Spawn of the Outworlder

Chapter 9-To Try and Find Myself

"If there is one thing I expect you to learn, child, it is that you must never believe a word of the Empire and their Church of False Light. Look at how they deceive their own citizens, hiding the very history of Abbadon's reign from them for fear that it will inspire them to awaken from their stagnant state and bring down the corrupt kingdom that oppresses them. The Church is built upon lies and knows nothing else. If the Empire were to tell you the sky were blue, do not waste your time even checking. Simply assume it to be false.

"Their lies extend even to those who dared ally with Abbadon, such as the Dragons and their offspring, the Drakes and Wyrms. They speak of them as mindless beasts, who hunt and kill with abandon. Yet, during the Great Connection, I saw through the eyes of Abbadon. He showed me the truth of the Dragons, how their intellect outmatched even those among Abbadon's own army. How he would regularly seek counsel from them in order to ensure his peace would be maintained all across the Empire. If there was any ally Abbadon could not afford to lose, it was the Dragons.

"So, of course, the Empire's first goal was to begin exterminating them..."

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The midday sun hung in the sky, beaming down upon the Nightpeak Mountains. Large, clustered trees covered in freshly grown leaves of dark green mixed with bare branches, still recovering from the death of winter. At their base, brown and golden leaves rested, scattered across the pathway leading higher and higher to the Mountain's peaks. There was a slight chill in the air from the snowcaps along the tops of the coal black mountains. The trees appearing to reach up towards the sun itself, covering the path ahead in patches of clustered shadow. It was here that Graham and Luna found themselves.

The two had spent most of the day riding away from the village of Brightshade. The horse Bella had managed to make it most of the way to the mountain base before finally feeling exhaustion. The worn out horse currently resided in the comfort of Luna's staff, as she and Graham would need to make the rest of the day's journey on foot.

Poor girl's earned her rest, she thought. Hopefully, this mountain settlement has something I can give Bella, thought Luna. Had I known I'd have more need of her, I'd have brought more supplies from Lady Ignis.

Luna led the way, with Graham following behind her. She put a hand to cover her mouth as she let out a quiet yawn. Can't afford to sleep until we make it to the settlement.

Along the path, Luna had seen animal markings along the trees. Inconspicuous to most passers-by, but recognizable as code used by the Umbral Hand. The markings had been made with an animal claw to ensure that they would draw no attention from even the most astute. The symbol, two crooked parallel lines, one steady and the other jagged and broken, claimed that a settlement waited at the end of this path. The two lines were intersected by three other lines across it, each at a different angle. This warned that the town carried animosity towards the Empire, but that they were also weak to Umbral manipulation. I'll have to mind myself here. No flaunting of my status.

Looking back to the ser, Luna saw that Graham walked with his head down, barely capable of seeing farther than his own feet. His shoulders sagged and his steps seemed slow. His eyes carried dark rings, signaling his exhaustion. His steps so frail that Luna felt sure she could bring him crashing down with a tap of her finger.

Graham hadn't said a word since leaving Brightshade. Luna had expected him to remain silent while they rode Bella, but even after dismounting, Graham stayed quiet. He must still be in shock over the previous night's events.

Her mind went back to the night before, when Graham had managed to cast some unholy magick, one she'd only heard of spoken in frightened whispers by her teachers in the Capital schools. Cursed magick. A sign that Abbadon's Awakening drew closer and closer. The moment still burned in her mind, the horror of it all having shaken her to her core. It was a moment that left her weak and, in that weakness, she made a foolish mistake.