Chapter 731: The Lone Goblin

For the crew of a small frozen ship, the day passed by in relative peace. Gone were the fires and floods of the battle of Murkton. The taste of blood and iron in the air was no more; instead, they were replaced with the sound of laughter and light conversation. They were finally going home, back to Hollow Shade. Yet there was still a certain sense of unease in the crew for what lay ahead.

While most sought solace in the company of friends, Stryg sat alone at the bow of the ship. In his lap, he held the ancient tome that Lunae had procured for him from the library archives of the castle. Tauri and Gale had sat with him for a while, but he barely shared a word. His focus was solely on the worn yellow pages of the book.

As the day came to an end and dusk brought on the promise of night, Stryg still sat at the bow, reading. Gale and Tauri watched him from a distance, wondering if they should interrupt him or not.

“Please, tell me this is not going to be another book of memories problem,” Gale said.

“It can’t be, right?” Tauri asked, though she sounded unconvinced. “He’s still awake. That has to mean something, I think…?”

“Do you even know what the book is about? I couldn’t make sense of it.”

“Not really. I tried glancing at a page. I think it’s written in the old ebon tongue and the arcana.”

“So it really is another cursed magic book.” Gale ran a hand across her face and groaned.

“We don’t know if it’s cursed.”

“If he falls unconscious again, I swear I’m going to smack the shit out of him.” Gale held up a gauntlet-covered fist.

“I thought you were his Shadow? His ever-protective Shield?” Tauri cocked an eyebrow, though she couldn’t hide her smirk.

“Exactly. I’m protecting him from his own dumbassery,” Gale said as if it were obvious.

“Dinner’s ready!” Belle called out with a wide grin. In each hand, she held up a row of cooked fish tied to a string. “I caught them all by myself!”

“And I cooked them,” Frey held up her chin with pride. “You’re welcome.”

“And I brought the booze,” Callum wiggled a bottle of wine in his hand.

“I’m starting to get what you saw in your old students, sister,” Lucas leaned towards Tauri and whispered. “They are quite resourceful.”

“You just like to drink,” Tauri pushed him away.

“Who doesn’t, though?” Lucas said.

Tauri glanced at Stryg, he was still engrossed in his book. “Give me a moment. I’ll go bring our ‘captain.’”

Stryg suddenly stood up on his own. He shut his book and slipped it into the satchel on his hip.

“Never mind. It looks like food is a strong enough draw,” Tauri said dryly.

“Everyone, this is where I leave you,” Stryg said.

“Gods dammit, I knew it. Fucking cursed book,” Gale said.

“Stryg, darling, what are you talking about?” Tauri carefully walked over to him.

“There is something I must do if I am to protect Hollow Shade. And I must do it alone,” Stryg said.

“Are you sure, cousin?” Belle asked in a solemn voice.

“I am,” he nodded.

“Fair enough,” Belle shrugged and went back to eating her fish.

“Ignore her. Talk to me. What’s going on?” Tauri asked.

“I need to go somewhere and I need to reach it by morning. There are no rivers that will lead me there,” Stryg said.

“Then we’ll travel on foot,” Tauri said.

“It will take too long. I’ll need to fly if I am to arrive by morning. I cannot bring anyone with me,” Stryg said. “I won’t be gone long. I’ll meet you all back home in a few days.”

“Where exactly are you going?” Tauri narrowed her eyes.

“I’d rather not say.”

“Because he knows that we’ll disapprove.” Gale crossed her arms.

Stryg smiled weakly. “We all came on this journey to rescue Lucas and bring him home. We’ve done that. Almost. Take him to Hollow Shade. Finish your quest.”

“I am not letting you go alone,” Tauri said.

Stryg took a step back and summoned his wings in a small burst of wind. “I have to do this, Tauri.”

Gale grabbed his forearm. “She might not be able to stop you, but I certainly can. I’d like to see you fly with a sword jammed in one of your wings.”

“Gale—” Stryg started.

“My job is to protect you,” Gale said angrily. “How can I do that if you fly off on your own? We’re bound together, Stryg. For life. You and me. That is the oath we swore to each other. Shadow and Ward. Sword and Shield of Veres.”

“I know,” Stryg said.

“Then why? Why are you doing this?” Gale asked.

He grabbed her hand and gently removed it from his forearm. “I trust you with my life, my Shadow. So, I’m asking you to trust me with mine, just this once.”

“...What exactly are you trying to accomplish?” Gale asked.

“Something only I can do. Alone,” Stryg said.

Gale sighed and stepped. “Just this once. But if you’re not back in Hollow Shade in four days, I will come find you wherever you are and drag you back.”

“Four days is cutting it a little short—”

“Four days,” Gale hissed.

“Four days it is,” Stryg nodded.

“That’s what I like to hear,” Gale said.

Stryg’s expression grew serious, “Take care of them, Gale.”

“As you command, my lord,” Gale bowed.

“I mean, I can easily protect the pack, but sure, ask the sword lady too,” Belle said between a mouthful of fish.

Stryg smiled wryly, “I am aware, dear cousin. But someone has to watch your back while I’m gone.”

