The Stormblade Part 5

Hagridor did not wait to see if the men he had ordered to assist him were following. He ran in his hurry to find the clearing. He was extremely angry. Not only had Fox come back after convincing his sister to run away with him, he had the gall to return and tell him that Reba was dying! Hagridor seriously wished that somebody would stand in his path at that moment. He gripped his sword tighter and moved faster.
Finding the clearing in record time, Hagridor ran over to the place where Reba lay, pale and barely breathing. He shoved Josh away savagely, and beckoned to the camp physician. He glared at Chad, who began to shift nervously from one foot to another. He looked up as the physician stood. "Well?" he asked sharply.
The physician avoided eye contact. "She is…there is nothing I can do. The wound is too deep to deal with here, and she has already lost much blood." He backed up in order to avoid Hagridor’s sword, which Hagridor slammed into the ground, point first.
"What do you mean, ‘nothing you can do!’? Surely there is something…can’t you ease her pain, at least?" Hagridor spoke sharply, with a dangerous show of temper.
The physician spoke softly, head bent. "Perhaps if we got her back to camp, then we could save her baby at least, and maybe we can bring her back." He glanced up at Hagridor’s angry, pain-filled face. "It is her only chance."
Hagridor turned away from him. "Put her on a stretcher." He snapped. "She will come back to camp with us. I would give her that at least, a safe place." He muttered quietly.
Chad, who stood at the edge of the clearing heard him and spoke up. "There is no safe place on Dargothia, Hagridor. If I had been you, I would have listened to Fox when he asked you to join him."
He stumbled backwards, holding his hand to his face where Hagridor had vented his anger by punching him. He pressed his back into a nearby tree as Hagridor stepped towards him until only a few inches separated their faces.
"Understand this," hissed Hagridor, waving a dagger in front of Chad’s face. "If Reba dies, it is you and Fox that I will take my revenge on."
"It was a Jarling that stabbed her; how can you blame Fox for it?" Chad asked calmly.
"Because he stole her from me!" shouted Hagridor, holding the deadly blade under Chad’s chin and forcing him to hold up his head. "He lied to her, made her love him. She would not be here dying if Fox had left her alone! Fox is going to die; I will kill him myself. And whether Reba lives or dies will no longer make a difference."
Hagridor longed to bury his knife into Chad’s throat; he was beyond rage. All he felt was a cold, deadly force inside him that propelled him to take his revenge. No, Reba wasn’t dead-yet-but what she must be going through made him want to destroy whatever had caused it.
Chad appeared to stay calm. "She did love Fox, and Fox loved her. Why do you think that he risked his life to find you? You were the only one that could help her-he put his life on the line for her."
"As well he should have." Answered Hagridor, flinging away his dagger, and shoving Chad aside. He spoke over his shoulder as he gestured for his men to follow him. "A life for a life. What I said still stands." He gestured for two of his men to seize Chad while another three grabbed Josh and Ming, pulling them along roughly.
He paused in front of Edar and his three men. "You may come or go. The choice is yours." And then he stalked away.



Fox opened his eyes groggily and tried to focus. The first thing that he saw was Hagridor standing over him. He grimaced.
"Am I dead?" he asked.
Hagridor’s face was stony. "Unfortunately, not yet," he answered in tones of ice.
Fox grinned unexpectedly. "Man. That means that you’re alive too."
Hagridor’s eyes flashed. "Watch it, Stormblade. Just because we removed a few arrows doesn’t mean that you’re off the hook. You still have answers to provide, and after that, I want to personally have the pleasure of destroying you."
Fox raised his eyebrows. "Aren’t we violent? So, how long have I been laying here?" He spoke lightly.
"Three days." Answered Hagridor.
Fox stared at him in disbelief and tried to sit up. The effort left him gasping for breath as the pain struck.
Hagridor pushed him back down firmly. "You may not get up yet. You have no idea how many stitches my physician put in there. I watched him," He shuddered. "Trust me when I tell you that you don’t want to exert yourself."
Fox looked up at him curiously. "I thought that you hated my guts and wanted me dead-which is why you had at least a half dozen archers ordered to shoot me on sight. Why in the world would you care if I overexert myself?"
Now it was Hagridor’s turn to grimace. "I don’t. But I can’t have you die before you tell me what I want to know. And then, I want to personally be the cause of your death."
Fox stared at him. "And, pray, do tell, what it is exactly that I need to inform you before my untimely passing?" he asked sarcastically.
"Everything you know." Answered Hagridor with no emotion.
"Ah." Said Fox with a raise of his eyebrows, as if that explained everything. "If you knew half of what I do, you’d go crazy from information overload."
Hagridor’s face remained impassive, though the muscles tightened quite a bit. "So you say." Then, perhaps tired of dueling over words, Hagridor stood abruptly and started to stride out of the room.
