Sinnek, Migor and Mevin watched as the new king banged his fists against the table. “There are so many problems! I have even heard that Tarbor was invaded by rebels! Those rebels rebelled against my evil father, but how will I appease them? Then there are all those stupid old men that give me grive daily, saying I need to increase taxes or the soldiers will not get their money and get angry. Those b*stards probably let all the money disappear into their own pockets! Now news has come that a village was destroyed by monsters! Where did they come from, and why are they acting now?!What is going on?! Maybe I'm just cursed to fail in ruling.” Thunin lowered his head onto the table.
“Don't say that.” Sinnek walked closer to the young king to comfort him. “Naresh has a lot of corruption and problems that have heaped up in Xullion's rule. Now, as the new king, you will have it hard, but with the right plans and projects, things can get back in order.”
“What plans do you have, old man? I'm feeling very discouraged now.” Thunin sighed.
“First, you clear out the corruption here, in the capital. For that you will need man-power, and a good plan.” Sinnek smiled slightly. “And I have the right plan in my head.”
Thunin lifted up his head hopefully at the white-haired, wrinkled, old man.
“Fire! Fire!” Leiha yelled in anger. Those monsters were smarter than they thought. They were still
far from Dragoor and Vedor, but they had already been repeatedly ambushed.
Dion managed to get one Leapcat in the eye, while Zunok threw a burning ball of bound together rags at the cat.
The cats fur started burning and it screeched terribly in pain.
“Behind!” Iaven's calm voice echoed through the woods as she let two arrows loose.
Five Wioths were storming at her companions unprotected backs. With Iaven's timely waring they were soon killed off.
“We haven't seen any other animals yet. I wonder if we will meet a corrupted bear again...” Dion mumbled deep in thought.
The last time he had been mauled by such a corrupted bear and almost
died, but was saved through the dragon-scale bracelet. He really didn't want to meet such a creature again. He still had nightmares about that monster.
“Don't worry, Dion. If it comes, we know how to kill it.” Thon thumped Dion on the back.
“What's that noise up ahead?” Leiha narrowed her eyes.
“It sounds like, like... some kind of snarling and crunching?” Tunrir wondered with a fearful face.
“I'll go ahead, and look.” Iaven appeared beside Leiha. Leiha nodded reluctantly and Iaven agilely ran
forward. That girl was immensely talented for a human, and had proved herself repeatedly.
Thon looked nervously at were Iaven had disappeared between the tree trunks.
After a few short second Iaven was back. Her mattered black hair hung in her face, covering numerous scares that littered her face.
Nobody could see her expression, but her tone surprised them.
“It's...something I have never seen before.” Iaven was afraid. Terrified. Nobody had ever seen her like this. “It is a...horse...monster.”
Everyone was shocked silent.
“It is eating, eating Wioths and Leapcats...” Iaven shuddered at the memory.
“That sounds unusual...” Leiha was worried. “How does it look?”
“It is red, with some purple stripes. It has sharp teeth, like a beast, and its shoulders reach over my head. I didn't look at it long, but I think it killed them with its black hooves. It looks surprisingly beautiful, if monstrous.” Iaven shook her head in confusion.
“We won't approach it. If it kills Wioths and Leapcats for us, it would be good. Okay everyone, let's
hurry.” Leiha said.
Soon they were away from the horrible sound, but somebody would still glance back now and then, fearing to see a red shape behind them.
Thon saw something jumping at him with lighting speed from a tree, and he got his sword up in defense.
The thing hit him to the ground, and Thon saw stars, but he still hacked at the thing repeatedly.
An arrow whizzed, and somebody pulled Thon out of the way as Zunok threw a burning rag ball at the Leapcat. Iaven had rescued him, and Thon nodded in appreciation.
“Your sword cut it.” Inor muttered.
“Indeed...what did you do, Thon?” Leiha asked amazed.
“I just hacked at it in panic.” Thon didn't think he had done anything special.
“Well, your sword looks bent.” Tunrir glanced at Thon with a weird expression.
“Bent?” Thon looked as his sword and blinked. The sword was not straight.
“How much strength would it take to bent the sword...” Dion's grinned. “Thon, you are amazing!”
“At last the sword didn't break, let's continue.” Leiha quickly got them moving again. She was surprised herself, but they didn't have time to waste.
“Dion, I don't know, but I think I'f gotten much stronger.” Thon told Dion in a low voice.
“That you have, cousin.” Dion slung his arm around Thon's shoulder. “We are on our way to be warriors!” Dion stated proudly.
Thon would usually be annoyed with Dion, but this time he only simled.
“Pfft.” Iaven muttered behind them.
“What?” Dion cast her a side glance.
“You are warriors already.” Iaven rolled her eyes.
In Aresa's dream, she was on the boat. Werlek, Grenin, and Regorn were in front of her on their knees.
“Aresa, don't do this.” Regorn looked at her with anguish in his brown eyes.
“Hah.” Aresa heard herself snort. The next second the sword in her hand came down and decapitated Regorn. She did the same to Werlek and Grenin.
“You thought you could take away the dragon-scale bracelet. MY bracelet.” Aresa sneered.
Soldiers led by Senvan stormed at her, but she threw them through the air with inhuman strength and speed.
Somehow the boat started burning. Aresa chopped down the mast in one swing, and started laughing maniacally. “Hahaha! Nobody can stop me!” She screamed over the deep dark water.
Senvan walked past and saw Aresa sleeping against the mast, her beautiful face frowning, and sweat
running down her face.
She looked terrified, and Senvan realized she must be having a horrible nightmare.
He knew that expression. Senvan had see veteran soldiers that had killed a lot of people that would have the same expression as they experienced their worst nightmares of seeing the people they killed.
Tears started running down Aresa faces and her hands trembled. Senvan narrowed his eyes. Must be a very horrible dream.
Suddenly Aresa flew up and stood there trembling. Her blue eyes were confused and worried, and she looked scared. She had a wild expression on her face, and looked like she would attack Senvan suddenly.
“Whatever you dreamt, it was a dream.” Senvan lifted his hands to show that he was not a threat to her.
“Just. A. Dream.” Aresa mumbled and closed her eyes. A tear slipped ran down her slightly brown-burnt cheek, and dripped onto the ground.
Aresa snapped her eyes open, and she looked totally different. “Why are you here?” She asked almost accusingly. “Do you want to steal from me?” Her eyes narrowed, Aresa's hand went to her belt were a new and sharp knife was in its leather sheath.
“Crazy girl.” Senvan snorted and walked away. Aresa stared after him and blinked a few times. She
had a headache, but suddenly she realized how she had acted.
“How embarrassing.” Aresa rubbed the sweat from her face, and shook her head.
“Werlek!” She said, as she saw him walking past. “I need to talk to you.”
Werlek was surprised, but followed her obediently to a quiet corner.
“I think...I think the bracelet is corrupting me.” Aresa confessed her deepest fears to him.