While Evander had been recovering from his head injury, the rest of the able-bodied survivors had spent the last week cleaning up the destruction. The wagons they had previously been using to transport logs were now being used to transport the rubble over to the stonecutter who would then sift through it to find any still-usable stone.
There wasn't much left in the way of usable material though since most of it had had its integrity compromised by the acid. But it was still worth searching through nonetheless.
Alrid had been a valuable asset in the recovery, he had coordinated most of the cleanup teams and organized how the cleanup would be carried out. He worked closely with King John in the efforts to restore their lives and the peace of his people.
***
Evander had finally recovered enough for him to join King John and his son. He strolled outside into the cold crisp winter air and felt the night breeze on his skin at last. With a long deep breath, he exhaled and looked around at the remains of the Kingdom of the Flag. It had been cleared mostly of the rubble and some of the homes had even begun to be rebuilt.
It was early into the night and people had to dig out make-shift fireplaces in the ground. People huddled around them in the absence of their homes. The mood that hung heavy in the air was one of despair and hopelessness.
Evander decided to wait on going to find the king and instead he would go to sit with those by the fire and just talk with them. He wanted to know how they were feeling about everything. See if there was anything he could do for them.
He gradually made his way from the infirmary to one of the firepits without falling over this time. Sitting at the fire there was a woman, and two men. They were seated in chairs that somehow seemed to have survived the assault.
Evander approached them and greeted, "Good evening, everyone," he said with a noticeably labored breath. "How is everyone on this rather fine evening? All things considered of course."
Almost immediately, the closest of the two men stood and offered up his seat, "We are faring much better than you it seems, Master Drayton. Please take my seat." The man gestured to his chair and helped Evander to sit.
The woman spoke up next, "We heard what happened. The king told everyone a few days ago. We have all been very worried about you, Master Drayton," she spoke with a kind and motherly voice, "Are you faring alright?"
Evander graciously accepted the offered rest, "Thank you, very much," he looked to the man expectantly.
"Christopher," he said quickly realizing he had not given his name.
"Thank you, Christopher. You are very kind. And to answer your question, my lady, I am faring alright. Better than I had been a few days ago to be sure."
"That is good to hear," the lady said, "My name is Alice and this is our son Cyprian." She motioned over to Christopher, "You've met my husband already."
"So what brings you out our way, Master Drayton?" Christopher asked from his new spot on the ground, leaning against his wife's legs. The firepit was a welcoming feeling as it enveloped the group.
"I have been out of the loop for too long and I wanted to see how well you were all faring," Evander talked slow and gently.
"Why not speak with the king? Would he not be a better option at recounting the events as of late?" Alice asked kindly.
"I was more meaning in the ways of how personally well you are faring. King John will fill me in on the boring details later but right now I care how the people are," Evander explained further.
"Well to be quite honest, Master Drayton," Alice spoke again, "I think we are all terrified. We fear another attack any day now. I am scared for my family. Do we have any idea how we will defend ourselves from this?" Alice was staring to become visibly shaken.
Evander looked from Alice to Cyprian and finally to Christopher, each of them holding his gaze in anticipation, "I am scared too. We do not know when another attack will happen but the best thing we can do to keep our wits is to try to continue our daily lives while staying alert until we can end this threat," Evander did not entirely know what to say. Endira was always much better at consoling people.
"We all were blind-sided by this," Evander continued. "There is one thing that is very suspicious though. How did the enemy know we were close to finishing our defenses? They knew precisely when to hit us for the most devastation. How?" Evander paused to let them think before he started again, "We believe there are spies among us. We just have to find a way to flush them out."
"That is scary news," Alice said, now even more nervous than she already was. "I had always felt that this castle was a very safe place for my family."
Cyprian had been sitting quietly and listening to them speak. He decided it was his turn to speak now, "Is it true?" he asked plainly, "Has Varamont really returned?"
Evander sighed, "I wish greatly that I could sit here and tell you that no, he has not returned." He paused for a brief moment and exhaled sharply, "But then I would be lying."
Alice started to sob softly, hear fear becoming real was too much for her to bear. The reality of it was a lot for everyone to take but living in ignorance of it was a great way to get you killed.
"But for now," Evander wanted to change the subject, "Let us just enjoy this little oasis we have here tonight. We are still here and there are still good things about us and they are worth fighting for. So let us enjoy them while time permits."
Alice attempted at a smile. Evander was right, there was an encroaching darkness but there were still things left to preserve. Things that mattered greatly. Things that gave life meaning and they were not going to be given up lightly.
For some time the four of them just sat by the fire and thought about those good things. The simplicities of life and how it would bring them joy and peace of mind. Life was good here and they had meant to keep it. No matter the cost.
