Charging forward

On reflex, Roland almost kicked his heels into Judah's sides as he would a horse, but instead he inhaled sharply. 

"Follow the tracks. Please." He said as evenly as he could. Judah grumbled lightly in his throat but launched himself after the General's path. 

It wasn't far, and as they rode, a horn sounded. The city awoke in alarm, and the flickers of lamps being lit showed in windows as he flew past them. 

Attack. From outside the city? Or underground? Likely the latter; the giants would have seen an attack before the sentries on the wall, and their booming voices carried further than even the echoing horns of Klain. 

Roland's mind raced ahead as he saw soldiers running through the streets ahead of him. 

The General's voice was carrying past them all as he sat atop his horse. 

"Guard every entrance to the tunnels! Be ready to attack anything that exits!" He turned to one of his subordinates, "Commander, spread your men out by squads across the city in case anything digs up through the ground. Pay special attention to gardens and other dirt-covered areas. Light all the lamps there are! These are creatures of darkness!" 

The soldiers hardly reacted to Judah, other than to give him a wide berth as he sprinted through their scrambling ranks. The General stopped when he spotted Roland. 

"Eastern Entrance!" He shouted, pointing. "The tunnels are filling. I could not risk delaying the trap!"

Roland had studied maps of the city during his time as ambassador, and more as the city's defenses had been evaluated over the past few days. The Eastern entrance was the one closest to the cliff face, and the oldest and deepest of the tunnels. The parts that would be the soonest to flood. 

Roland saluted vaguely and nudged Judah to change directions once more. 

"I'm sorry, Friend, but she's my wife," He felt bad for taking the creature on a wild goose chase all around the city, but it couldn't be helped. 

Judah heaved a light sigh. 

"I know, she frustrates me, too, but I love her too much to worry about that now." Roland whispered. "We have to hurry." 

Judah took off, following Roland's nudges of direction. A foreboding filled him as he came closer. Soldiers stood on all sides of the door into the tunnel, shields up, swords drawn. 

The battle strategy was clear: the exit from the tunnels was a natural choke point through which the enemy would travel. If they could slaughter goblins as they exited, it would be far better than trying to run down into the tunnels in the dark and battle them there. 

Roland leapt from Judah's back. He was recognizable enough for the troops to part before him as he ran towards the door, the large cat in his wake. 

"Open the door!" He commanded as he came closer. 

"Retaking your position in the army, Sir?" A familiar voice to his side caught his attention. 

"Riley!" Roland cried in relief. At least he didn't have to try to bend a stranger to his will, such as it was. "Serafina's down there!" 

"What?? Is she insane?? Nevermind, I've always known the answer to that," He waved off Roland's reply. "Open the door!" 

The soldiers looked at him dubiously for a moment before obeying the order. Surely barricading the door would be the preferred strategy in most circumstances. 

Roland flew forward, but Riley's hand on his shoulder held him back for a moment. 

"Easy, there. Let's assess the situation before you take after your wife and run yourself straight into mortal peril." 

Roland chafed at the command from the slightly younger man, but as the doors were opened, both of them peered down the stairs into the dark, afraid of what they would see, or wouldn't see. 

Judah crept forward stealthily, a low, terrible sound in the back of his throat. He leaned into the doorway and gave a delicate sniff. 

The recoil was so sudden and violent that the soldiers closest had to leap back from his flailing weaponized tail. He was clawing at his face, using his great paws as if something awful had been painted onto his nose and he was desperate to get it off. 

Roland watched the display in cautious silence before turning his attention back towards the dark doorway. There was not enough light creeping down out of the night sky to see more than a few steps into its depths. 

A sound from deep inside, like the rushing of a mighty wind-–no, a river—met Roland's ears. 

Along with a chilling scream. 

___________________

Edmar sighed heavily as he looked at the distant silhouette of Klain. He'd never seen it before. What a vast and strange city, with each building having multiple levels! 

