Warlord's Ward

A Missive

Warlord held it gingerly and looked back at the bird. Giving a series of pretty twittering whistles at it.

The bird responded in kind and cheerfully took off. Black tipped red wings fluttering as it vanished as quickly as it'd come.

"What's that about?" I stared after the bird, fascinated.

"Messages."

"From who?"

"One of my sources."

Sources? I'd always heard he talked to no one. How'd he groom sources?

And who were they?

Who'd want to aid such a cold man?

"Magus." He explained absentmindedly.

"One of the mages?"

"He used to be."

"But he's not now?"

"I just helped him escape under the condition he would send me such word." Warlord's tone hardened slightly, and I could tell he wasn't liking where this discussion was going.

That's how he honed sources. Freeing them. It gave me a tiny glint of hope.

Maybe he might free me one day.

"I won't let you go." He said without looking up from the missive.

Ouch.

That news felt almost crushing.

I eyed his profile. His face was scrunched in irritation.

Probably with me and the message.

If I wanted him to keep telling me things, I needed to stick to gleaning one topic at a time. Every time I tried beyond that, he lost patience with me and shut down.

If I want to escape him, I must get to know him.

And now I was reassured that Magus was able to escape the Castle.

It means there is a way.

***

"What does it say?" Despite that I'd just concluded I should drop the subject I was too curious to resist probing further.

Warlord dropped it to the floor. Opening his hand, a bit widely made it ignite in black fire and fizzle out until there was nothing but ash that landed on the wood and rug where he'd been standing.

He was striding back in my direction with annoyance written over his face.

Oh, no. What'd I do? I cowered into the bedding. Trying to avoid being beaten.

He gave me a black look. Turning his hand quickly, worked a key down the chain which encircled his wrist three times. He adjusted the key in his hand until he held it between his fingertips. Sticking it in the lock on the shackle freed me.

I dropped my arm down into my lap and blew a sigh of relief. Trying to massage feeling back into my bicep.

"I didn't intend to leave you shackled all night." He said apologetically. Turning from the bed to look thoughtfully at the wall.

***

Then what had he intended to keep me here throughout the night? I frowned at him. Wondering if the next night would be even rougher.

Would he make me sleep on the floor?

Or under the bed in a box? Or some awful fate?

Warlord turned his head slowly to glare at me over his shoulder. "Do I strike you as much of a monster as all that?"

He was reading my thoughts again. I winced.

He scoffed in annoyance.

Desperate to change the subject I asked again. "Will you tell me what it said?"

I scooted up the bed. Massaging my wrist where the shackle had ground into my skin.

"It said there's a roaming LightFly."

"What's that?"

"A creature that feeds on the spirits of children. And if a parent catches them, they turn into something that can mesmerize the parent."

"Like a light?" I asked. Imagining someone staring dumbly at a glowing beacon.

"No." Warlord said dryly. Eyes going hooded. "Like a beautiful woman."

"Oh." I nodded in understanding.

Finally.

He must think I'm dumber than a rock.

"I don't think you're dumb." He said tonelessly. "Just naïve."

I grimaced. Assuming that was a bad thing.

***

"Why do you want to know if there is a LightFly out hunting."

"I want to know about all dark creatures hunting the people of MainGlen." He said boredly.

"Why?"

"To stop them."

Doing something so savory seemed very out of character for the man I knew.

"Do you know me?" His head whipped and his look was accusing.

"Please stop reading my thoughts." I whined. Ducking my head.

"I can't." He grumbled.

Why not?

"It's like screaming betwixt my ears." He gestured limply toward his head.

"I know of you..." I corrected.

"You know what bleak rumors are out there. No one speaking them really knows of me."

"Why not?"

"Because I've not the time to foster real relationships."

"Why not?" I queried. Wondering how long he'd indulge my prodding.

"I've bigger things to worry about. Like the LightFly..."

I sensed there was something else he worried about. But he was disinclined to tell me, so I asked my next question. Wanting to keep the quizzing going as long as he'd allow it. "How will you stop it?"

"I can't." He said flatly. "I'm trapped here unless King Detry leaves."

What? Why?

"So...How?"

"My brother." He walked to the wall and pulled out a gray wooden box. Retrieving some parchment and a black ash stick. He scribbled gently on the parchment and went back to the window. Twittering there made the red bird return to land on the sill. Shifting restlessly and lifting its feet as if waiting for him to hand over his note.

He rolled it tight and handed it to the bird who quickly took off.

Without turning from the window, he explained. "Aviari deals with many such things."

"Aviari?"

"He's my brother. They also call him the King of Creatures or the Prince of Perils because he deals with such things."

"I didn't know such things existed..." I whispered.

"Did you think we were the only inhuman creatures?" He scoffed. Staring at me askance.

Yes, I had.

"Of course not." I said confidently.

He shook his head.