Fox quickly forgot his pride and called out. "What about Reba?"
Hagridor stood with his back to him. He did not turn around.
"What about Reba?" Fox repeated. "Is she okay?"
Hagridor spoke in a whisper. "She suffers no more." He walked out, his back straighter than a metal pole.
Fox tried to close his eyes, but the tears still slipped through.


Fox lay inside the tent on a cot, fully dressed. His memories swept over him like a flood. In his imagination, he could see Reba, still alive and untouched by the darkness that surrounded him. Then, another-Reba, lying on the ground, pale and barely breathing forever replaced that peaceful memory; the knife that had been intended for his heart buried in hers.
Again and again the memory replayed of the pain in her face as he told her that he wished she had chosen to marry Hagridor those three years ago! He groaned and covered his face with one hand. The other was bound across his chest to prevent him from moving it. He peered out at the bloodstained bandages and heartily wished that he had bled to death or that Drake’s men had finished him off. Why had he told Reba that he no longer loved her? Had she known that it was his frustration with her brother Drake that had pushed him over the edge?
Just then, Chad walked into the tent. Upon noticing Fox, his downcast features instantly lit into a fake smile. "Hey, what’s up?" he asked lightly, as if discussing the weather.
Fox did not bother to play the game. "Reba’s dead." He responded stonily.
Chad’s gay demeanor vanished instantly. "She is not dead," he replied flatly. "You’re lucky to be alive."
"She’s alive?" exploded Fox. "Do you mean that Hagridor lied to me? Where is she?" He tried to sit up.
Chad pushed him back down. "You’ll see her soon enough."
"I want to see her now!"
"She’s resting, Fox. And didn’t Hagridor tell you?"
"Tell me what?" Fox demanded. "Of course he didn’t tell me anything, other than that she was dead!"
"Oh." Chad replied. "Well-" He was interrupted by a new, cold voice.
"I thought you were for the Dargothians, Fox, I didn’t know that you were part Neptunian."
Chad whirled around as Fox looked up sharply. Hagridor stood there, dressed in black. He carried an open sword. Chad backed up to stand in front of Fox. Hagridor glanced at him, then down at his sword and laughed; but it was a laugh without humor.
"Don’t worry, Chad. This sword isn’t for Fox. That one is still in my tent."
"What do you mean, Neptunian blood?" asked Fox, puzzled and still angry. "How could I possibly be part Neptunian? And why did you lie to me?"
"That’s what I wondered too-until I saw Reba’s child." Answered Hagridor, stone-faced. "And I lied to you to find out just how much you love her."
"What?" Fox would have jumped off from the cot if Chad hadn’t held him down.
"That’s right, Fox." Continued Hagridor in the same monotone. "Reba had a child-a boy."
"Now?" burst out Fox. Chad had to continue restraining him.
"He is barely an hour old, Fox, and the very image of you and Reba, except for one thing;" His voice was dangerously soft. "He has green eyes-just like any Neptunian child."
Even Chad seemed shocked at this announcement and forgot to hold on to Fox. "You‘ve got to be kidding!" he protested. "You can’t say that he is a Neptunian simply by the color of his eyes!"
Hagridor shook his head. "Fox doesn’t know his own blood line. He had adopted parents who conveniently met up with an ‘accident’ when he was nine. It is very possible that Fox has Neptunian blood in his veins. In fact, it is a certainty, since Reba was obviously a pure-blooded Dargothian." He stared at Fox accusingly. "Only Neptunians have green eyes."
Fox glared back at him. "Even if that is true, and I do have Neptunian blood in my veins, what does it matter?" he demanded. "I have spent my entire life fighting for Dargothia. And so have many other Neptunians!"
Hagridor hesitated. "Xavier always knows where we plan to strike, and he is always ready for us. How do we know that you aren’t leaking information to him?"
"Give me a break!" Fox hissed. "I haven’t set foot in your territory until three days ago. And why would I destroy what I have worked for my entire life?"
"I don’t know!" Hagridor suddenly yelled. "But I can’t trust you!"
"Fine." Fox snapped. "Don’t trust me, but you must let us leave!"
"Oh, you will be leaving, Fox, have no doubt of that, but Reba and her son stay with me, where they can be safe." said Hagridor.
"They will be safe with me!" Fox hissed. "And you have no right to keep them from me!"
Hagridor raised his eyebrows. "I have every right. Reba will stay here with me and be safe. As for her son, I will raise him according to Dargothian customs, and you will not so much as lay eyes on him." He answered, clearly unaffected by Fox’s passion.
Fox tore loose of Chad’s grip and flew at Hagridor. Hagridor didn’t even blink as he snapped his fingers, and out of nowhere, six of his men swarmed in and grabbed Fox, restraining him.
