Chapter 6

Gideon and Xerath traveled several days before reaching the perimeter of Arakhora. It was a quiet journey between the two men, but it didn't feel the same as when he traveled with Rayne. Rayne. His thoughts continued to fall back to her, constantly worrying if she was going to be alright. Yet Vixen's words stung him still. Was he pestering her? He thought he was showing genuine concern, but he never took her feelings into consideration. In the short time he's known her, she was never the type of woman that would ever back down from anything that was thrown her way. Taking down the bandits, fighting Xerath's guardian, even when she lost her sight in her left eye she continued to fight on. But now she was weaker than she ever was before and she shut herself in. It was like the first weak that they traveled together. Distant. Loneliness. It was only after he was wounded at the village did his mind open up more, and his heart.

"Gideon." Xerath brought him back to reality, nodding his head to the wall of trees that towered over them. He narrowed his eyes, only seeing the trees and the mist that consumed them. It was the Elves' ultimate defense system that has kept them safe for years. It kept travelers at bay, and those that happen to wander in or even attempted to travel through their forest, would be utterly lost until they found themselves back at the treeline. He focused on a single tree alone and that's when he noticed it. A shift in the darkness that upon first glance no one would have seen it.

"We wish to meet with Lord Adkas and Prince Mel-Darion." Gideon boomed his voice to the mist. Silence greeted them, the mist fading in and out at the edge of the tree line. He went to yell again when something stepped out from one of the trees. Two somethings. As they moved closer, Gideon recognized the twin elves he met previously.

"It's Sir Gideon." Varian called out, but froze when he noticed the Wizard beside him. He immediately withdrew his bow, cocked an arrow and aimed at Xerath, "Why did you bring the Wizard here?" he yelled. Qwell walked up to Varian and rested a hand on his arm gently, lowering his bow.

"Lord Adkas is waiting for you. Follow us." Qwell called over to them before elbowing Varian in the side. He grunted as he put his weapon away, bickering amongst each other. Gideon and Xerath met gazes before following the twins into the dense forest.

"He knew we were coming?" Gideon asked as they entered. The fog wrapped around them like a thick quilt, nearly suffocating them. The elves stayed close to their horses as to make sure they didn't get lost. He remembered losing Rayne the first time they visited Arakhora, the fog toying with his mind.

"He suspected that you would return, but I don't believe he was expecting the Wizard to come along as well." Qwell said as the fog thinned out and the familiar scene of dense trees stretching for miles. The canopy shed rays of light from above, spotting across the luscious grass beneath their feet. The horses calmed after clearing from the fog, continued forward toward their main destination. Gideon felt his nerves twist within his gut. He only hoped that this discussion goes over well.

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Lord Adkas sat at his long, oak table in his war room after Gideon explained everything to him. Mel-Darion was overlooking the city below from their open balcony. He hadn't said a single word to either of them when they arrived, most likely expecting Rayne to have attended. Xerath sat poised across from Lord Adkas while Gideon sat slightly closer to the elf. His captain, Inaleth, stood behind Lord Adkas, her amber eyes smoldering with intensity after what Gideon had told them.

"That is troubling indeed, and what of Aetherius? Is the weapon secure?" Lord Adkas asked them.

"I have it under a spell back where we have relocated. Ravnyk will not be able to find it without killing me first." Xerath informed him. Lord Adkas nodded, looking relieved before returning his gaze back to Gideon.

"How is Rayne? It surprised me that she did not come along with you." He said. Gideon clenched his jaw, lowering his gaze. Lord Adkas' eyebrows came together as a troubled expression crossed his face, "I see. Have you been able to contact the Dwarven King?" he asked Xerath now.

"I tried to Scry on his whereabouts, but the spell seems to be hitting a wall of some sort. I'm afraid his Kingship may already be occupied." Xerath stated. Lord Adkas closed his eyes at the news, slowly nodded.

"Very well, we should move forward and join forces while we still can." Lord Adkas said before turning his attention to his captain, "Prepare our best warriors, they leave at sundown." he addressed to her, but Inaleth hesitated.

"My Lord, are you sure we should be trusting them? Xerath is known for his evil deeds and this man," she gestured toward Gideon, "is just a mindless brute." she insulted. Gideon slammed his hands against the table, sending a few splinters flying.

"Insult me if you wish, but while you do so, people are out there dying." he pointed out the balcony, "My Kingdom is gone. For all we know, the Dwarven King was taken down already, and you are next. Ravnyk will not stop until he conquers everything in his path." Gideon shot back at her. Inaleth scowled at him, raising her chin in defiance.