Evander broke the silence some time later, "I should be getting to see the king. I am grateful we could share this space together for a time." He placed his hands on his knees and with the help of Cyprian he stood slowly. "Thank you, my lad."
Cyprian nodded in reply and Evander continued making his way up the path to the keep at the center of the castle until Alice spoke up and stopped him. "I wanted to thank you." She stood and moved over to Evander now, "To thank you for caring for us. For seeing how we were getting on. We appreciate it very much." Her smile was warm and she leaned in for a hug. At first Evander didn't know how to respond. He hadn't been hugged by a woman since Endira died almost twenty years ago. He would get hugs from his friends but this wasn't the same thing.
Alice could sense his hesitation but she only hugged him tighter. Her motherly instinct told her he needed a hug more than anyone she had known.
Evander finally got hits wits about him and returned the hug with his own. She was cold but warm at the same time. His heart fluttered like it had forgotten how to pump blood. He had missed hugs and he had not even been aware of it. He made a mental note to hug his son more often.
Alice waited for Evander to part before she did the same. Her eyes were vibrant blue now that he could see her close up. They held back tears which sat there and welled. She kept her hands on his arms and smiled lovingly. "Go on," she said like a mother would a child.29Please respect copyright.PENANAMqadCorhM0
Evander may have been an elite warrior and skilled ranger but he was no match for a mother. Things were funny that way.29Please respect copyright.PENANAEAMllIlftJ
He strode with a lighter heart this time as he walked up the path down the center of the castle and up to the keep.
***
It seemed King John had been on his way to pay Evander a visit because one of the keep doors swung open to reveal him as Evander made it to the top of the steps. "I am sure glad to see you," Evander said, "I don't think I could have gotten that door open myself."
" I am sure if you tried hard enough you could have moved it an inch or two," King John laughed a hearty laugh.
"I am sure I could have moved it at least a little bit more than that," Evander jested as he stepped through the door that the king had been holding open and into the fire-warmed entrance hall. As the night would grow colder, the townsfolk would make their way into the keep to sleep for the night but for now, most of them wished to stay outside for some quiet.
"How are you faring now that you have been sleeping forever?" King John inquired light-heartedly.
"At least well enough to walk here on my won. But I should be fully ready to go in a couple days. I am sure though that I will always be remembering the stone that tried to take me out." Evander stood taller now that he was surrounded by the warm fire again.
"Alrid is having supper in the Hall. Why don't we go in and join him?" King John suggested but already knew the answer he would get.
"That would be excellent, I am famished," Evander said with great eagerness.
"Of that I have no doubt. Healing takes a lot out of us," King John said as the two of them strolled casually to the Grand Hall.
Alrid looked up with pure relief in his eyes as his father walked in through the door along with the king, "Look who I ran into," King John said joyfully.
"Am I sure glad to see you finally awake, father. I take it you're feeling up for a feast. You've got to be hungry."
"You could say that," Evander said as he took a seat across from his son.
King John had plenty of food already set out on the table for the three of them. Evander spent no time waiting before he piled a plate with food and dug into it.
"So," King John said abruptly after taking a bite of bread, "Let us discuss the problem at hand here. Something does not feel right at all. This raid did not happen by mere coincidence. That wretched Lord knows exactly what we are doing at any given time. Someone in this castle was feeding," he cut himself off, "Is feeding him information and we need to find out who before he becomes our undoing."
"I know just the man, well demon, rather, that can help us. He is a good friend of mine." Evander said it in a way where he knew that at the mention of a demon how it would sound.
"Demon?" Alrid pricked up an ear at the mention of a demon, "Weren't they all enslaved by Varamont?"
"That is what we had originally assumed, yes and up until the last few years that was true. It was true until I ran into this one while out hunting. The one I speak of is called Melganoth. As far as I know, he is the last demon with his own free mind in tact," Evander poured himself more ale and continued.
"His story is an interesting one to be sure but as it is not mine to tell, I will not tell it here. I am sure he would be eager to tell it if you were to ask him."
"Interesting," King John said with a thumb and forefinger to his chin. "How have I not heard of him? Does he live here?"
"He likes to keep to himself," Evander explained. "He lives over in the Cave of Solitude at the foot of Merat Mountain. He took up residence there shortly after Varamont enslaved the rest of his kind. He remained there in hopes that he could avoid being revealed to Varamont." He took a bite of chicken.
King John pondered it over for a moment, "So how is he going to help us?" he asked finally.
"Well that is part of his tale but since it is important I am sure he would understand. You see, he was exposed to the abyss just like the rest of his kin only when he saw what it was doing to them he fled and resisted its allure. Other demons tried their best to resist its pull, even ones who were not anywhere near the Under Realm at the time. He was the only demon to successfully resist the abyss enough to keep his mind. It did come at a cost though, he still feels its pull from time to time.