He fought against them furiously. "Where is my child?" he seethed.
Hagridor stepped towards him, eyes narrowed. "Safe from you!" he said coldly. "You conned Reba into running away with you three years ago. I haven’t seen her until now, and she was almost dead! You made her think that you loved her, and it was your fault that she got hurt. If it hadn’t been for you, she would have been with me-safe and happy!"
"And if it hadn’t been for Fox," interjected Chad, who was also being held at sword point, "You wouldn’t have his son."
Hagridor nodded. "Yes, I guess I do have to give you credit for that, Fox. Though I am not sure if it is a good thing she had a child with Neptunian blood. I suppose you’d like to see him," he mused. "But too bad for you, it’s not going to happen." He gestured to the guards. "I banished you once, Fox, and you came back. I guess I’m going to have to finish this."
"Hagridor!" Fox spoke desperately; it was his only chance. "You and I, we are not enemies. I didn’t force you to hate everyone! I don’t know why you think that I am part Neptunian, but fine, believe what you want!
‘Reba loved you too, Hagridor, but because she chose me, she had no choice but to listen to me. I am her husband-we are one, and when you banished me, you banished her." He stopped, the pain from freshly wrenched wounds was overwhelming, and he almost gasped for breath.
Hagridor watched him impassively. "What once was no longer matters. The point is, we have a score to settle." he signaled the guards again, but this time it was Chad who started talking.
"Hagridor, listen to him! It wasn’t Fox who hurt Reba, it was the Jarlings."
Hagridor seemed to notice him for the first time. "Obviously." He commented dryly. "But I’m blaming Fox."
"Calvin was angry at Fox for not allowing him to accompany him to Dargothia, So we believe that he tried to take revenge on him by hurting Reba." Continued Chad. "I don’t know if the king was behind it at all, but Reba spoke his name; it was him!"
Hagridor stared at him. "So whom do I punish for the wounds of the woman I once loved?" asked Hagridor sarcastically.
"Whichever Jarling is responsible." Chad replied.
"And what about the child?" questioned Hagridor.
"Leave him here?" Chad said lamely.
Hagridor considered for a moment, then snapped his fingers, releasing Fox. "Seems like you’re off the hook for the moment, Fox." He said. "But believe me, you and I will have it out sooner or later-and sooner if I can help it." At that he turned his back to them and stalked off, his men following loyally.
Fox turned to Chad; there was a new light in his eyes, and it was dangerous. "I have a son." He stated, and began preparing himself for a journey.


A few minutes later, Fox slipped quietly into the healer’s tent. The healer raised her eyebrows at him, but left without a word. Fox knelt at Reba’s side and watched as her eyes slowly flicked open.
"Fox," she whispered, but Fox shushed her quickly.
"Save your strength, you may need it yet." He said, glancing down at the tiny bundle she held in her arms.
Reba smiled and held it up to him. "His name, if you don’t mind, is Cedric." She said.
Fox held him carefully, staring into his face. "He does have green eyes." he said in astonishment. He studied the child for several more moments before giving him back to Reba.
"Reba," He started, "What happened?"
Her eyes clouded over. "He murdered Falina, and he took Calvin."
"Don’t worry." Fox tried to soothe her. "We will find them, and save Calvin and avenge Falina. Stay here with Cedric and Ming, and please, please don’t exert yourself. I need you, I love you!" He said the words he feared that he would never be able to say again.
Reba understood. "I will. And Fox," she added, as he stood up to leave, "I love you too. But are you sure you can do this?" She added in concern. "You are wounded!"
Fox shrugged manfully, then grimaced. "I’ll be fine." he assured her. "Really, Hagridor’s healer’s did a fine job, even if they had planned to just heal me enough so he could kill me as soon as they finished."
"Fox!" Reba cried in horror.
"Reba, it’s ok, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry." He laughed humorlessly. "Once we find Calvin, we will be ready to attack Xavier’s army. And if any of us survive that, I’d say we’d be doing pretty well."
Reba fought off the drowsiness that suddenly tried to overcome her. "And when the war is over?" She murmured.
Fox bent down and kissed her forehead. "Then we have the rest of our lives to be together, in freedom."
He left the tent quietly, determined to bring down Xavier at all costs, be it his own life.


Josh paced back and forth and Ming was getting dizzy from just watching him. "Josh!" She pleaded. "Please stop; you’re making me dizzy!" Josh didn’t stop. "JOSH!"
"What?" He asked impatiently. "Ming, we’ve been inside this tent for three days! If we try to get out, they act like they’re going to stab us. If I stay here much longer, I’m going to go crazy!" Just then the tent flap flew open. Hagridor himself stepped inside, Fox behind him.
Ming jumped up beside Josh. "Fox!" she cried joyfully.
Josh stepped forward angrily. "Now see here-" he began, but Fox interrupted him.
