Not All Heroes Are Guiltless

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Andy draws me into a protective hug as I have a moment of anguish at the falling form of the mage. It’s almost physically draining trying to keep my control from my hurting wolf. “Aela, what happened? What did he do to you?”

I’m still stunned by the vision and lost to what the vision could have been or meant. I don’t think the vision was something the mage created. He couldn’t have done anything that elaborated in just a few seconds. Even the strongest mage would need hours to prepare something of that caliber. Could it have been from a god? Still, he called me Delia. Only my father called me that, and he’s been dead for nearly thirty years. How would a Bellarn know about it?

I stare down into the dark camp underneath us when we hear the harrowing howl of a hungry rabid wolf. The growls ripple around the side of the mountain from under us. A shudder ripples through me at the sound.

The mage was a lupine just like me. He must have transitioned into his cursed form to survive the fall. Yet, Bellar has never accepted a lupine into his ranks before. Why do they have a cursed creature? Then my gut drops at the realization. He’ll tear the camp up now that he’s transformed into his monster. I have to get down there and save our men.

Andy seems shocked also, but he quickly rushes down the side of the cliff, and I’m following right behind. By the time we reach the camp underneath, we see body parts and blood littering the forest floor. The growls had stopped, but the sharp piercing shrill of steel on steel was coming from the center of camp.

When we arrive, several men of our party are nursing wounds while the third mage, the lupine, is fighting naked with a stolen sword, probably from one of the dead Bellarns. Andy and I quickly engage and force Bellarn to focus his attack on us because we are the strongest fighters of our troop.

With a pungent shriek of steel, Andy is deflected away first, and I can see the mage is going for a quick s***h on his leg. I use my dagger and push him away to save Andy from a potentially fatal wound. I quickly set my feet and proceeded into a quick succession of attacks, which I know he is quick enough to dodge because I couldn’t land any on top of the cliff. This time, though, he has a sword, so I’m wary about allowing him any openings. I keep attacking, not allowing him to have a break, and he dodges and parries without any emotion, and I can’t even make out a rugged breath. He’s calm, and his stamina is impressive. I just need him to keep focus on me to buy Andy enough time to figure out a tactic to take him down. I just have to wait for Andy to make his move.

Andy sneaks around behind him. I try to hide my relief when I see something in Andy’s hand that looks like a crystal. Maybe he has an enchanted gem that might work on my opponent. With little effort, the mage deflects and counters, pushing me away from him. He then turns and prepares a defense stance turns to prepare for Andy’s attack. However, instead of a blade, I see the crystal start to glow and look like it exploded in Andy’s hand.

I am blinded by the light and try to keep my head from spinning. My ears are ringing, and I cup my head and fall to my knees. It feels like my whole body is burning and tingling, and instead of my knees, I start crashing to the ground when two arms wrap around me. I quickly want to protest because I’m repulsed by the touch. I struggle to push the arms away from me.

“Aela, calm down.” Andrew whispers, and I can feel his foul breath in my ear. Why am I repulsed by Andrew? He’s been my best friend for years.

A deep growl vibrates around me, and I’m filled with dread as I recognize it as the other lupine, and I’m no longer able to fight. Then I hear a large crashing sound, and everything is quiet and still. I close my eyes and allow my pained-filled head some comfort in sleep.