago? I’d be pleased to cross again.”

“And who are these people?” a hunter asked.

“They promised me a pay. I came to take them back to the south safely.”

The hunters studied the people behind the sellsword when one of them spoke up and said, “Wait a minute.” He pointed at Mave. “I know you … You’re the wanted girl from Ravareth!”

Erys stormed his brows. Wanted? Who? Mave?

A short silence followed before Vahlyr broke in and said, “I’m afraid this girl’s mine. Her head’s got some great bounty in Ravareth, and a sellsword would want a great bounty.”

“If she’s your captive, then why is she not tied up?” The scout looked more suspicious.

Vahlyr gave a chuckle. “I don’t want to take that as an insult, mate. She’s got no escape from me.”

For a moment, the two hunters spoke to each other in a whisper. Erys slightly looked up, but then he suddenly found them looking at him. Damn it. Why did he raise his head? He whispered another curse.

“And who are these two hunters?”

Erys stopped breathing as his chest pounded fast in fear. If they would recognize his eyes, they’d immediately signal the fire and it would all be over.

“They’re with me on our way to Shavath. Are ye’ gonna let us pass or not?”

After a few seconds, the hunter said, “Open the gate.”

Erys breathed now. That was close … very close.

As they went through the first gate, he found himself entering a stone tunnel where the ceiling was curved. It was called a gatehouse, as Izan whispered to him. They passed by a series of archways on both sides of the wall. The two hunters led them towards the end where another gate could be seen.

The scouts stopped and turned around to face the group. One of them said, “You wait here.”

Erys exchanged glances with Forsyr.

“Wait? Why?” Mave asked them.

“We’ll call for Grand Lorath Morvil in the second bastion,” the hunter replied, his eyes locked on Erys and Forsyr.

Erys’ throat tightened. He was confused. Had they found out about their identities?

“Why in the world would you call him when we’re heading there anyway?” Mave told them.

“Sorry, mate. I hate to say it but we need to go now,” Vahlyr said.

“Alright then,” the scout pointed at Vahlyr. “You and the glasses guy can go. These three shall stay here and wait for Grand Lorath.”

As they continued to argue, Forsyr leaned close to Erys. “This getting worse,” he whispered. “We must not let them call for whoever that Grand hunter is. He sounds like a big threat to us. We should stop them now.”

Erys rolled his hands into fists, his palms getting cold and moist. This was not the way they planned it would happen. If they couldn’t cross this first bastion, how much more for the next two?

Vahlyr told them they should not do anything stupid. But this was already a different story. Calling for the Grand Hunter would only make things much worse. They needed to stop whoever would call or give the message to the second bastion. Just as Forsyr said, it was better to end things here and now. They didn’t know how many reinforcements would come later. But what would happen if they attacked now? Erys only sensed a few scouts here in the first bastion. This wouldn’t be hard. They could pull this off if they work together.

Erys turned his head to Forsyr and nodded.

They both transformed their arms; Erys in golden dragon skin, and Forsyr in emerald green. Sharp claws grew out of their hands—the next they charged.

The moment the two hunters saw them, they pulled out their swords and intercepted the claws. But Erys’ charge was powerful enough to shove the blade back. The hunter slammed against the iron gate, but he kept his balance.

“Light the signal!” one of the scouts yelled.

“You b****y fool! What have you done?” Vahlyr’s face went ferocious as he glared at Erys. He quickly pointed in the direction and shouted, “Stop him! Don’t let him reach the left tower!”

“I’ll get him,” Mave rushed past them to chase the scout.

Erys muttered a curse. He didn’t realize he made a huge mistake until now. If they lit the fire, it would signal all hunters nearby, including the two bastions.

“Look at what you’ve done!” Vahlyr pulled out his two sabers as more hunters came for them.

Erys felt stupid as he clashed with his opponent. What the hell was he thinking? He needed to go and help Mave now.