The crown of wolves

Chapter Five

The next morning was somber. The forest was eerily quiet, blanketed in a thick layer of snow. Malron was huddled close to Malleus's lifeless body, his eyes red with grief and exhaustion. Eldredge, the prince, and Silthgrad kept their distance, silently watching him.

The night had been strange and terrifying, and the weight of their loss hung heavily in the air. No one spoke, the only sounds coming from the wind rustling through the trees.

Finally, the prince broke the silence. "You should have used your fire. We could have died yesterday."

Malron, still seated by his brother, responded without looking up. "He can't use it because it doesn't work anymore. He didn't tell you, did he?"

Silthgrad's expression hardened. She turned to Eldredge, anger simmering beneath the surface. "What is this, witch hunter? Is it true?"

Eldredge sighed heavily, lifting his hand to produce a flickering blue flame. "I lost the heat many years ago. I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" Malron's voice was thick with bitterness. "You know what my brother told me before he died? He asked me to ensure you got what you deserved. Eldredge, you deserve a lot. Do they even know why? Do they know about us yet?"

Eldredge's shoulders slumped. "Look, this doesn't help us. We are losing time. We need to get moving."

The prince stepped forward, his voice firm. "Yes, we need to get moving. But first, you, Eldredge, have a lot to talk about. And then I shall determine if we can trust you to go with us."

"Dead man walking," Malron muttered. "If he decides you're a liar, a cheat, and untrustworthy—which you are—and relieves you of your job, you will get what is coming for you, Eldredge. You will get it."

They gathered around the dying embers of their campfire, the cold morning air biting at their skin. Eldredge took a deep breath, preparing to reveal his past.

"It was many years ago when I first met Malron and Malleus," Eldredge began, his voice low. "We were witch hunters, and we took on a job to identify and capture a witch plaguing a village. But I made a mistake. I misidentified the witch, and in the chaos, innocent people were hurt. The council blamed Malron and Malleus for the failure, and they were stripped of their powers and expelled."

Silthgrad's eyes narrowed. "So you're the reason they lost everything?"

Eldredge nodded, his face etched with regret. "Yes. I've been running ever since, trying to make amends, but I know I can never truly make up for what happened."

The prince considered his words carefully. "And your fire? When did you lose it?"

"About three years ago," Eldredge said, looking at his hand. "It just... stopped working. I've been trying to regain it ever since, but it's no use."

Malron stood up, anger flashing in his eyes. "And now my brother is dead because of you."

"We will make a decision, eldredge when we get to Lonely sands, we have to keep moving," The prince said. 

As they edged closer to Lonely Sands, they were stunned by the sight of dismembered pale bodies hung on stakes along the path. The gruesome display sent a chill through the group.

"A warning for travelers?" the prince mused thoughtfully, eyes scanning the macabre scene.

"Remain cautious, everyone," Malron said, his voice low and wary. "There haven't been many visitors in these parts. We may be the first in years to venture this far out. Let's make sure we live to talk about it."