Studying it was a passingly fair way to spend the evening, but as the hours wore on, he was tired of waiting. Tamas had promised him—but Tamas had disappeared two days ago, to prepare for the attack on Klain. 

A rustle in the nearby copse of trees caught his ear. He remained still, as he was, not giving away that he'd heard anything. The goblins were supposed to be digging under the city now, but if one of them wanted to eat Edmar…

His hand drifted lazily to the hilt of his weapon, as if he were shifting his weight to a more comfortable position as he continued to stare at the city. The sound of soft footsteps behind him made his breathing slow as he concentrated on behind prepared for what was about to happen. 

"Edmar?" A soft, feminine voice asked. 

He whirled around, his weapon forgotten. His eyes took a moment to adjust to the dark after having been fixed on the distant points of light. When he spotted her, a wide smile cut across his face. 

"Brenna!" He cried, his heart taking off. His long legs crossed the distance between them in three loping strides. He took her into his arms in a tight hug. "Brenna, you're safe. You're here." 

He felt tears stinging his eyes. They had been separated for so long! He hadn't even had a chance to tell her how he felt before they'd both been imprisoned. 

"I'm sorry!" He said to her, "I'm so sorry." 

She stiffened in his embrace. Her arms hadn't come around him like he'd hoped. She must be angry with him? His heart was crushed by the thought. 

"I'm sorry," He repeated. "I shouldn't have told my parents my feelings for you before I spoke with you first. It's my fault you were imprisoned! I'm so glad you escaped! Have you been all right? Has Tamas taken care of you? He promised he would." 

He pulled back to look at her face, running one hand over her hair. Was she really here? Was it a hallucination? 

"I'm well." She said, not withdrawing from him, but not leaning into his embrace. 

"Are you really?" He asked earnestly. "Are you angry with me?" 

She blinked several times, and her brow furrowed. "Angry?" 

"It's all my fault. If I hadn't told my parents that I loved you and want to marry you, they wouldn't have taken you away. Please don't hate me for it, I couldn't bear it." He swallowed. Her face was unreadable. Surely after all he'd done to get back to her… 

"It isn't your fault, Edmar." She said after a moment. He released the tension from his shoulders in relief. 

"Are you sure? I've made things miserable for you! How did you survive all this time in the wilderness?" He looked her up and down for signs of hardship. 

She shrugged, and he thought she must not be used to kindness or concern from anyone. "I've survived on my own before." 

"That's right, I forgot you spent two years alone. That must have been terrible. You'll never be alone again," He hugged her tightly.

"You don't mean that." She choked out, and his heart sank. She didn't think he was in earnest? 

"Of course I do! I'll never leave you again!" Edmar assured her. 

Tears began to escape her eyes, and she pushed at his chest. He released her, feeling as though his heart might break. 

"You don't believe me…" He said wretchedly. 

"It's not that," She put her face into her hands and turned away.

"Then what? You don't care for me at all? You don't return my love, even a little?" Edmar would give everything he had away and plead with her if that's what it took. 

"IT'S NOT REAL!" Her hands dropped suddenly, though tears continued to stream down her face. 

"What do you mean?" He asked, flabbergasted. 

"None of it! None of your feelings are real!" She said a little more softly. "I thought I could do this, but I can't. I can't pretend you actually love me. It's repulsive." 

"My love repulses you?" Edmar's confusion and despair deepened. He looked around, and then drew his blade. "I'll end my life to make yours happier." 

He put the pommel of the short sword in the dirt, the blade at his stomach, ready to fall forward and let it pierce his heart at her command. Whatever would please her, it was his joy to do. 

"NO!" She cried, lunging for the blade and pulling it away from him. "I cannot have your blood on my hands." 

"I will move a distance away so that there is no stain on you," Edmar offered. 

"That's not—-Edmar, please." She took a deep breath. "I enchanted you. I didn't do it on purpose, really, but it happened. You don't actually love me. You're under the influence of herbs strengthened by the Void."