Elves of Wood and Storm (Book one of The Guardians series)

Final Destruction

When the last dregs of Istrali left Lucas he blinked heavily and fell back, weariness overcoming him. X also took several steps back, though he was X no longer. Lucas looked up at the man Istrali now possessed and blanched at the sight of coal black eyes. Istrali laughed through X's mouth and spoke, "You have served me well Lucas, by maintaining the connection you escaped the mark of the possessed." The voice was X's but it was different now, different inflections marked it as Istrali speaking. "What do you mean?" Lucas was confused, wondering what mark it was Istrali was referencing.

The magic laughed, "You see my eyes, the darkness within them. It is my nature shining through, and it usually remains in all who contain me. For when I leave and they gain control often they are overcome with revulsion, pulling away and forcing me to leave part of myself behind. But you," Istrali laughed gleefully, "you allowed me to complete the transfer, and for that I will reward you. Tell me Lucas what did you plan to do when you finished your slaughter. This may be a small village but you would be hunted for the rest of your life."

Lucas looked down, realizing his lack of foresight, "I suppose I didn't think this through." His rueful admission seemed to amuse Istrali. "That is true, but you need not fear. I can clear you of everything, and finish destroying the village." Lucas looked up again, hopeful at this prospect, "How?" Istrali's eyes bored into his own and slowly the black receded, Lucas cocked his head confused. Wondering if the entity had withdrawn, then Istrali spoke, relaying his plan. Excited Lucas agreed readily.
*~*~*~*
With a regiment of guardsmen to arrive at any minute Lucas waited impatiently for Istrali's return. The entity had gone above promising to kill every elf it came across, every elf in the village, in under an hour. It had said guards were on the way and would arrive at the end of the hour. There was a dull thump and Istrali landed in the cell next to an impatient Lucas. "Is it finished?" He asked, Istrali nodded in confirmation, an evil gleam in his eye. Lucas looked at the body that had once been his friend, "Is he in there? X, I mean." Again Istrali nodded, laughing slightly. "Yes he is, tortured at the things I made him do to those he was sworn to protect"

Lucas grinned and followed Istrali to the surface, "Now just how much do you have to wound me?" He asked the entity, "Not much." Istrali replied, "Oh, and here. This is an ancient blade, keep it safe. I can't be seen to be in possession of it, else the guard suspect what I am." Lucas took the offered blade, it was black with intricate silver designs. "If I take it, won't the guards suspect me to be what you are?" Istrali nodded approvingly, "Good, you're thinking. You will hide it on your person, not to be found until long after I'm gone. They will suspect and test you, but you will not react how I would and they will not give any further thought to it." Lucas nodded, his fears assuaged.

The pair made it to the end of the village, faintly Lucas heard the sound of approaching guard members. Istrali grinned and drew his blade, X hurriedly hid the black one he had just been given and unsheathed his own knife the one he had started it all with. "Run." Istrali whispered, Lucas complied fleeing towards the guard. He saw a face between the trunks and called out for help, the guards-member called out to his companions and turned back just in time to see Lucas hit the ground screaming in pain.

Istrali advanced behind him, covered in the blood of those he had just killed wielding a naked blade. Lucas scrambled to his feet kicking off the strange netting that Istrali had just thrown, he tried to run again but Istrali was too close. X's blade slashed downwards and he lifted his knife to block the stroke just in time. Faster than he could react Istrali pulled the blade to the side, slashing at Lucas's arm. Though the cut was not life threatening it was painful and hampered Lucas's ability to react.

Istrali was screaming at him, using X's inflections, mimicking his word choices. "You will die Lucas! You and every other elf in this thrice blasted village! And I will be the hero who slew you! Die foul cur!" Istrali stabbed at Lucas, who dived out of the way at the last second. Istrali cast a sidelong glance at the guard, observing their distance. Deciding they would not arrive in time to stop another death stroke, and he couldn't keep missing if they were to believe he killed everyone else Istrali sheathed his sword and began to kick at Lucas. Rolling the prone figure as the elf crumpled to withstand his blows.

