Of Gods and Warriors ✓

Chapter 41

Something seemed to crumble behind her eyes. Her faith in mortalkind. The faith which she helped Xenro build within himself.

All Xenro could hear was Rhilio's words. "This is why I tell you not to get mixed with their kind. The mortals live and die like flies, and are just as vile. They destroy what is beautiful, they wage war among themselves and continue to ruin the face of earth even as we speak. Do you understand, my boy?"

Xenro did, yet he did not.

He refused to believe the actions of a handful of people could taint the entire humankind. He just needed to find the one responsible.

Burning down the whole forest was never the solution when a monster ran amok within it. He needed to hunt down the monster.

"Tell me everything," he asked, his breaths ragged from exhaustion.

"What? Does this seem like the time for conversation? You need to hurry and escape."

But he wasn't sure he would be able to open another portal to enter here again, if he left now, neither could he free her. His powers were greatly weakened.

"I need to know. Everything," he said, "when did this first start? Any strange happenings before that?"

"Go away when you still can, my friend," said Draedona, "you have had your fair share of suffering in your father's hands. You do not need more."

She scurried away, yanking her hands off his and tugged with all her might on a chain. In the distance, one of the gates creaked open slightly. "I cannot hold this for long, go!"

He scooted over and added his strength to hers. The gate parted some more. "Be brief, but tell me all. I need to know so I can help you."

"Stubborn as always," Draedona sighed, finally giving in.

She told him everything, about the young man who arrived too early than his destined time of death, about the Chains, the strange sorcerous bindings that had first appeared, and snatched him away right before her eyes, and after that, how more Chains had begun to appear, in dozens and hundreds and thousands.

"The lad's name has stuck with me ever since," she rasped. "...Pertheran."

Xenro wished to ask more, but she was at the end of her strength. "Just...tell me where you want to go. I wish to see you safe, away from this wretchedness!"

The gates were about to close.

She could send him to the Autumnwind plains through the portals, if he asked.

"...The woods of Kinallen," Xenro said at last.

But would the sorcery-warped realm obey the command of the Goddess?

✦✧✦✧

Everything annoyed Corporal Gray.

The constant chaos around the camp, the godforsaken Council Mages coming and going as though they owned the place, and Rendarr's ceaseless pacing. Gray heaved a great sigh as he got up from his seat on the porch of the ruined commander's office.

Not much had happened since the day of the attack, other than Sergeant Wolturs begrudgingly sending her squad members into the woods in search of Corporal Clearstrike at the demand of the Council Mages. Each of the squad members, however, returned empty handed, saying they 'did not find anyone'-- and the mages were simply not willing to take that for an answer.

The only things that brought him peace was the fact Linder was out of danger. Unconscious, but healing, fast. Also, the days were becoming warmer, the chill of the supposed second winter waning away.