"Where is Lyet?" Hanian demanded.
From the blackness, Lyet's face took form. It was still faint and her eyes glowed red but it was definitely the elf.
"I am here, Hanian," she said, but her voice was tinged with a deep echo, not quite her own.
"What is this? Who is Erhaal?"
"Erhaal is I, or part of me to be more precise," she answered. "We are one and the same; bound together in blood."
"Explain," he barked.
"I am a mistake, an aberration, I was never meant to be, but still I was born. I am Lyet Uskl, daughter of Gorothan, the one we pursue," she paused, waiting for some reaction from Hanian, but he just stood, his face stern, looking at her.
"But Gorothan is not what he seems. He, like me, is a half breed; part elf, part demon."
Hanian was shaking his head. "That is not possible," he said.
Lyet's face faded again, leaving the red, piercing eyes.
"Yet, here I am," Erhaal said. "There is no need to fear me, Hanian Danorr, I will help you."
"Forgive me, but I find that hard to believe. My past encounters with your kind have not gone well," Hanian said.
"Yes, I am well aware of that but you have to understand, not all of us are inherently evil; for want of a better word," Erhaal went on. "Just as in your realm, there are good and bad."
Hanian turned to Cass, who stood with a look of confusion on his face.
"Your name is well known where I come from, and some would want you dead. One especially holds a grudge for what you did to him when you last met," Erhaal continued. "You see, unless we actually die in your realm there will be no permanent injury to ourselves, we heal almost instantly. But there are exceptions though, and that is what has angered Akeil Dalien. The horn you severed from Akiel's head remains in this world, leaving him with rather a lopsided appearance."
The demon laughed, the swirling black around the eyes almost forming into lips.
"The horns are a sign of virility and Akeil, although a powerful Lord, has been a figure of much ridicule since his return. I myself, found it extremely amusing to watch the fool in such torment but I would be careful in the coming months, Hanian Danorr, he will try and retrieve the item," the demon said.
"He must know though, I had no choice in defending myself, just as he had no choice when summoned by the Darnach Magi," Hanian questioned.
"Ah, but that is not the case, he came willingly. Akeil is one of Iahzor's most trusted servants, there to help the Darnach where possible to win the war against you. Many in my home do not want this and are actively trying to stop it from happening but Iahzor is very, very powerful and has able allies, so it is difficult."
"Lyet?" Hanian said.
"I am here," her face returning.
"Why did you not tell us this before? Why wait till now?" he asked.
"I needed you to recognise I could be trusted first, to know that I am no threat to you," she answered, "and if it were not for the situation we are in, I would probably never have told you."
"Truthfully, Lyet, I don't know what to think," he turned to his brother. "Cass?"
He puffed his cheeks. "It's all too much for me but as I see it, we don't have time to debate it right now."
"Do what you have to do, Lyet, but be aware, if you betray us, I will kill you," Hanian said.
"Completely understood," the elf replied. "But you need not fear."
YOU ARE READING
Darkspur
FantasyIn a land where magic was once the norm, it has taken time for the people to adjust to its absence. In the eight years since a plague took most of the land's Magi, the people of Darkspur have worked hard to put the dark days behind them. Now, after...