"He is a skilled alchemist and was able to create a remedy that helps him fight the effect of the magic that still resides within him. It is not a full cure but its does keep it at a manageable level. The abyss that remains is what allows him to see when it is being used. With his abyssal sight, he can help us separate out the ones that are helping Varamont. Cut off the ears and gouge out the eyes of our enemy. Now it will not be an easy task imprisoning the ones we call friends but I fear it may be the only way of stopping them save killing."
King John had been leaning back in his chair as Evander spoke, "Quite the tale indeed." He paused for a brief moment, "How do we recruit this Melganoth to our cause?"
"I suppose if we asked him nicely," Alrid chimed in with a mouthful of chicken and it made King John smile with amusement.
***
Evander, Alrid and King John trotted alongside each other for the half hour journey up to the Cave of Solitude. King John had suggested Evander stay behind but Evander had reassured him that he had had well enough rest and he would enjoy a nice ride with Onyx again.
The sun had fully set by this time and it had gotten bitterly cold. The three men had their winter cloaks wrapped about them. Onyx, Tolish and Caspian did not seem to mind the cold in the slightest. Their winter coats had fully come in and also being the size of a small wagon helped a bit.
There wasn't much conversation to be had considering the wind was growing louder as they approached the foot of Merat Mountain. The Cave of Solitude slowly came into view. A view that was considerably difficult to see since it was very dark and the only light was that of the moon.
The cave entrance was a bit off the ground. A bit being twenty or so feet up the mountain face. Luckily it wasn't a sheer climb and with a bit of rock scaling, they could make it. Well, at least Alrid and Evander would have an easy time of it.
King John dismounted Caspian and gazed up to the cave entrance. Evander and Alrid dismounted as well and began their climb as if it was obvious that that was the next step. "On second thought, you boys go on ahead. Maybe you could get Melganoth to come meet me out here? I don't think I could scale that, I am not as nimble nor as young as I once was. Besides, I am a fighter not a climber."
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind," Evander said with a hint of a smile. Alrid ran up at the wall and with his elven speed he launched himself up and over the ledge as if it were but a small step on a staircase.
Evander was not nearly as fast as his young son and he didn't have the elven abilities but he wasn't slow by any means. He too ran at the wall to get a head start and using the created momentum, shot himself up and caught a hold. Only half a minute later he was up on the ledge with his son.
King John gazed up at them with impression yet again, "I'll just keep the horses company then, you two go on ahead."
Evander smiled warmly, he was indeed feeling world's better after his week-long hibernation and a few hearty meals. Almost feeling back to his former self. Almost.
The two men found themselves looking into the Cave of Solitude, a warm orange light flickered from deep within and around the corner to the right. Going deeper into the mountain.
A gravely voice spoke to them from within, "Don't be a stranger," the voice echoed off the walls, "Come on in, Evander and company."
With a look to his son and a friendly smile, Evander strolled into the cave as if he frequented it. Alrid followed behind with a bit of reluctance at first but he trusted his father, and if his father trusted the disembodied voice from within a dark cave, then so did he.
After a short walk through the dark, they turned the corner to a medium-sized cave chamber with a few torches lining the perimeter on the walls. The ceiling had long dragging scrapes gouged into them and Alrid wondered what from. They seemed a bit odd and out of place.
The left side of the chamber sat a massive hand-made wooden bed. It seemed to be at least twelve feet in length and a good five feet across. The one that rested here had to be massive.
Alrid looked from the bed to his right and it was confirmed. The demon that stood there was easily eleven feet tall and his wings that sat folded on his back were equally as massive. The tips of his wings just about scraped the ceiling. Alrid could not depict exactly how big his wing span was but he was sure he would find out soon enough. He had a long tail that was thin and vacant of any defining adornments or bone or spikes.
"Welcome in friends," his guttural voice was surprisingly soft considering the size of the creature it came from. He had been standing at a very long and tall alchemy table but as the two Hunters entered, he turned to meet them.
"It is good to see you again, Mel," Evander said with a pleasant tone.
"It is indeed, I am quite the catch, wouldn't you say?" Melganoth chuckled a low rumble warmly at his joke.
"I would say that you are the only catch," they both laughed heartily at his joke for a moment. It seemed even though he was the last of his kind, he did not let it bother him anymore. There was nothing he could do about that fact.
"And who might you be?" he regarded Alrid, "I do not believe we have met before and your scent is foreign to me." He towered over Alrid even though Alrid was taller than most everyone he met, but not taller than Melganoth.
