The Last Beacon

XXXVIII

Sascha did not recall falling asleep.

She only realised that she had been asleep when she was awoken with a start. The sound of a harsh clanging sound against the barred gate of the cell was what woke her, giving her a fright.

Her gaze shot over to the gate, where a grouchy looking dwarf was holding an elongated dagger. He smacked the hilt against the bars again, making the same clanging noise as before. This time, it was Laurenz that was awoken by the sound.

"Get up, the both o' ya!" The dwarf barked bitterly, "the king has demanded yer presence."

Sascha hesitantly stood up, and Laurenz did the same, rubbing his eyes, grumbling a curse.

The dwarf, who appeared to have a key in his other hand, fumbled with the lock, clicking it open. The gate swung open, and the dwarf stepped slightly to the side to let the two out of the cell.

As they emerged from their confinement, the dwarf glared at them, pointing his dagger in their direction.

"Try any funny business and I'll slice yer throats," he threatened, "now move it."

The dwarf shoved Sascha and Laurenz onto one of the stone bridges, and Sascha tried not to get nervous as she looked down, seeing that the bridge was high above any sort of ground. She knew it would be a fatal fall, so she winced and tried to move closer to the centre of the bridge, away from the edge.

"I wonder what he wants," she whispered to Laurenz.

"I don't know, but I feel like it won't be good," he muttered back.

"Shut up, the both o' ya!" The dwarf growled.

Sascha snapped her mouth shut, not wanting to anger him and get a dagger in her back.

Sascha and Laurenz were led across many bridges, up several flights of cracked stone staircases, and through countless hallways. Sascha honestly wondered how the dwarves didn't get lost.

Eventually, they ended up back in the huge hall where Mortimalus sat upon his throne.

"Ah, you're finally awake!" He boomed, sitting up straight in his throne, "I have waited long enough."

Once again, Sascha and Laurenz were stopped right before the throne, leaving them under the piercing gaze of the king.

"I will admit," he continued, peering down at Sascha, "I was unsure of what to expect when I exposed you to Reverus's artefact. However, you were indeed able to open it, so I suppose that confirms that you are a Cavlacanti after all. This then poses the question, what to do with you now?"

Sascha gulped, worried for what was to come.

"You may be of some use to me," Mortimalus began, standing up from his throne and approaching Sascha, "as you may know, my kingdom was once great, with the help of Reverus, but after he passed away, our strength diminished, and I have been left with next to nothing. However, perhaps I can use you to draw strength back into my kingdom and strike fear into the hearts of outsiders once again, for the first time in almost fifty years."

Mortimalus circled Sascha and Laurenz, eyeing them carefully. Sascha turned to watch him as he walked slowly behind her, making sure she could monitor his movements. Laurenz did the same.

"You will do as I command," the king ordered, facing away from Sascha, and facing away from the throne.

"Do I have a choice?" Sascha asked shakily.

"Here is my deal, child. You will do my bidding and use the strength that has been gifted to you. In return, I will not have your companion, the hunter, executed."