My eyes felt so dry. I could not close them. I was slung across the back of the smelly rhinoyak, ahead of my father and I was unable to do anything— anything but remember. I had been poisoned— by which of two hideous beasts I never knew for sure. One of the hashmocks had sunk its teeth into my ankle after I jousted it from its mount by skewering the eye of its boarwolf— just as Telgas had once told me. The boarwolf had crumpled in a heap but as I regained my sword and split the head of the hashmock, a tail load of quills invaded the core of my neck as another of his kind rode past.
After that, time stopped for I became both numb and paralyzed and my fear showed no hesitation in mirroring the sensation. Helpless I lay as the beasts closed in around me. Daegon struck out fiercely trying to protect me from all sides but I knew it was to no avail. There were still too many of them. Together we had managed to slay three hashmocks and two boarwolves, and a third was badly injured for I had missed coring its eye by a mere fraction— but that was all. I wanted to tell Daegon to flee but I could not and never would he have abandoned the son of Lxndra anyways.
It was in that moment that the strange thing happened. It fell like a bolt of lightening though it was black as coal in color. It struck the nearest beast and rider broad ways, burning a long swath right through both of them simultaneously while never slowing in rotation. Neither hashmock nor boarwolf had time to cry out though, in this regard, the others of their kind obliged immediately. There were many screams and the rest of beasts turned and fled with Daegon nipping at their heels until they cleared the meadow entirely.
Still I heard screaming but I could not turn my head— and then he entered my window of view— my father! He staggered as if he had been dealt a most severe blow. He held Solareth high in one hand while smoke poured out from the armour of his other. He picked up the black thing and instantly his armoured arm stopped smoking. The black thing was some form of crude sword and it held a power even Solareth could not match. Bizarrely, my father put the tip of the black sword almost against his temple before he turned around to face me. Tears fell from his eyes. He sheathed both swords and fell to his knees.
“Wulfmaer are you alive! Wulfmaer are you hurt?” But there was no answer I could give— and then my father’s tears anointed my face though I felt them not.
“Wulfmaer! Wulfmaer! What have I done? Wulfmaer!”
And so there I lay, like carrion or a sack of cabbages, slung across Cantank-rhinos, swaying from side to side though never feeling even a step. Never was I so humiliated; I had left Elentria the son of a warlord and now I returned to her, but a string less puppet. Everyone stared at me and as I passed by the entrance to the Pit, I could have sworn I saw her staring too.
What did I tell you? Mess with the bull and you MAY get the horn! Oh well, all is not lost— pity though; it must feel so horrible. One moment, you’ve got the world by the tail and the next— the tale swishes past you and you’re staring at a rhinoyak’s bollocks— with nothing you can do about it. I must say though, I think you’re handling this quite sensibly— like a man, your father might say. There’s really no sense running around half-cocked. No, you may as well make the best of it and just try to relax. You will wait and you will watch— wide-eyed. Now, where have I heard that before?
Kyre hurriedly carried his son into the Halls of Ossimer where Ossimer, Ktaryn, Lxndra, Salister and Ordan the Wise stood waiting. All present are aware of everything that has occurred as Ossimer witnessed it, first hand, through Nyan. Kyre lay the vacant, staring, body of Wulfmaer next to that of Oronan. Ktaryn and Ordan the Wise immediately began assessing his condition. Kyre watched them for a moment and, as Lxndra entered, he turned and left the bed chamber. He stopped outside the door to rub the knot in his chest, before proceeding downstairs to face the onslaught he knew was forthcoming.
"You have lost your way, Kyre! The blackheart curse runs rampant in your veins! How could a father forsake his son? Look at you— clothed in steel— standing harder than stone! He was just a boy and yet you led him to the wolves! Is there no part of you left that is familiar with blood and tears? Don't ask me to forgive you today— not on this day!"
"Forgive me? For what forgiveness should I ask— for day after day of
separation— for countless nights alone— for the blood of every enemy I
face to stain these hands? What absolution would suffice for one that ensures your beds not just cozy but safe? This is no fault of mine! I did not ask him to follow me— on the contrary, I would have forbid it.”
Lxndra made her way down the open stairway just in time to hear his words. As she reached the bottom stair she stopped for a moment, standing as straight and strong as the marble column beside her. Her eyes flicked towards Kyre and then she walked to stand beside her father and spoke.
"You— Protector of Elentria; Commander of the Guard— champion of
neglect— husband of hills— bedfellow of beasts— father of the frozen! You dare speak of your own deeds and sacrifices while Wulfmaer lies still and mute! He only wanted a little time— an inkling of your attention— but no, you could not grant such a tedious request— not without humiliating him. And now what? What will you impart to him now— your armour— your fine sword?"
Kyre could scarcely breathe. For a fraction of a second he thought he
would collapse and be no more— but then his heart began to twist and tighten and
with every beat it grew harder and harder and harder and when at last he spoke, it was almost through clenched teeth.
"So— even my right hand stands against me. My sword— you would have my sword Lxndra? Is that really what you want— because I grow ever weary of
it by the second?”
"You would no sooner part with your sword than you would your arm; it
is one and the same— though I would take it in a heartbeat if only it could be pried from you."
“Then it is in a heartbeat that you shall have it!” raged Kyre. Unsheathing Raspbar faster than sight allowed, a great hiss of smoke rose up before him which was quickly followed by the smell of burnt flesh. His less armoured arm fell and as it passed by Solareth its fingers closed around its hilt, the sheath turned, Solareth slid out and both arm and sword hit the ground with a clang.
Salister took a step backwards, watching the knuckles of Kyre's severed hand whiten as they tightened into a grip of death. Arm and sword twitched violently for a time and then lay still. All eyes returned to Kyre. Raspbar was sheathed. A black hole smouldered through the remains of his glowing armoured sleeve. There was not a drop or stain of blood anywhere to be seen. Raspbar had cauterized as quickly as it had divided.
"See it is as you thought," said an expressionless Kyre, "I have no
heart thus I do not bleed."
"Go!" screamed Lxndra without taking her eyes from his, "Go— we have
no need of one-armed swordsmen here." Kyre turned and left and was followed out singularly by Ordan the Wise.
“It is not your fault Kyre— there are other forces at play! Where will you go?” But there came no answer for the mind of Kyre was already gone.
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