Give a Chance
With Wai's help, the group of young royals made far better time than they would have on foot. What could have taken weeks, took days. They passed the landscape at a blinding speed, halting only to rest, and regroup; that is, with one exception.
Toward the end of the journey, Wai suddenly stopped, veered from the path of the river they were following, and set down her human companions.
She spoke to Alaron as slowly as she could and used water from the ground to make the shape of many beings coming their way. By the sound of the gurgles, Wai was both angry and concerned.
"It looks like some of Taran's creatures are moving towards us in a large group. Wai wants us to hide. She says she will deal with it," the Guardian had his hood down as he translated. His silver eyes swirled with untold emotion.
"Let us help you, Wai. You don't know what those monsters can do," Mairwen pleaded.
"Do we need to engage them at all?" Renat asked. He knew better than the rest how ruthless these creatures could be. The humans had been very lucky to survive the lizards the night of the flood. Did they really want to tempt fate again?
"They are likely heading to give reinforcements to Livie and her army at Oblivion." Eira shifted uncomfortably at the thought. Good soldiers were there fighting now. If not for duty demanding she stay with the princess, Eira likely would be among them.
Yet, she was torn as to whether helping them while risking her mistress's life was the right move. Both decisions seemed to be the wrong one.
"We cannot allow them to meet up with Livie. I don't care how strong Father is. He is not invincible. At some point he will be overwhelmed if enough of those creatures joint the fray." Mairwen took a sharp breath. Pursing her lips she looked toward the river. "I say we fight them."
Alaron chewed his lip for a moment deep in thought. "We don't know how many there are. I doubt very much that we can fight them head on. Perhaps we can confuse them instead? As long as they don't make it to Oblivion, we have won a small victory. If we cannot sway them, I am sure Wai would be more than happy to drown them. We all saw how eager she was to finish Renat off without a second thought."
The wolf-man gulped. He could still feel remnants of the water in his lungs from when the nymph plunged him beneath the surface. "I can attest to the efficacy of her methods," he said dryly.
"What kind of confusion did you have in mind?" Mairwen was willing to hear out her brother. He was more devious than she could ever be. If trickery was the game, then he was the grand master player.
"What if Livie sent a messenger for the troops to turn back? Maybe the abominations of hers already won without their help, and she dismissed them back to Taran?" Alaron suggested.
"But that isn't what happened, at least I hope it isn't." Renat didn't like the thought that his brother-in-law would think that Oblivion was lost. And something told him that is not what the Guardian meant at all.
"We all know how strong the Emperor and his army are. Taran sent this army and Livie's troops to attack a bunch of citizens harboring the Empress. Why wouldn't they believe that the city was conquered when a scout comes and tells them the news?"
That is when all eyes trailed to the wolfish scientist. "It's not a bad plan," the princess admitted after a moment of thought. "But I don't like putting my husband in harm's way again."
Renat gave her a smile. "If it will help the Empire and your father, there is no way I would refuse. Besides, I have the best archer in the world, a Guardian, a mighty warrior and a nymph as my backup. I am quite possibly the safest I have ever been. I think it is worth a try."
At that moment, the matter was closed. For off at the riverside, the abominations were about to pass them by.
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"I smell something worth stopping and eating," someone complained.
"We've stopped enough. No more delays. You know how scary Lady Livie is if she thinks you have been slacking."
A great pack of wolves and lizards intermingled as they moved along the riverbank. The ravenous group had been traveling for a couple days now, but hadn't been making the progress they should.
With the running they were doing, their bellies never seemed to be full, and hunger was already clawing at their bellies once again.
"I want to check out the smell just the same. What if it is danger?" a scrawny lizard moved one eye in the direction of the scent.
"That's the worst excuse I have ever heard," another answered.
"Incoming!" the lead wolf called back to the others. "Slow down!" he yelled, so that he would not be trampled as he met the creature coming towards them.
The chocolate-colored wolf met them as he huffed, bending over and nearly falling to the ground in exhaustion. "I am so glad I found you. I was worried we had missed each other's paths."
"Who are you and what are you doing out in the middle of nowhere?" The leader looked at the newcomer shrewdly.
"I am one of the scouts from Oblivion. Livie sent me with news." The brown wolf sat down and held his side, clearly winded.
"Why didn't she just send a message ball?" One of the creatures asked from a few rows back.
Renat shook his head sadly. "She sent one to Taran, but of course trying to get one to you was nearly impossible. She did not want to waste our forces on unnecessary movement."
"I don't understand. What do you mean unnecessary?" The wolves and lizards all nodded at their leader's question.
"Oblivion is taken. We have won! The Empress has been captured. After seeing what we could do, the cowardly woman surrendered herself rather than risk being killed. Livie is escorting her to Taran even now." Renat finished his message and closed his eyes.
The abominations all began to chatter among themselves with excitement. This was excellent news indeed!
It meant that not only would they not have to fight their fellow man, but Taran and his allies were now in power. Whoever would be put in charge would have to recognize them and reward them handsomely for their service. The world was theirs to take!
"Think Taran will make me a Duchess?"
"I would be content with ruling a small city."
"I want to live in the palace. Think Taran will give me the Empress's old suite?"
'Do these idiots really think Taran will give them a single thing he promised? Would they believe me if I told them he planned to murder them all to hide his involvement in the whole plot?'
Renat felt both disgust and pity for the group, but in the end disgust won when he heard about some of their more violent plans.
"Yes, well..." Renat struggled to quiet them. "It is best to head back to Sir Taran. He will be expecting you. You won't want to be left behind in the triumphant march southward."
"Yes, let's go back and see if we cannot get a drink to toast our victory!" The leader lifted his fist in the air with a mighty growl.
The idea of finally getting to drink something other than water riled up the group almost beyond control.
The scrawny lizard called over the noise. "I didn't think Lady Livie would be able to do it! She went from needing help to being victorious in only a couple of days!"
Renat's eyes opened. Livie had contacted them recently? The scientist had hoped that Taran had sent the men as merely a precaution. It turned out the creatures had a better timeline about the events happening than even he had.
Which was bad...
"Wait...If Lady Livie only recently won, how did you get here so quickly?" The leader's question seemed innocent, but his eyes told a different story. Already his pupils were growing to a suspicious size.
"Eh...Did you not get the most recent enhancement? No wonder you have all been so slow. Back at the camp, we can all run like a flash of lightning now." the brown wolf turned up his nose in disdain.
"Then why is everyone not with you?" The scrawny lizard chirped.
"They are protecting Lady Livie and escorting the Empress..." Renat shrugged.
"That is very exciting news! Show us this enhancement so we have something to look forward to." The leader rubbed his hands together and then motioned for him to run.
"I am too tired," Renat panted heavily. "Please head back without me."
"Show us. Now." The wolf growled. His eyes were almost completely black.
"Very well," Renat stood slowly. "But I did give you a chance..."