"Josh, Hagridor and I made a deal, and you and Ming are part of it."
"What!" exclaimed Josh.
"You, I and Fox are going into Neptunian country to find the Jarlings and Calvin." Explained Hagridor. "Ming stays here."
Josh’s jaw dropped, and it wasn’t for the first time in the past few days. "What about Reba?" he protested.
"Reba’s alive." Hagridor snapped. "But barely. She is resting along with her son." Ming smiled, she knew the child’s name.
"Was it really a Jarling who stabbed her, then?" asked Josh.
"Aye." answered Fox. "His name was Rhayden, and if I catch him, which I will, he will die the same way."
Josh grimaced. "What now?" He asked. "How will you find these ‘Jarlings‘?"
Fox narrowed his eyes. "We will track them if we need to, but I believe they are headed to the palace with Calvin to hand him over to the king."
"Besides," added Hagridor. "I have my informants."
Josh opened his mouth to protest again, but suddenly Fox was right in front of him pointing a dagger at his chest.
"Listen to me," he threatened quietly. "You will do what I say. There is more to this than you know."
"Yeah," said Chad helpfully. "One of his parents was a Neptunian." He had sneaked into the tent behind Fox unnoticed.
Josh’s eyes widened, Ming gasped, and even Hagridor winced as Fox’s knife buried itself into the wooden post inches away from Chad’s head. Chad ran out the door as Fox advanced threateningly.
Ming suddenly remembered what Reba had once told her: that Fox was only twenty years old. He was a new man now, dangerous and deadly. She felt compassion for him. He had lived his entire life with one purpose: to destroy Xavier.
Hagridor brought her back to he present with a snap of his fingers. "Shall we go now?" he asked with fake cheerfulness. Turning to Ming, he said. "You will not be harmed in any way. Whatever you want or need, just ask for. My men are at your command." He paused thoughtfully. " And if we don’t come back, you are free to lead them or to go at your pleasure." He bowed to her and started to walk out.
"Why?" Ming questioned softly. "I know nothing."
"Because you can learn, you are Hayden’s only heir, and I trust you." Hagridor replied, and left.
Ming’s eyes widened as she realized the enormity of what he had just said. Her face softened as she watched his retreating back. It was straight as could be; yet there was an invisible burden he seemed to carry that sunk down his shoulders. She felt pity for him as she thought of the pain he must be carrying. She turned and looked at Fox and Josh. "Are you really going?" she asked them.
Fox nodded. "This is the only chance that any of us have to survive. Calvin knows where my camp is now, but if we strike first, he won’t have a chance."
Josh nodded in agreement. "And we’ll find a way home while we’re at it." Ming thought that he seemed a little unsure, but for some reason, the possibility of them never getting home again didn’t bother her



A few minutes later, Ming waved goodbye as Hagridor, Fox, Chad, Josh and several of Hagridor’s men disappeared into the surrounding forest. To her, their mission seemed impossible, and she knew that not all of them would return. Suddenly, her gaze riveted on Hagridor. A dark shadow seemed to surround him, and she gasped in shock as realization hit her.
"Edar!"
He stood beside her in an instant. "Lady."
"We have to stop them!" she lowered her voice as Edar raised his eyebrows, indicating the Cinsors who had gathered to watch their leader depart.
"Why?" he questioned, pulling her inside the tent behind them.
"Hagridor has the same darkness around him that Drake had, and Drake is dead!" Ming burst out.
Edar shrugged, then sighed and grabbed Ming’s arm as she headed back outside.
"Ming, please listen, and don’t upset the Cinsors. Hagridor has the same chance of coming through this as much as Fox, Chad and Josh do."
"But the shadow..! Ming protested.
"Ming…it’s ok, Drake and Hagridor are what you call third cousins."
"Cousins!" echoed Ming. "Wouldn’t that mean that Drake and Fox should have been enemies also? And are you saying that the blood that they share has something to do with the darkness that was around both of them?"
"I really don’t know all of it." Admitted Edar, rubbing his forehead. "But you are not the only person that has seen the shadows that lies around them both. Now, please, you must focus on leading these people until Hagridor returns."
"I don’t know how!" Ming retorted. "Nobody has ever filled me in on how to command period, let alone so many! And what about Fox’s camp? We left it almost four days ago! Zaya must be worried sick."
"I will send one of my Sivians to alert her in due time. First, we must attend to this camp. Don’t worry, I’ll help you to the best of my abilities. But if I were you, I’d get used to ordering people around."
"Why?" questioned Ming, taken aback.
But Edar didn’t answer. Instead he bowed and held the tent flap open for her. Ming took a deep breath and stepped outside.
While Ming was in control of one camp, Zaya was in charge of the other. And like Ming suspected, she was worried. Fox had gone to find Reba, as had Chad, Edar, several of his men, and the teens.
