The Haunted ships and one-shots!

Drake x Grayson 2

Kind of similar to my first one, but a bit different and longer! Hope you enjoy!
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The fire to the distant campsite crackles and flickers, lighting up the night in it's brilliant orange glow from within the vast darkness. Chatter perked my ears, my teeth and fists clenched as the fire of rage burned, smothering me from within.
My eyes rested on the flyer gripped within my hand, the paper yellowing with old age and tearing on all wrinkled edges. My fingers lifting for my eyes to settle on the words printed in bold ink. It was different than the usual flyer that tended to catch my eye. No "sword for hire" nor the distasteful "Grayson is wanted". No. This was threatening to my behalf, threat embedded into each disheartening word written with ill intent.

"Enderman hybrid captured. Released for the capture of Grayson."

I knew that the message was put there specifically for myself. The empire knew how to get to me. They knew that I would not let a friend, a lover, lay to waist. I loved him, and surely my velleity had not gone unnoticed by mercenaries; obviously it had not. They knew that I would not make the same mistake twice.
The thing was, the ink was fresh, still wet and gently running ever so slowly.
While I was fully aware that it could have been a ruse either from the empire or someone seeking to get the bounty on my head, I could not stand the thought of my best friend being in the hands of such scum. I can not let anything happen to him. I will not let my love be taken away from me. Not after what happened to them...
What were they doing to him? Torture? Was he feeling the wrath of the leather whip against his skin, feeling it descend upon him to tear through his burning flesh? I shook my head to berid of the horrid thoughts, desperate to not let the illusion of his screams howl against the drums of my ears. It was too late, it etched into my mind, tears threatening to well up.
I growled and wiped my eyes with my long tattered sleeve, crushing the piece of paper in my grip. I hissed, clenching the flyer in my fist for security as if it were the handle of my trusty sword, the Andirun. My chest rose and fell as I forced in deep breaths, the air cool but my breath seething as it flared from my nostrils and brushed against my chapped lips. My blood pressure was at an all time high, my body trembling from my emotions, joined with the cold air around me.
How was I supposed to save him without putting us both in danger? If I go after him, I'll be looking to have the noose tied around my neck. If I do not, Drake will continue to be tortured and likely enslaved. Was he even in the empire to begin with? I did not know, and there was no way to know if I turned tail and ran. I will never turn tail and run ever again. Especially if it means that I would leave my lover for pain and death.
Of course, my choice is obvious. Drake is far more important than a stupid dragon egg, no matter if the thing is the source of all magic. He is far more important than my own life. I will do and sacrifice anything for him.
The quarter moon illuminated the world from above, lighting up the sky with the accompaniment of the thousands of glittering star littering the black void that stretched for eternity. The leaves on the trees and bushes gently swayed in the cold breeze, each plant full and lively with thick green despite the weather. The only thing that calmed me was listening in to the buzzing bugs and chirping crickets hidden in the darkness, but then I could hear their voices and laughter, allowing the rage to be replenished. No more stalling.
I pushed past the shrubs and leaves blocking my path, the flyer falling from my grip and gently falling to the soil below, my hand switching it out for the handle of the sword rested against my side. Armed, yes, with the dragon egg, no. Yes, it was a self sacrifice, but no one will find that egg for long after my death. I will not let them obtain it. That is not what Drake would want me to do, even with his own life on the line.
The flames in the camp reached high, embers rising and fading within the grey smoke, orange and yellow illuminating the camp and its surroundings. Though my blood boiled, my heart felt cold with loathe and disgust. I could hardly believe what I was about to do, but my reason to live is on the line, and I will suffer any consequences and battle any raging storm for him.
My back pressed against a tree as my ears listened in, now only feet away from the atrocious mercenaries out for my blood. There was talking, laughing, and something muffled, like screaming through a gag. My stomach clenched and a sensation of food running up my esophagus was persistent, though I was yet to vomit from my nerves. The rage along with my anxieties continued to rise, thinking about Drake. What if I lose him? What if I am taken to the empire and he is there, then we both get executed? This is my fault...I never should have gone through that portal and left him!
Finally, I peered around the tree bark, seeing into the campsite to gather information as to what I was dealing with. Three horses, five men, two carriages, one for carrying cargo and the other boxed for prisoner transportation. The back of the boxed carriage was wide open, chains laying on the rotting floorboards stained in gore. In addition to the five mercenaries, there was one other person, a person down on his knees as three of the swords for hire loomed over him, mocking him and speaking amongst themselves.