The Custodian Chronicles: Finding Dragons

Father of Lies

It was a freezing ride back to the commanders that night, but he knew he had to return and report as soon as he could. He was about halfway there when there was a unusual noise in the snow. Cedrick reigned in his horse to listen, wondering if one of the enemy guards had followed him and was hoping would guide him back to their leaders. Maybe Emmerick had caught up. They couldn't afford another Montressa.

Cedrick carefully drew his sword and dismounted to confront the trouble. His horse snorted and shuffled her feet uneasily, so Cedrick patted her side to comfort her and keep her quiet as he listened. Something was out there, and Cedrick narrowed his eyes to try to see in the darkness, and normally, he was fairly good at seeing in the dark, but there was something about this darkness that was darker than was natural. Maybe it was all in his head, but Cedrick felt sure something dangerous was out there, skulking around him like a shadowy bat.

A sharp clap struck the air like a gunshot; a slow clap that's strike echoed off the trees and faded into the dampening snow. "Well done." A drawling, gloating voice came from the darkness. "Very well done for one oh so careful."

Cedrick held his sword at the ready towards the sound and the darkness. "Show yourself." He commanded. "Or I shall make you."

"Touchy, touchy." The voice crooned from the shadows; the voice was so cartoonish Cedrick felt uneasy.

"I'm warning you!"

"I'm coming, sir Custod. I'm coming." The voice complained with the tone of a irritated teenager, and a dark figure emerged from the shadow like coming forth out of a cloud of smoke.

The wind blew about his figurie carrying frost bitten snow with it. His head was bowed, so Cedrick couldn't quiet see his face, but his hair was dark brown, almost black and was a wild, twisted, styled mess. His clothing was of a style Cedrick had never seen before. He wore a dark suit with a long coat, one of the longest Cedrick had seen, the coat was more like a cloak than anything. The coat and pants were deep black, but he wore a blood red waistcoat with twisted black lines winding down it. It was so twisted it made one's stomach twist in its own knots. His coat rippled like a cape in the snowy wind. At last, the man slowly looked up, and his mad eyes met Cedrick's: brown and just as stylishly messy and twisted as his hair. Both twisted elegantly in knot that could make any man sick to his very soul.

His slow claps still struck the air as a twisted smile steadily climbed his cheeks. Cedrick shivered, but it wasn't just from the piercing cold wind. "Hello my dearest friend." The enemy's voice dripped poison of the sweetest flavor as if it was dipped in pure chocolate wearing a hint of an Englarish accent. "It's been toooo looong." He make the G click.

The click sent a jolt through Cedrick setting him on edge. He set his teeth in fury and lifted his blade to point at the man's neck. He had a strong feeling he knew exactly who this was. This was the man who'd caused the suffering he'd seen that day. The man who was responsible for his family's death. It was because him his brother had to take over the ruling line. The injustice and anger steadily rose inside of Cedrick; this man was the cause of it all."

"You did a fine job the other day." The man praised, but his voice wasn't steady but animated, moving up and down in pitch, tenor, and intonation. He began to pace around Cedrick, and even his movements were unreal, like a cartoon made flesh too strong, too smooth, yet so full of energy, it could not be contained. "Burning the platform was a good one. I would have gone with a bomb myself, but I also wouldn't have fallen for the fake innocence of a girl with green eyes." A twisted smile blossomed on the man's face.

Cedrick grit his teeth and again pointed his weapon at the man's neck. "The only fit bomb is the one that ends you." He hissed. He wanted to attack, but his anger was so strong as it pulsed through him, he feared it until he had it under control. Who knew what his magic would do if he didn't.