That had been three and a half days ago. She had sent out search party after search party. The Sivians were restless without their leader. She had sent out yet another search party about two hours ago. She could hear them returning now. She stalked out of the tent she had been hiding her nervousness in.
She waited for the leader of the group, Balin, to report. Bowing slightly, he did so.
"Lady, we found the clearing where lady Reba must have been gathering herbs for the returning warriors."
"And?" Zaya queried impatiently.
"The ground was trampled by many feet. And there was a great deal of blood…"
"They were all slaughtered?" Zaya interrupted incredulously.
"Not that much blood." Balin said hastily. "My guess is that it was coming from one person, before Commander Fox and the rest arrived."
"Reba?" Zaya breathed softly.
"It is possible." Answered Balin. "But if lady Reba still lives, then she is in Cinsorian hands. As I believe Commander Fox, Commander Edar, Chad and the two young teens that came from Earth are also. The signs are clear."
Zaya almost sank to the ground in disbelief and astonishment. "Do you think they are all still alive?" she asked.
Balin hesitated. "Well, Lady, forgive me, but you are aware of the ongoing feud between the Cinsors and ourselves, particularly the individual, Hagridor? If Hagridor is still in charge of them, I find it difficult to believe that Commander Fox would make it out alive."
"We must find out and rescue them if they are." Zaya said firmly. "We cannot free Dargothia without Fox. I cannot command all these." She gestured to the rebel Dargothians who had gathered around them, straining to hear what was being said.
"I will ready those under my command at once, lady." Replied Balin, not trying to sway her mind. "When shall we leave for the Cinsorian camp?"
"At once!" snapped Zaya, stalking back into her tent, preparing herself for a battle.
Balin bowed to the closed tent flap and began giving orders. If he was at all upset or nervous, he hid his emotions well.



Many leagues away, a group of men moved silently through the Dark Forest. Well, not exactly silently. Josh stumbled over every rock and root. And Chad, who hardly ever went outside, was no better.
Hagridor let out all of his breath in frustration. "Could you be any louder!" he snapped.
"Give them a break, Hagridor." Fox said just as testily. "They’re doing the best they can."
Chad raised his eyebrows. It wasn’t like Fox to defend anyone, much less him, a computer nerd who only supported the rebels for pay. Well, had; he was in a little too deep to demand money now.
Hagridor whirled on Fox. "Do not tell me what to do! You may think that you are of use to me now, but I assure you, there’s always someone else I can find!"
Fox backed away and started to reply but then he narrowed his eyes and gestured for all of them to remain quiet. Hagridor also listened to the surrounding forests’ noises. He might have disliked and even hated Fox, but he knew better than to ignore a man who knew the forest better than he.
And then, he heard it too. Not necessarily a sound, but a lack of peace. Extending two fingers, he sent two of his men into the dense trees that loomed on either side of the path.
They slipped away, their camouflage cloaks blending into the forest floor. There was no sound for about thirty seconds, then a sudden crash and a yell. Casting away all thoughts of obscurity, the rest of the group rushed towards the muffled noises in order to be of aid.
Except that, there was no need to be met. Hagridor’s two soldiers held a struggling young man, who must have been about eighteen, between them. His thick black hair fell into his equally dark eyes as he tried to break their grip. A single earring glittered on his right ear. What must have been his sword lay unsheathed on the ground behind him. He was also swearing.
Hagridor stepped forward to question him, but Fox was faster. Placing himself between Hagridor and the young man, he spoke accusingly.
"I know you!"
The young man stopped fighting for a moment and rested in his captors grip. He looked up at Fox sideways. "Release me." He growled with a hint of fear. "You have no right to seize innocent men!"
"Innocent!" Fox snarled. "Your father is, or shall I say ‘was’, a devil. How can you be innocent of the blood your family has shed?"
"I did not choose my father, and I am more ashamed of what he was than any Dargothian who calls himself loyal!" The man cried out desperately.
"What are you talking about?" demanded Hagridor. He turned to the stranger. "What is your name?"
Fox locked eyes with the young man when he remained silent. "Shall I tell him, then?" He spoke softly, without breaking his gaze. "This is the man that I saw the day Drake died; he was standing at the edge of the pier. His name is Tuxor, and he is the son of the late Dargothian traitor, Rahn."
Josh gasped, understanding dawning, while Hagridor opened his mouth to command Tuxor’s execution.
But Tuxor spoke first. "Yes, I was there, when Drake died, and I am also the son of Rahn Shrika." He confessed bitterly. "But why do you hold the sins of my father against me? I had no part in that man’s death! I have never betrayed my loyalty to Dargothia! Who are you to mead out your so called justice to the innocent?" He spat.