"He can do his worst and he still won't succeed getting past our defenses." Inaleth countered him.

"Is that what you plan to do? Sit behind your wall of fog and pray to the trees that Ravnyk won't fucking touch you?" he raised his voice, his anger peaking, "I witnessed him murder people before my very eyes. I've seen the magic he possesses. I watched..." he stopped as he realized the emotion in his voice, "I watched Rayne die while she was being tortured by him." his words came out softer than he intended, but it didn't stop Mel-Darion from spinning around, shock evident on his face. Gideon met Inaleth's burning gaze, "Insult me all you want, you're still just a coward." he threw at her before storming from the room. He needed to get away from the audacity of that woman. Yet his own words only reflected himself. He was also a coward. He should've killed Ravnyk every chance he had, yet he didn't. He wanted to get Rayne in the clear before murdering the pig in his sleep, but while he waited, Rayne shattered to pieces.

When he exited the tower, he walked the gardens that stretched between the towers. Does and their fawns grazed peacefully on the grass while birds sang from the trees. He looked up at the sun as it glared back at him, warming his already heated face. He wished Rayne had come along after all. She would've put Inaleth in her place in a heart beat. She wouldn't let anything put her down when she knew there was a solution in the end.

"Sir Ryder." Mel-Darion's voice surprised him as he turned around to see the elf walking quickly toward him, "Is it true what you said? That Rayne died?" he asked him after catching up.

"Yes, but myself and another soldier managed to bring her back to life. She's safe right now." Gideon told him. The look of relief crossed Mel-Darion's face.

"I guess I should be thanking you instead." Mel-Darion said, and then squared his shoulders, "I will be joining the forces to travel with you and Xerath back to this temple that you mentioned." he informed him. Gideon raised a brow at the elf, looking at the golden towers.

"You sure about that? It's nothing fancy like the palace you have here." Gideon told him. Mel-Darion looked at the golden towers.

"That may be true, but if it means to protect my people, then I will do it." he faced Gideon once more and put out his hand. Gideon was a little taken aback by the gesture as he reached out and shook his hand, sealing their deal.

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Gideon and Xerath met with a small army of Elvish warriors at the edge of Arakhora. Each elf was mounted a top some beast: panther, bear and even dire wolves. Each beast was armored, but it didn't slow or halter their movements. Matching their beasts in leather armor, their riders were equipped with long bows and quivers on their backs while rapiers sat at their hips. Each face though, different from the one beside them, were young with either tied back or flowing hair.

"With this large group, it'll take about seven days to get back if we're trying to stay out of Ravnyk's sight." Xerath's voice rang over the crowd, silencing what little murmurs were going on. Prince Mel-Darion sat upon a light brown dire wolf, ridding himself of his formal robes and replacing them with leather armor with gold trimming to reflect the gold towers. He had his hair braided back, his tattoos glistening in the sunlight. Lord Adkas walked up to Gideon's horse, his arms tucked in the sleeves of his robes.

"Sir Ryder." he called to him.

"Lord Adkas, the title isn't quite necessary anymore. So please, just Gideon is fine." he told him. Lord Adkas bowed his head thoughtfully.

"Regardless of what Ravnyk has done, you are still a knight to your people. That is the oath you have taken, is it not?" he asked him, but Gideon couldn't give him a response. The oath was his way of life for years, was he truly going to let one monster stop that now? Gideon gave him a firm nod after finding his answer.

"Thank you, Lord Adkas. Is there something that you needed?" Gideon asked him. The elf lord glanced over to his son who sat determinedly atop his mount. Gideon could see the sparkle of concern in the Lord's eyes.

"I am grateful that you have opened your mind to the idea that there is a greater threat out there, but now I am worried." he shifted his gaze back to Gideon, "Now that Aetherius is in the right hands, I feel a change in the wind and trees."

"What kind of change?" Gideon asked him. Lord Adkas' eyes darkened a bit, stepping closer to the knight.

"There's a new darkness that has awoken. It's not the same as Ravnyk's, in fact the power is similar to that of Aetherius. If that's the case, Ravnyk has most definitely sensed the power as well and is searching for it." Lord Adkas met Gideon's gaze, "Do not let that fool get ahold of it. No matter the cost." Gideon held the Lord's gaze and gave a single nod. A new darkness that is just as powerful as Aetherius? Another dragon perhaps? But where is it hiding? Would Xerath know of its location? Gideon peered over at the companion that accompanied him this journey. He was still addressing the Elf warriors of the threats that were outside their home. He remembered the meeting in the war room back at the castle, the way Ravnyk was set on taking out Barboulder, an insignificant mining town. What if it wasn't so insignificant after all?