Darkling

Nyxian Empire

The sun had just dropped beneath the horizon and we were already in the air headed north. Ashtoreth led the way with Paisley in her arms while Mithra and Deimos brought up the rear, both of them checking behind regularly. I wasn't sure if it was Hugo wandering off that still had them on edge or something else, but they were pushing insistently tonight. And keeping very careful watch.

Hugo and I were doing our best to keep up, but we were both reaching the end of our endurance. Even with the extra time to sleep the Nyxian's had been giving us, I was hoping for some time to rest when we got to Nyxia.

"Ash!"

I looked back when Mithra called, but didn't see anything. Hugo's eyes widened, his vision sharper than mine.

"Fly fast you two," Ashtoreth ordered. "Stay right behind me. It won't be for long." And with a heavy beat of her wings, she was off. Hugo and I darted after her. Hugo could outfly me any night, but he was just as tired as I was and it was a struggle to keep up with Ashtoreth's sprint.

She had angled down a bit, aiming between two peaks. But as we sailed through the two jagged spires of stone I didn't see any nearby towns or cities where we might find refuge. Just miles and miles of forest.

Ashtoreth made a quick dive anyways, making Paisley scream and clutch at Ashtoreth tightly. Hugo and I followed her down, pulling up to skim the treetops, and then another dive to set down in a small clearing. Mithra and Deimos landed behind us. Ten Lumence soldiers landed behind them.

"Can we help you gentlemen?" Ashtoreth called as she set Paisley on her feet. She stepped between Hugo and me to put us behind her as the leader of the soldiers came forward.

"Empress Ashtoreth. You will accompany us back to Lumence to answer for the murder of three Lumencians and return the three Companions you stole."

"No thank you, but I appreciate the invitation."

The man darkened. "That wasn't a request."

"You're in no position to be making demands," Ashtoreth returned with a laugh. "The Companions were not stolen, nor taken against their will. Besides that, once we passed through those two peaks we entered the Nyxian Empire, where indentured servitude and slavery is not recognized. They are no longer Companions. They are of my clan, and I will fight to my last breath for any one of them."

Hugo and Paisley took in sharp breaths. I felt warm relief, and an ever increasing pride that I belonged to this woman.

"You think you can take ten of us to your three?"

Ashtoreth flared her wings as Deimos and Mithra drew their weapons. "You're on my lands now, gentlemen. If you wish to incite war, you should have brought an army to deal with Me." She spread her hands wide, and I thought the move might look better in front of an actual band of warriors rather than three former Companions.

"Whoa," Hugo breathed. Paisley squeaked and huddled between us. My mouth dropped open as I lifted my gaze from the Lumence soldiers. The leader was bristling, but I wasn't sure if anyone was listening.

"If the three of you are dead and buried, who will even know what became of you to begin a war? No one is going to believe the stories told by whores and no one will ever..."

He finally trailed off as one of his men gripped his shoulder and he looked. The tree branches bristled with arrows aimed at the Lumence soldiers. Grounded warriors came detached from shadows and brush, holding all manner of weapons. We were utterly surrounded.

Ashtoreth stalked up to the man, halting in front of him without making any move towards her weapons. "Any other demands?"

"You- You must turn the Companion's over to us and return to Lumence to answer for your crimes."