Hagridor paused but Fox got right into Tuxor’s face. "Yes! I accuse you of the crimes your father committed; Drake’s blood is on your hands."
The soldiers had to exert themselves in order to restrain Tuxor.
"I had no part in Drake’s death!" he screamed. "My father had innocent blood on his fingers, yes, but he has been paid back for his crimes. I came here to find you and ask you to help my mother and sister, who are also loyal Dargothians, and instead you try to kill me? You are no true Dargothian, you seek blood not peace!"
Fox took a step back, caught off guard by Tuxor’s intensity. He glanced at Hagridor, who stood watching with interest.
"How do we know that your family has not betrayed us?" Hagridor asked.
Tuxor was silent for a moment. "I have no proof other than my presence here." He finally replied. "If the king knew exactly where I was or what I am doing, he would destroy my family without mercy."
"It is not enough." Fox said angrily.
"Then what is?" Tuxor shot back. "I know of no other way to prove to you that I am a true Dargothian than to tell you that one of your men is soon to die at Xavier’s hands. I tell you only for his family’s sake, to save their grief-not your own." He added venomously.
"Which man are you talking about?"
Chad stepped forward and Tuxor was taken aback as he recognized him.
"You are Chad!" he stated in surprise. "Xavier has been searching for you, he has posted a reward for your head."
"Which man?" Chad asked urgently, ignoring the other’s shock.
Tuxor stood as straight as one could with their arms pinioned behind their back. "His name is Kiroten. He is to be put under arrest by Mingol, Xavier’s second in command, and put to death as a rebel. His family will die also."
"How do you know this?" Fox demanded.
Tuxor refused to answer, his lips shut tightly. Fox cursed and might have knocked him senseless then and there had not Hagridor intervened.
"Enough is enough!" he hissed, pushing Fox aside, and glared at him. "Fox, if you can’t keep your emotions under control, you just may live to regret it! Tuxor, we can’t let you go, because we have yet no reason to trust you."
"But he just told us about Kiroten!" Josh protested in his defense.
"It could very well be a trap." Hagridor replied. "However, we cannot ignore it if he really is telling the truth. Tuxor, you have a choice. My men can either take you back to my camp and you will stay there until I return (if I return), or you can accompany us to the city of Dargothia. It is your decision."
Tuxor hesitated. "If I go with you to Dargothia, and the king discovers me, I will die. But if I stay at your camp, your men would also harm me on the account of who my father was."
Hagridor waited quietly.
Tuxor bowed his head. "I will return to Dargothia with you and your company. Perhaps, if all goes well, I can return honor to my family by dying for Dargothia."
"A bit morbid, isn’t he?" Josh whispered to Chad.
"Honor is more important to a Dargothian than their very lives." Chad whispered back. "You would do well to respect that."
Josh fell silent, ashamed.
The two men that had been restraining Tuxor let him go at Hagridor’s command. He stood there, waiting.
"Chad?" Fox turned to him. "You heard what Tuxor said-Xavier wants your head. I cannot force you to follow me if your life is in danger. You can stay or go back. Which do you choose?"
Chad’s eyes locked with his. "I will follow you Fox, though I may die."
Fox rested a hand on his shoulder. "I can ask no more." he said softly. He turned, and without a second glance to anyone, strode ahead.


Many miles away, a lone figure entered Galina, a city on the other side of the Dark Forest that few knew about, a place beyond Xavier’s power. He was dressed in black, and carried a short sword on his hip. His eyes were dark, and carried a determination of one back from the dead. The people of Galina stared at him with awe. They did not know this stranger, but soon, they would give their very lives for him.



Zaya stood at the head of the rebels, dressed for battle, and prepared for death. She looked over at Balin, who stood beside her. He nodded at her, and she opened her mouth to give the command to move out, but a shout covered up her words. She whirled around to find out who had spoken, and saw one of the rebels pointing at the clearings’ edge.
A lone man stumbled out of the trees, and obviously overly fatigued, hurried to her, bowed quickly, and managed to gasp out, "They are alive!" He nearly fainted then, but Balin caught him, and shoved a flask of shala into his mouth.
Zaya, waiting impatiently for him to recover, saw that he was a Sivian, on of the four that Fox had taken with him to search for Reba. "Well?" she asked, drumming her fingers on the hilt of her sword.
The Sivian took several deep breaths. "The lady Reba lives with her son, whom she calls Cedric."
Balin smiled to himself, the name would not have any meaning to anyone else, but to him, it was his life.
"Where is she?" Zaya demanded. "And what about Fox?"
"They are staying at the Cinsorian camp." the messenger replied. "Their leader, Hagridor, and Fox went to rescue the earth boy, Calvin, along with the other boy, Josh. Reba is well enough at the moment, she was stabbed by a Jarling named Rhayden, the same Jarling who took Calvin prisoner. The healer there believes that she will live, and Ming, the earth girl, was left in charge of the Cinsorians with Commander Edar as her second." The man sagged with exhaustion.