"My apologizes," He whispered, "I expected them to react as quickly as they did in the days of old." Lucas groaned too sore to wonder how Istrali existed before he summoned the magic. Another blow fell and Lucas coughed, surprised to see blood on his hand. There was a loud yell and a thump but Lucas could not see what was happening because his face was swollen from a previous blow, so when a shadow descended he thought it was again Istrali attacking him but the blow did not land. Still Lucas cowered away from whatever approached him.

"Peace. I will not harm ye." The voice was smooth and unfamiliar, it must be a guard. Internally Lucas rejoiced, the plan was going just as it should. But he did not react other than to ask, painful though as it was, "Who are you?" The voice confirmed it was indeed a guardian, "Why are you here in our humble village?" Lucas tried not to sound demanding, attempting instead to be grateful and confused. "We received a correspondence from X," Lucas flinched at the name hoping to appear tramatized, "It said a man marked with the . . . well with a terrible symbol was murdering everyone."

Lucas shivered, "There is no symbol on X, nor on his accomplice that I know of. But he took me from my home weeks ago and carved something on my chest. Even now it burns." The man who had been speaking to him pulled back slightly and gestured for someone. Or at least thats what it looked like to Lucas's blurry sight. He could feel his shirt being undone and he sucked in his breath, authentically, due to the pain. And he knew that despite the bruises the scars shaping The Demon's Heart were visible.

Angry muttering erupted and several words drifted into Lucas's fading conciousness. "Betrayer." "Cruel." "Survivor." But everything slowly faded as Lucas began to sleep, allowing the darkness to take hold.
*~*~*~*
When he awoke several hours later Lucas had a throbbing headache. He opened his eyes warrily, remembering what happened last time he lost conciousness. The swelling around his face had been greatly reduced, allowing Lucas to see clearly that he was in a cart covered in a simple blanket. Poultices had been placed on his chest in an attempt to heal some of the damage Istrali had inflicted upon him.

The cart was being pulled by some large animal, Lucas looked at it in wonderment. He had never seen such a creature before. A guard member saw that he was awake and hurried over, "I assume you are the Lucas X accused in his letter?" Lucas deliberated for less than a second before replying, "Lucas is my name, but I don't understand. What letter? And what did he accuse me of?" The woman nodded, "I thought as much judging by the marks on your chest. X tried to frame you for the murder of the village, he outlined it in the letter." Lucas nodded, then froze plastering a look of fear on his face. "X? Only X? What about his aid? Did you catch her as well?"

The woman glanced past Lucas and waved at someone, a moment later a second woman appeard. "This is my commander, Gen. You'd best explain this aid." Lucas shifted his gaze to the second woman, "It was a female elf, I don't know her name for sure. But I saw him give her something and tell her that I was a murderer. Thats how they caught me! I tried to run to tell the council." Gen whispered something in the first woman's ear, who replied just as quietly. She then turned her attention back to Lucas, "The letter we spoke of was delivered by a woman, with long blond hair." Remembering how the messenger looked that night Lucas could not remember long hair, he thought she had short. "It must be someone else, the woman I saw had short hair." Hoping he was not wrong Lucas measured the reaction Gen had to his words.

She sighed, "The woman did have short hair, I just wished to confirm you were not accusing lightly. She will be apprehended, questioned, and killed. Lucas swallowed attempting to look slightly queasy, which drew a degree of amusement from Gen, "Now I have business to attend to. Trisha will take care of you until we arrive at the acedemy." Lucas nodded and watched as Gen sped up passing the slow cart. "Trisha what is that creature?" She laughed, "A horse, have you not seen one before?" Lucas shook his head, "No, I can't say I have."

The two lapsed into a calm silence as they progressed down the trail. Internally Lucas thanked Istrali.

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Alrighty everyone hope you all had a great holiday season! I have some questions for you. I have decided how this story is going to progress, and how its going to tie into my other book The Dark Guardian, (Read that if you haven't yet) And of course read the next book, Lucas. Which I shall be writing shortly.

Have a great morning/evening/night or all three :D