Children of Darkness: Ch 25

The Time To Strike

The battle was over as the Iron Statues and enemy dragons  fled the battle field following the explosion of the fireball which Infernio had sent into the air. Though a few dragons pursued the enemy and destroyed a few more of the statues, they soon turned back being far too few in number for it to be safe to continue the pursuit for long.

But as the few remaining Statues inside Warfang were destroyed and the survivors of the battle out on the plains started being treated for the wounds they had received, it became clear just how devastating the battle had been
Though the forces of Warfang had been victorious, the losses had been heavy. Of the forces from Warfang fighting on the ground, over one third had been killed or badly wounded as the Statues surrounded them. The Dragons in the air had suffered fewer casualties, due to them being superior in numbers to their opponents, but many had still died.

Large parts of the city of Warfang also once again lay in ruins from the crashing flying island and the golem´s rampage, but no civilians had been killed in the battle, one of the few positive things.

And even as evening fell upon Warfang and heavy dark clouds gathered overhead, the fields were still being cleared and the dead buried.

The apes had also buried their dead and gathered up their wounded. Already they were heading into one of the forests standing on the edge of the fields. It was just then that Ice Guardian Cyril came gliding down towards them, flanked by four other dragons.

He landed behind two large apes who were carrying the heavily wounded Moro between them. The moment Cyril landed, several smaller apes drew arms and turned towards him.

Cyril ignored them as he looked straight at Moro who let go of the two apes helping her and turned to face him. Though she swayed a bit, she remained standing on her own, facing the Ice Guardian with a cold expression.
"Moro" said Cyril and bowed his head respectfully.

"What do you want, Ice Guardian?" asked Moro with narrowed eyes.

"I wish to thank you and your people on behalf of Warfang. Without your aid, I am not certain what the outcome today would have been" said Cyril respectfully, though he was watching the other apes carefully. "Though I must admit I was surprised to see you fighting with us after our last encounter."

"Infernio and his master´s creations betrayed us. We were here to avenge the blood he had made us spill for his cause. We were never here to help you or any of the other Guardians, make no mistake of that" said Moro coldly.

"I never imagined anything else" replied Cyril. "But none the less you have our thanks."

"For what it is worth" snorted Moro.

One of the dragons with Cyril snarled at this remark, but Cyril look at him with firm eyes and he fell quiet again. He then bowed his head respectfully to Moro before flying off again.

As evening turned into night and the rain began to fall, few who had participated in the battle could sleep. But none were more struck by the events which had taken place than Cynder and her family.

Vynin along with her brothers and Gravi had been summoned to Blazirin´s chambers so that Blazirin could check up on Gravi.

"How is he?" asked Blazirin concerned.

Vynin looked down at Gravi who was sleeping between her two front legs. He seemed peaceful. "He has been fine so far, nothing out of the ordinary" said Vynin slowly. "But there can be no doubt that he has ingested the potion. My mother can simply feel it from him."

Blazirin nodded slowly "At least he is showing no adverse effects right now" said Blazirin with little optimism. "But where is Cynder now if I might ask?"

"She asked to speak with Jacira" said Vynin. "I don't know where they are now."

"I see" said Blazirin and was silent as her gaze wandered across Carx, Larshyr and Vynin.

Carx was clawing at the floor in frustration, periodically looking over at his brother. Blazirin suspected he might be blaming what happened on his own lack of strength.

Larshyr on the other hand had regained consciousness only two hours before and had since then been very silent. He had only gone shortly to see to Zera who was with her mother and father at the hospital section.

And Vynin was watching Gravi closely concern and fear apparent in her eyes every time she looked at Blazirin.

None of them said anything.

Blazirin sighed. The events of the past few hours had been grueling. She still could not believe herself that Tironar had done as she had done, or that they had not discovered Demetrius in time to stop him…though the battle had been won, it did not feel like that.

"It will take at least three months before I can tell you if Gravi suffers from the same…condition as you do, Vynin" said Blazirin. "All we can do now is hope and pray to the ancestors that he does not suffer like you do."

"But I can promise you this Vynin. With what time you have left, I will do everything in my power to find a cure for your condition…and if it is the case, Gravi´s too…and my own I guess."

"Your own condition?" asked Vynin surprised. "You mean you…"

"Yes I too have ingested the potion, I did so just prior to this battle" interrupted Blazirin. "But I did so of my own free will in order to gain more strength."

"But why?" asked Carx immediately. "Why would you do something like that?"
"I am old Carx; I don't have too many years left in me. By drinking the potion I gain strength to help protect those I wish to protect as well as a better understanding of its effect and possibly its negative effects" said Blazirin.

But even so it won't be age that kills me. I will die long before that."

"What do you mean?" asked Larshyr looking up at her nervously.

Blazirin nodded. "I am dying from a disease known as the Red Fever. You might remember it from my lessons, I taught you to make medicine for it once. But even though the disease it is not contagious, it is not curable either. It can only be stalled and the disease is lethal" said Blazirin slowly, but with surprising calm.