Zaya blinked as the information processed. "I thought Hagridor was Fox’s enemy." she said.
The Sivian shrugged tiredly. "He still is, but at the moment, they both have a common goal that they want to reach. So, they learn to get along." he chuckled.
"And Chad?" Balin questioned.
"With Fox." he replied.
Zaya sighed with relief. "So everyone is safe as safe can be for the moment. Thank you-" she glanced at the messenger. "What was your name?"
The Sivian shrugged again. "Not that it matters, but it’s Link."
"Thank you Link. Are you hungry?" Zaya asked him.
Link sighed. "Not yet, milady, I just need to crash for a few hours; I’ve been traveling since daybreak."
"Go ahead and find a tent for now, it looks like we won’t be going anywhere for the moment." She told the gathered Dargothians. She turned to Balin with a look mixed anger and relief. "I’m going to kill him, Stormblade or not!" she hissed.
"Why?" Balin asked innocently, already knowing the answer.
"Because he was supposed to come back and marry us!" she stormed.
Balin laughed aloud and drew the black fighter into his arms. "Then maybe we should just go to him!"


"Edar, who was my father?" Ming asked as they both stared into the campfire. It had been a long day, and most of the Cinsorians were sleeping or standing guard. Reba and Cedric were still in their tent. Ming was worried that Reba did not have enough strength to recover while, secretly, Edar knew it.
He sighed. "I never knew your father. Your mother though, I knew her well, in fact, it was I who help her escape Xavier’s palace."
"You?" Ming asked, incredulous.
"Aye." Edar replied quietly. "She was young, and beautiful, which I suppose was one of the reasons that Xavier married her. The other was because Sailee was Hayden’s daughter, and her child would inherit the throne. Unfortunately, Sailee loved another man, and she spent the night with him. Xavier eventually found out, and had the man executed.
Sailee might have endured the same fate if Xavier knew she was pregnant. But by then, Sailee had told me, and I arranged her escape. I didn’t know however, that your mother took a medallion. I guessed it later, when Xavier was venting his wrath. She used it to take her to your home, Earth, where I suppose she found a new life, free of Xavier’s tyranny. But Ming," he added, looking at her with concern. "I believe you were that child, Sailee’s daughter. Tell me then, what happened? I know that you are adopted, how so?"
Ming bowed her head, ashamed. "My mother gave me to strangers when I was young; I barely remember her."
"It is nothing to be ashamed of." Edar said. "I do not know why she chose to have another raise you, perhaps because she could not do so herself, but even though you cannot remember her well does not mean that she didn’t love you."
Ming’s head snapped up, and an old fire burned in her eyes. "If she really loved me, then she would have kept me as her child, not given me away!" she cried. "Don’t you understand?" she asked, her anger fading, "I was over all this, I didn’t care anymore, and then, all this happened. Why? Why couldn’t I have just gone on being normal?"
Edar moved closer to her, and lifted her face to his. "Ming, listen to me. I do understand: I understand the pain, the feeling of betrayal, the hate that came into your heart. I know what it feels like to be abandoned. But Ming," he said earnestly. "Your mother loved you! I cannot tell you why she hurt you that way, or why she didn’t keep you as her own, but it is time to bury the past-"
"I did try and bury it!" Ming hissed angrily, jerking away. "I had stopped being angry and upset! I had gone on and begun to live my life normally! Then, then...." Her voice sank to a whisper. "Then I came here, and it seems so-right. And everything feels like it’s going to be okay, and I feel like I belong! How can I go back home and forget everything here?"
"You don’t! That is how it is supposed to feel." Edar said. "You are Hayden’s heir, the true queen on Dargothia. All you have to do is accept it, Ming. That is all."
Ming closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of the smoke, and felt the heat of the dying fire on her face. With it, died the pain and resentment she had held in her heart for many years. It floated away, along with the sparks that rose to the stars. It was time to let go, to be who she was meant to be, to answer the call that had long been silent.
She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. Determination filled them, along with a new fire, a burning passion. "We will win this war." She said. She was a new woman; she was a Dargothian.


"So, you are the son of the guy who killed Drake?" Josh asked curiously as he and Tuxor fell into step with each other. It was almost dark, but they had not stopped, eager to reach Dargothia before the Jarlings did, if that was possible.
The moon had not yet risen, and shreds of the dying sun streamed through the trees.
Tuxor, who had been watched closely for an attempt to escape, sighed deeply. "Yes." he replied, as if he had admitted it many times before. "I was. Though," he added rebelliously. "I believe Drake had as much of a part in his own death as did my father."
"Well, I believe you." Josh said encouragingly. "About sons not choosing their fathers."
