The Dragon Realms Saga

Koda followed closely behind the Collector as the two Dead of Winter members approached the Coalition's warcamp. He glanced at the ridges noting the familiar red and black clad warriors watching back at them. They used to serve me—protect me. Now they are prepared to slay me. How far have I fallen that my own soldiers wish to harm their own crown?

Harm the crown? Not even a decade past that Lost Dawns was stricken by rioters attempting to burn down the city! Harm crown? His soldiers have always wanted to harm the crown. They were thankless, shiftless, cretins that deserved nothing in return…

Are those my thoughts?

Did he truly believe this? Or were these more inceptive thoughts placed by Tezhok. After all, Wraslyn admitted the brainwashing of Elucard; who's to say he didn't order the black wolf to brainwash him too?

No, Wraslyn would never do that.

He must'n be weak. Not when they were so close to achieving their goal. Unite with the gods.

All will be right when I can walk among the angels.

"Koda," hissed the Collector. "To my side."

The elf nodded and did as he was told. Koda held his breath as Wiccer, Avalon, Vada, Arrelion, and Wildeye marched from a larger tent.

"Steadfast, Koda," the Collector whispered.

He clutched the trim of his midnight cloak and narrowed his eyes. He never attempted to explain himself or even say his goodbye to her…to Wildeye. How could he? After all, he betrayed her trust. He turned against the very cause she stood and fought for. The same cause that he once stood and fought for. No, he couldn't even bear the thought of facing her, but he was. With any luck, the cat would do all the talking.

Arrelion unsheathed his long star-steel sword and pointed to the Collector. "Do you speak for Mateo?"

The yikahti chuckled and nodded. "I am here to grant you a single warning, stand aside or be destroyed."

Koda scanned through the faces of his old friends. Perhaps to his own dismay, they ignored him. Each set of eyes averted his gaze, they didn't even bother to glance at him. Did they not miss him?

He settled his sights on his cobalt blue familiar.

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Wildeye? Do you hear me?

He paused. Waiting for an answer he knew would never come. Wraslyn severed his connection with her.

I suppose this is for the best.

He continued to listen to the conversation at hand.

"You know we can not do that, yikahti," Arrelion said flatly.

"You are quite outnumbered, cat," said Avalon. "Do you think it wise to be making threats?"

Dead of Winter always comes prepared, human."

"A warning for your master!" sneered Arrelion. "We are prepared to defend these seals until the end of time!"

The Collector flashed a toothy grin and bowed. "So be it."

"Koda!" Wildeye called out. "Wait!"

Koda's eyes water at her soothing voice. He missed her dearly.

"Please," she begged. "It isn't too late. Please come back to us."

"I—I…" stammered Koda. It was too late and deep down in the bowels of his mind, he knew this.

The Collector placed a heavy claw on Koda's shoulder. "Come."

The sound of a shadow portal tearing came from behind. He stole a single, longing glance at Wildeye and whispered, "I'm sorry."

***

Timber stirred the campfire with an arrow, loosening a log so that it could collapse into ash. The embers crackled as the fire let out a rushing roaring of heat and cinders.

"That's better now, isn't it Lear?"

The tiger rubbed his hands and hovered them just beyond the fire. "Aye, Timber. This yikahti thinks it will be just another uneventful night."

Timber grunted as she bent her bow just enough to restring it. The wood wailed a creak underneath the pressure. "When do you think Dead of Winter will attack? It's been two nights."

Lear scratched the scruff around his neck. "Perhaps they wish us to be restless and attack when we are at our most paranoid. Too tired and strung out to defend."

"Psychological warfare," Timber mused. "I like it."

Lear let out a short chuckle and laid back in the snow. Clouds drifted past the white moon. Only a sliver of moonlight cut through the night. Other than the field of twinkling stars and a set of bonfires, the warcamp was dark, perhaps even dark enough for an ambush.

Lear tapped his fingers on the hilt of his saber. What were the Black Rabbits waiting for?

"Lear?"

He turned his head to the kanis. "Mhm?"

"Do you think we are over our heads?"

"Yeah, Timber," replied Lear. "This yikahti doesn't think any of us signed up for this"

"Sometimes I wish we were back in the Rising Forest," muttered Timber. Watching over a small settlement. Miles and miles away from mages, seals, or Eluc—"

Lear's whiskers twitched. "What is it?"

Timber stood up and cocked her ears forward. "Thought I heard something"

A blur of shadows and steel sliced through the night. Lear leapt to his feet and unsheathed his blade with lightning fast reflexes. Sparks erupted off his blade as he deflected a barrage of shuriken.

"Timber!" he cried.

"On it!" Timber grabbed the arrow from the fire and shot high into the sky. The Black Rabbits have finally attacked!