Vynin, Larshyr and Carx all looked at Blazirin, but none were more surprised than Larshyr who´s eyes widened in shock and sorrow.

"Why…why have you not told me…us this?" asked Larshyr immediately. "Did you only just find out about it?"

"No, Larshyr. I have known about it for a few years now, but I saw no reason to reveal it when it was not a problem for my duties as Guardian. Even the other Guardians were not informed until now" said Blazirin calmly. "But you deserve to know it now Larshyr as you and Zera will probably be taking over my place as alchemist in time. I promise I will teach you everything you need to know in the time I have left."

"Is there really nothing that can be done?" asked Larshyr desperately.

Blazirin shook her head slowly, her eyes clearly showing the sadness her calm expression otherwise did not hint at. She really wished she could have told Larshyr anything else in the mood he already was in, but this was no longer the time for secrets.

"Blazirin…" said Larshyr slowly. "Is it true…did Shar really betray us?"
Blazirin fell silent. The loss of Shar was something she felt heavily. She had seen Shar as a friend and trusted her almost completely, to find out she had been fooling her all along had been a hard blow…but she also finally thought she understood how Tironar felt.

"Yes…but nothing is quite clear" said Blazirin slowly. "Though we have now learned Shar was in reality a dragon we have known as Vecna who has been responsible for many deaths in the past, her actions now have been…strange to say the least. Nothing indicates she is working with Demetrius, but we can't rule out anything."

"Who really cares what her goal was or is!?" exclaimed Carx. "She is gone now and so is our father! But we know where he probably has been taken so let's go there and do something now!" Carx bowed his head again and said in more quiet tone. "I don't want to lose my father like this."

Vynin was about to say something to comfort Carx, when Blazirin spoke in a firm voice.

"I can assure you, Carx, that we are not going to just sit here in Warfang while your father is in danger." said Blazirin. "And that is also why I asked you to come here, Vynin. There is something which needs to be discussed regarding Gravi."

As Blazirin spoke with her children, Cynder was standing on the wall of Warfang. The rain was running down her scales in a steady stream and if she had been crying the rain had long since erased any traces of it.

But she was not alone. Hiding from the rain in the entrance to the tower Cynder stood next to hovered Jacira.

"No and that is my final answer!" exclaimed Jacira. "I will not tell or show you where Demetrius is hiding!"

"He has taken my mate and he will kill him at some point if I don't do something! Tell me where he is!" exclaimed Cynder angrily.

"Look I know you are upset, but think for a moment!" yelled Jacira irritated.

"If you go of on your own do you then think that you have even the slightest chance of succeeding! What do you think Vynin, Carx and Larshyr will do if they lose you as well as their father! I can't let that happen!"

Cynder looked like she had been hit across the face and for a moment Jacira thought Cynder might attack her in anger. But then Cynder simply turned away without a word and looked out across the dark fields.

Jacira felt just a sting of sorrow as she saw Cynder standing there. But she was steadfast on not showing Cynder the way. She had lost both her parents long ago, she knew the pain and she would not let the same happen to Vynin.
Suddenly the sound of wing beats sounded above them and a moment later three dragons landed on the wall behind Cynder.

Cynder slowly turned around, but the moment the three middle of the three dragons came into view her eyes widened and she barged her teeth. "You!" she snarled as she stepped forward suddenly.

Tironar did not even flinch as Cynder came towards her.

"How dare you even show your face after what you have done!" continued Cynder anger burning within her eyes. "Had you done your duty instead of your own plots Gravi would not be in the condition he was in now…and Spyro might still be here!"

"And had other´s not tried to stop me, Spyro would be standing by your side now" said Tironar calmly. "I regret nothing of what I did."

With roar Cynder jumped forward and lashed out against Tironar in anger. Tironar did not even flinch as her brother stepped in front of her and stopped Cynder with his wings.

Cynder stopped immediately. "Step aside, father!"

Ghronur cast a hateful glance at Tironar before lowering his wings and looking Cynder in the eyes. He saw deep hatred, sorrow and fear and it only caused him to feel  guilty himself. He had failed in both stopping his sister and protecting her children. He could have prevented it...

Ghronur pushed the thoughts aside and firmly said "No, I can't do that."

"Tironar will receive a fitting judgment for her terrible actions in due time" said Volteer, for once sounding quite stern instead of his usual optimistic self. "But until then her strength is needed."

"And I will accept whatever punishment is deemed fitting, even if I only did what I considered the right cause of action" said Tironar calmly.

Cynder cast one hateful glance at Tironar. "Then I will await that time with anticipation." Cynder then turned her attention to her father. "Is there something you wanted?" she asked.

"Nothing from you. We actually came to find Jacira" said Ghronur.  "We were told she was with you."

"And what do you want with me?" asked Jacira from her dry area in the entrance to the tower.

"We want you to show the quickest way to Demetrius lair" said Volteer. "The day after tomorrow we gather all dragons who can fight and assault Demetrius with all our might. The time to strike is now while his forces are weakened."