Tuxor looked sideways at him. "That is because is it true."
"Yeah." Josh muttered, embarrassed. They walked in silence only a few moments before Josh’s curiosity got the better of him. "I heard that your father was a Dargothian; why did he change sides?"
Tuxor’s jaw worked angrily. " Because he was a traitor."
"But why didn’t you just leave?"
"My father joined Xavier when I was a child." Tuxor snapped. "By the time I was old enough to join the rebels on my own, I had my mother and sister’s lives in my hands. If I had left then, Xavier would have killed them both."
"And your father?" Josh asked in spite of himself.
"My father," spat Tuxor. "Would have accepted what his king told him, would it have been his wife and daughter’s deaths or not!"
Fox glanced over with a frown at Tuxor’s heightened volume. Tuxor glared back, silently daring him to say a word.
"That’s pretty harsh." Josh commented, missing their interaction. "So, why are you here now?"
"Rahn Shrika no longer holds any power over me." Tuxor snapped. "I was trying to find the Dargothian camp and ask them to help my family. I did not know that their leader holds me responsible for his second’s death." He said it loud enough so Fox could hear him clearly.
He scowled, and started to reach for his sword.
Hagridor, who was behind Josh, just laughed. "Put away your blade, Fox, and try a bit better to get along, at least until we reach Dargothia."
Just then, he stiffened. "Do you smell that?" he asked.
They all sniffed, and Chad let out a moan. "Dragons!"
Josh’s eyes couldn’t have been wider, and Hagridor snarled.
"Just what we need." muttered one of the Cinsorians as he drew his sword.
Tuxor paled, but he too, drew his sword.
They all strained their eyes for a glimpse of the legendary beast, when suddenly, it was upon them.
Silent as a wraith, the dragon had slithered up behind them, its wings folded tightly to its side. Its venomous teeth dripped poison, which splattered on the ground. The dragon’s scaly tale whipped the ground behind it as its red eyes glowed with menace.
"Spread out!" Fox whispered. "And if you get a chance, the only place he is venerable is his eyes, throat and belly. Don’t bother with his mouth, the poison will melt your blade like butter."
"Can he breathe fire?" Josh asked Chad hoarsely as they moved further apart.
"The older ones can, but I think this one is still too young." Chad muttered. "They learn to breath it right after they learn to fly, and this one’s wing’s isn’t fully developed." He pressed his lips together tightly as the young dragon followed the sound of his voice.
Fox stepped closer to the dragon, and the two stalked each other warily.
Suddenly, Fox jumped at him with a shout and waved his sword.
The dragon roared in confusion and attacked.
Fox dodged as Hagridor tried to chop off the dragon’s tail. His blade snapped and he was thrown several feet away as the dragon batted him with his tail.
The dragon whirled on Fox as he stumbled across a tree root and fell. Josh watched in horror as the sharp teeth started to snap down on the rebel leader, when suddenly, the dragon’s head jerked up and he roared in pain.
Tuxor had slid underneath the dragon and stabbed its soft belly up to his sword hilt. He pulled out his sword and rolled away as the dragon fell, thrashing onto his side.
Tuxor jumped to his feet and with a shout, sank his blade into the dragon’s throat. He fell to his knees and breathed heavily as the dragon finally died.
Fox had sat up and stared at the dragon dazedly, then slowly looked up at Tuxor. "You killed him." he stated quietly.
Tuxor shrugged and got to his feet shakily. Hagridor was also standing up and holding his arm.
"He would have killed me." Fox pressed. "Why did you stop him?"
Tuxor turned and looked him in the eye. "I am not my father." he replied, his eyes sorrowful. "I could not let a good man die."
Fox nodded and stared at the dragon again. He did not stand up until Chad went and gently pulled him to his feet. He walked up to Tuxor and put a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you." he said, and his eyes communicated much more.
Hagridor grunted as one of his men bound his arm with a strip of cloth. Fox turned to him quickly. "What happened?" he asked.
Hagridor started to shrug, then thought better of it. "His tail, it knocked me into a tree. I think it’s broken." he added, trying to move his arm.
"Great!" Chad complained to Josh, who was still in shock from Fox’s near death. "We’ve got a man with a broken arm, a son of a traitor, a rebel leader who is recovering from his own wounds, a computer nerd, and an earthling with no experience." He turned to the two Cinsorians who had remained unscathed. "Looks like it’s up to you two to catch up with the Jarlings, take revenge on their leader and save Calvin, and then, once you’ve done that, go and win the war against Xavier!" he said in mock cheerfulness. "Not a bad job, eh?"
"Shut up!" Five voices snapped at him.
But instead of cowering, Chad just laughed. "And everyone has such a great attitude!" He ducked as Fox threw a dagger at him for the second time in four days.