The Last Silvermaw Hunter

Chapter 12

Saphira

I watched the princess and the queen from the shadows, knowing that the tension between them was more than what happened the night before. I saw the look on their faces, Adorite, filled with anger and hatred. But June, she seemed empty, emotionless, almost as if she had no sorrow for the loss of her son. She gently places her hand on Adorite's shoulder, attempting to console her, but it is of no use. 

She will never forgive anyone for Sander's death. She will get her revenge, it may just take some time. 

As the flame is brought towards Sander's body, a single tear falls down the princess's face. I know she has been changed, forever. 

The flame burns brightly, casting an orange glow on everyone's faces.

 Someone begins to sing a tune, filled with sorrow, and heartbreak. Others start to join, but one voice stands out above them all, almost enchanting. 

That voice is Adorite's. The cries of a dragon can be heard in the distance, sad, and lost. I know that call all too well. It's the princess's wyvern, known as Vashak. He must be sensing her pain.

Adorite

It's been a month since my brother's funeral and I keep having the same dream over and over again. 

A wolf its pelt as white of snow. It was my brother's wolf form. Always in the same place in the same spot. 

A forest, the trees towering over my head with droplets of dew dripping onto my head and on the ground. The trickling stream to my right, a pool of water to my left, deep and cold. A twig snaps behind me and I spin around. 

There, in front of me is a wolf the same size as Drayco's form. Its eyes are the same silver as mine, sad and regretful.

There was a scar just behind his ear, the fur never fully grew back after the accident in the blacksmith shop. 

I held back the sob that was crawling up my throat. "Why?" I asked, my voice breaking, not caring that tears were now falling down my face, "Why didn't you stop them? Why didn't you try?"

He stepped closer, his nose grazing my cheek. I never meant to hurt you. I never tried to make you stop fighting.  He replied, his voice gentle, kind, sad.

My knees gave out. Sander placed himself between me and the ground, catching me. I couldn't hold the sobs back anymore.  Stop crying, please Addie, stop crying.

I didn't - I couldn't, not when I lost so much. "I lost you Sander I'm not going to stop crying."

I know, Adorite, I know. He whispers, his voice fading. I look at him my heart lurching as i see his body fading as well as his voice. Promise me something.

I nod. Never forget me, keep my memory alive. 

"I will Sander, I will." I whisper, as his body fades, "I will."

That's when I wake up. sweaty and tears running down my face, as I remember where I am. I get out of bed and out of this fucking castle. I run everyday after I wake up, like I've done forever when everything gets too much. 

I avoid the barracks and the guard posts. I avoid anything that could have any human-like person in it because this castle has no true human in it. I run through the river, jumping stones until I reach the edge. I stop and watch the view. 

I watch birds - no dragons actually - fly in the sky. They head north-west to a range of mountains. There's a forest below me with dryads working in the groves.  A sea to the East and to the West, silhouettes of sirens, sea serpents, and mer-folk play in the water. The castle, a large figure in the middle of the island we are on, the light of the early morning creating an ethereal glow around the castle. 

I hated it, hated that they had such perfect lives. When I was cursed, to lose everything and with a power that kills but yet heals. I brought my hand up and watched as my power curled over my fingers, going to where I willed it. 

"It's not their fault." 

I clenched my first watching my power disperse. "How would you know that?" I ask looking over my shoulder at Drayco.

"They don't know what happened at the castle that day." He replies, crossing his arms. He stands on the rock behind me. "I made sure they didn't." 

"On whose orders?" I muse, turning back to the scene.

"My own."

I scoff. "Yeah right."

He steps closer but a wall of black and white fire stops him, another thing I've been doing out here, practicing my power. I turn fully to him, "I doubt, that you would do that. But if you did why?"

He backs up a step but the wall of fire doesn't go down an inch. "To protect them."

I give a dry laugh, "To protect those insufferable people?"

He nods, "Of course you would. Why wouldn't you. It appears, Mr. Saber, that you have more to you than what you let show." I say watching him, studying him.

I look him in the eyes, "Would you do anything for them?" 

"Yes, I would." 

I nod, looking over my shoulder at the castle. "Would you kill a tyrant for them?"

"Yes. Why?" He questions, following my gaze to the castle. His eyes flare with understanding. "You want to kill the king."

I wave my hand, dispersing the wall of fire and walking closer to him. "Yes, I do. He took my brother and my mother away from me so I will take something of his."

"And what is that?"

I jump onto the rock Saber is on looking into his eyes as I tell him, "His life."

Shock flashes through his eyes, "This will take months, maybe even years."

"I know, that's why I will stay here and have you teach me."

"Teach you what?" He asks.

"To control my power, and the way of life here, even how to use the blades I use even better. I want to learn how to defeat him."

I grab my knife out of my boot and cut my palm, "If you're in this we swear it, by our blood."

I clench my first and watch as  a drop of blood falls onto the rock, "By my blood, I swear to kill the king and free the people."

The blood sizzles as it sits on the rock, the color black as night.