Chapter 60
It was a sorry group of people, not a warrior among them. Strangely, none was over 40 or under 25. None of these people even looked like Connacher or smelled like them. It was obvious that they were not high-class but peasants and could not be his family. Just as I realized that these could not be Connacher’s kin, that’s when the Faet and Klese guards came out of hiding and attacked me.
They were armed not with conventional weapons but with short crossbows that were loaded in silver bolts with illuminated rune markings on them. The tips were made of that same amethyst jade as the dagger with which I had killed Lyr Averon, I had a strange suspicion it would prove equally lethal to me.
I hastily put up my shield and they bounced off it. Or the bravest did. The others hid behind their shields or the doorway.
I sent both magic and shots from my own wand back at them, taking out several of the more careless ones. Blood spattered the floors and the smell drove me wild with lust. I screamed and the sound went through them like the wind through chaff. Those that remained standing were dazed with blood running from their eyes, ears and noses. My voice had ruptured eardrums and damaged their brains. I put them all to good use – their blood served me well and their bodies I sent to the birds to feast upon as they hung from the walls of the barracks. As an abject lesson to those that remained in doubt of my grip on the throne.
I used my glamour on the Minister of War and learned that my grandfather had been behind the plot to assassinate me. I had them dragged before me and disemboweled him in front of his wife and children. Of course, they had been dead before him; I had satisfied my blood cravings on them first. So much power and life was running through my veins from the feedings that I felt invincible. Until I remembered Blackfin. As commanded, I cut off Connacher’s hands and stored them until I could return to the Wizard. I put the General in charge as he was completely under my thrall as I left the palace with the Army. We marched towards the Border and the rendezvous with the Wizard’s forces.
I reinforced my position by having each commanding officer brought before me and placed them under my allure. Those that had taken measures to protect themselves against me with spells, I killed outright. There were few and fewer of these as the inspection went on and news of the assassination’s failure circulated.
The Throne Warriors were the first to capitulate, their allegiance was to the throne, not the person and I was of Averon’s blood so a legitimate inheritor. That I was a Dracule like him only cemented the issue. I was curious how he had appeared normal to his people but then, he had centuries to evolve under his curse. Or, maybe he appeared normal because he never left the kingdom to trigger the change like mine. I wasn’t sure if the conditions of my curse were the same as his, I wasn’t even sure if it was the same curse. I didn’t speculate on how he had been changed or by whom. Or what. All I was interested in by then was returning to Blackfin with his new legions.
My enthralled officers would see to their soldiers going over to the Wizard without mutinies especially when they were told they were about to launch a full all-out war against the Imperial Army. Blackfin was going to take the Newlands and destroy Ehrenberg at the same time.
I could hear his words in my head as our mounts galloped for the Wall. As we entered the Mist, I spoke the words that powered the spell that held it together and both came down with a shudder that rocked the ground. Our mounts staggered but kept on their feet and as we emerged onto the abandoned streets of Elassen, I felt the changes hit me once more.
Pain radiated from my back as if the skin was blistered by fire and the bones cracked, striving to be free of my skeleton. I screamed and hauled back on the reins to pull my sylph up into a rear. I felt an unfurling of muscles and spasms rocked my chest and back. I was suddenly above the sylph and floating over the ground.
When I craned my neck around, I saw two huge fans of black feathers touched with scarlet, spread in a pattern much like a hawk. Without conscious thought, I moved certain muscles and the wings beat keeping me aloft until I glided to a stop at the side of the column of mounted warriors.
I was encircled. I held the wings out as if I were a battering ram and hissed at the startled faces of my soldiers.
“Lyr?” My General asked coming forward fighting his sylph who wanted nothing more than to turn and run.
“I did not expect this.” I struggled to comprehend what was happening to me. My heart began to beat four times faster and my entire body lightened – as if my bones had turned hollow. My chest and pectoral muscles bulged and my eyesight sharpened. The changes made to me frightened the others.
“I take it that Lyr Averon did not become a flying creature?” I managed past dry lips and cottony mouth.
“No, Lyr. At times, he could change into a snow cat,” the General admitted. “As he grew older though, the changes became harder and it took longer to return to his human form. He stopped transforming completely several centuries ago.”
“We go on. You have your orders,” I said and leapt into the air. In four wing-beats, I was airborne and they rapidly became mere specks below me as I flew towards my destiny at the Wizard’s command.