“Ooh, I didn’t think about that,” Belle rubbed her chin. “Hey, sword lady, how strong are you really?”

“Would you like to find out?” Gale said.

Belle's lips curled into a predatory smile, “Is that a challenge?”

“Friends, thank you for all your help. I could never have done this without you. We will be together again soon. I promise,” Stryg glanced at Callum, Kithina, Freya, and the rest.

They all wished him farewell and the best of luck, save for Tauri, who was watching him with worried eyes. Stryg pulled her into his arms. “Have I ever told you I love you?”

“Not enough.” She kissed him. “Come back soon, you arrogant fool. Or I will bring you the Katag army to find you.”

“I will.” Stryg stepped back and kicked off the ship. As he rose into the air, he beat his wings and shot higher into the sky. Soon enough, the river and the world below grew small. The wind rushed through his clothes and his hair, sending a pleasant chill through his body. The night was young and the stars and moon shone brightly in the sky.

It had been a long time since Stryg had truly been all alone. The last time was when he had escaped the poacher and found himself in a city he knew nothing of. It seemed like a lifetime ago now. The small, odd goblin had found himself a tribe, a family, within Hollow Shade. And now he was willing to do anything to protect them.

He wasn’t afraid anymore of what lay beyond the horizon of his village. He wasn’t afraid of the monsters he knew lurked in the shadows of the world. The Ebon Realm lay before him, unknown paths all around. With his purpose clear, he turned to the west and sailed the skies.

~~~

In the dawn light, two small processions gathered at a lonely hill. The top of the hill was marked by a ring of statues, their stone worn by the elements of the centuries. Smaller blocks of stone had been embedded into the ground, forming loose brick-like rings down the hill. Each block held a faded arcane sigil, though there was no magestone nor a spot for one.

The hill was not a place of magic or enchantments, rather one of several ceremonial spots built across the Dusk Valley. Many such hills had been destroyed over the years by Hollow Shade’s armies, but a few still remained in the far reaches of the valley where the noble Houses’ influence had little reach.

Both small processions stopped at the foot of the hill and a single man and woman stepped out, one from each group. The two figures stared at each other from across the grassy field, but said nothing. They walked up the hill from separate sides while their soldiers guarded the area from below.

A middle-aged human stood atop the hill, waiting for them. The man wore robes of white, his face covered in a cowl. In his hand, he held a staff made from an ashen tree, the wood pale as bone.

When the two figures reached the top of the hill, they bowed to the robed man. He looked at the two in turn, first regarding the older one, a drow, “Chieftain Aqil of the Olnwald Tribe.” He glanced at the young woman, a vampire, “Chieftess Mylaril of the Adder Tribe. I welcome you both to the Meeting of Dawn.”

“We thank you for your light, High Priest Lodin,” the two chieftains said in unison.

Lodin turned to the sun peaking over the horizon. “As the light of the dawn graces us with its warmth, let us speak from the heart and in doing so, begin this Meeting of Dawn.”

With the traditional rituals complete, the two chieftains relaxed their posture and looked around in disappointment.

“Only two of us came?” asked Aqil.

“Cowards,” Mylaril snarled.

“They are not cowards, young chieftess,” said Lodin. “They are in pain. Afraid. Recovering from the wounds of battle. Even now, the tribes are fleeing from the armies that march through our valley.”

“My grandmother would have never let this happen. She would have kept the tribes together,” Mylaril said.

“Chieftess Sylaril pledged her loyalty to King Marek like the rest of us,” Aqil said.

“Not out of loyalty. Marek had those monsters. If it weren’t for them and his dragonrider, my grandmother and so many other tribes would have never joined his cause, unlike you,” Mylaril glared at the old drow.

“We were trying to fight for a better world for our people,” Aqil said, though there was no fight left in his voice, only exhaustion.

“And look where it got us! We are so broken that not even the chieftains will come to this sacred place for fear that our enemies will attack,” Mylaril said.

“They do not come because their priority is the safety of their tribes,” said Lodin. “It is as you said, young Mylaril, our people have taken great losses. They are afraid. They look to their leaders to protect them. How can the chieftains leave their tribes when their people need them most?”

“That’s why we’re here. To figure out a way to protect our people,” Mylaril said.

“No, we’re here because the high priest asked us to be,” Aqil said.

“You will not fight?” Mylaril asked.

Aqil sighed. “Fight whom? The Great Cities’ armies converge on our lands. There is no fighting this. Even if King Marek were still alive and at the height of his power and army, we would still break against the enemy’s combined forces. We must flee.”

“Fucking coward. We are the Keepers of Dawn, we do not break against the darkness!” Mylaril shouted.

“You are young, Mylaril. Your grandmother kept you out of the siege,” Aqil said. “You were not there when the giant wolves of the forest ambushed us across the battlefield. The lucky ones died during the trample. The rest of our men were eaten alive or stabbed by an unknown blade in the mist, left to bleed out alone in the dark. Don’t you see? We lost. Now we must protect those we can.”

Mylaril shook her head. “Tell me you do not agree with him, Lodin?”

The high priest looked up at the morning sky and sighed. “I…”