"I am Alrid," he offered a hand out of habit and Melganoth responded in kind but with his index finger instead. Being the last of his kind meant everyone was the size of a child to him.
They shook hands in greeting as Melganoth spoke, "Ah yes, Evander's boy, he has told me all about you."
"Good things I hope," Alrid said with a smirk.
"Only the best of course," he turned is attention to the both of them now. "What brings you two out my way? It is quite cold out so it wasn't for just a visit. What news have you to bring me?"29Please respect copyright.PENANA9Qz4hxMqVv
"I would much rather say it was for a visit," Evander began, "But it is with a heavy heart I must ask a very big favor of you. Well actually not me, King John in fact wishes to speak with you. He is waiting outside with the horses."29Please respect copyright.PENANA0VHq12L73R
"Then let us be off and meet with him," Melganoth raised an open hand with palm up as he exclaimed. He began walking with a thunderous step and he seemed to walk in slow motion in comparison to Evander and Alrid. For each stride of the demon was a good four steps for the two men.29Please respect copyright.PENANAejUrYX7YuX
They made it to the mouth of the cave and as they stepped into the night air. Melganoth suddenly stretched out his wings in an explosive manner, startling Evander and Alrid. His wings made a loud leathery crack sound as they expanded out to a good fourteen feet from tip to tip.29Please respect copyright.PENANAkCf089uvPw
The membrane of his wings ran along the side of his body and down to his hip bones. They were beautiful in their dark blue grandeur.29Please respect copyright.PENANAokzNWuzUHn
"That feels quite better," Melganoth exhaled deeply. "Sometimes I forget how long I have been cramped in that cave hunched over my work."29Please respect copyright.PENANAxuNDsdth4d
King John signaled up at them from ground level to come down and speak with him. Alrid was already over the edge as he had leaped off. He landed lightly with a soft thud. His elven blood made acrobatics as easy as walking.29Please respect copyright.PENANAUP9sG15NL0
Evander on the other hand, had to get down the old fashioned way of climbing. As Evander began his descent, Melganoth gave his massive wings a few warm-up flaps before lifting himself off the ground.29Please respect copyright.PENANAsKlatuPRTv
Rather than flying, he more glided to the ground directly in front of the king. His massive form made the six foot king appear like a child in size. Melganoth landed and the king gazed up at him in sheer amazement. Melganoth was not the first or only demon he had met but he sure was much larger than any demon he had ever seen.
"Good evening, my king," Melganoth said with his deep gravely voice. "I am Melganoth, the last of the demon race. I am pleased to finally meet you."
"Good evening to you as well, Melganoth. I have a favor to ask of you. I do apologize for the abrupt nature of my visit but, you see, time is of the essence."
"I understand. You have my attention," Melganoth said bringing his wings to a comfortable opened position.
"Evander tells me you can see the abyss," King John stated.
"He speaks true," Melganoth confirmed.
"I have it on speculation that Varamont is using it on some of those within my close circle and would like to know whom. Could I perhaps recruit your services in this matter? Your assistance would be invaluable to the kingdoms and to all life."
The demon thought for a few moments at this. He did not normally use his abyss-given abilities as it makes it more difficult to resist, but this was important. If he could use them to help take Varamont down, then he would do everything in his power to help. Regardless of the consequences.
After a moment, Melganoth spoke again, "I will help. But I will need time to prepare. For the sake of transparency, using the abilities given to me by my exposure to the abyss does come at a cost." Melganoth's wings shifted from opened to closed and back to open again subconsciously, "I will need to make more of my remedies to resist its pull. When I use my abilities, it calls to me. The abyss my brothers and sisters all fell prey to. I do wish it were not so but that is my reality."
Melganoth's demeanor noticeably changed a bit to reflect one of loss and loneliness. He continued, "Give me two days to prepare and I shall meet you in your domain."29Please respect copyright.PENANAfunIlsqAk5
King John's eyes lit up with the light of the moon, "On behalf of all, I thank you deeply, Melganoth," he said whole-heartedly. He didn't quite understand exactly how Melganoth felt about helping but he knew enough. "We shall meet in two days, I will be sure to inform everyone you will be paying us a visit. We would not want anyone to be afraid of you and they do something rash."29Please respect copyright.PENANA8JO9xSm8RG
"Of course. I am sure I will be the only demon they have seen since the war," Melganoth gave a shallow nod and readied his wings. He turned himself around and with one powerful flap, he was off the ground. When he reached the ledge before his cave, he gracefully stepped from the air and onto the rocky ground. A moment later, his tail was out of their sight as he walked back into his home.29Please respect copyright.PENANA408tkkKDYV
"Let's get back," Evander said as he turned to the king, "I' am starving."
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