DESTRUCTIVE MYTH
An Hour Before

“Come,” Ashleigh whispered grabbing Sinira’s arm standing slowly together. “Now or never.” She whispered again.

Sinira nodded in agreement pretending to take her time packing up Ashleigh’s stationery at a leisurely pace, when all her body wanted to do was just drop everything and run, she knew though that slow graceful movements would not be spotted or seem suspicious.

Folding up the last of her scrolls and about to turn to leave, they stopped as a bark of laugher had Ashleigh sucking in a breath of fright, they both looked up to see Galaleiath in the center of the room lounged across one of the couches near the fountain. A woman-soaked head to toe was leaning from the fountain over his head, running a hand through his hair as if he was a pet she couldn’t resist stroking feeding him berries with the other.

Sinira raised her brows with concern as another was unbuttoning his shirt with trembling hands, clearly overexcited since the king had left them alone with him. There was no denial he was beyond sexy and the darkness that followed him made any women’s adrenaline spike, but he was a definite no for them.

She watched the others pull his shirt off exposing his perfectly sculpted arms, perfectly sculpted chest, and, and, and then she reminded herself again of what an animal he was, this man killed with no regard, betrayed his king, she didn’t have actual proof of the last but the sly rouge was indeed not one to be trusted.

“My lady,” Sinira whispered catching Ashleigh watching the show.

“Yes?” She asked reluctantly pulling her eyes away, Sinira knew she was lonely and longed for love but she would burn down the castle herself if it meant keeping Ashleigh away from him, the dark elf would just ruin her piece by piece.

“We need to go.” She reminded her softly.

They needed to leave now, Ashleigh had been depressed to a point of wanting to take her life for the past year and with the war going on it hadn’t made things easier; she was forced into a loveless marriage with the king of Zitex unaware of his reputation with women, it had been an eye-opener and her prison. She had been married to Zitex to form an alliance and the promise of gold to help bring the kingdom back up. Ashleigh had been the apple of his eye all but a week, if it hadn’t been for her dear friend Sinira, best friends since little girls, she would have never been able to leave her home in Avon to this place.

Thankfully her family had heard her grief in her many letters and had arranged to sneak her out and back home, and tonight was just the night of such an event.

But as the gods would have it of late, nothing was going according to plan, Sinira had hoped Galaleiath being in prison would keep the king moping in his room and the two most active men in their lives out of the way, but here before them was the dark elf, and he was now looking at her.

Galaleiath rose from the couch peeling away the women, casually walking towards Sinira sipping his wine without breaking eye contact.

“Ashleigh,” He sighed pulling his gaze from Sinira to her, “How have you been?”

“F-Fine,” She blushed tucking a strand of blond hair behind her ear as the pigment in her cheeks turned red. He raised his hand clasping it over hers pulling the strand back out from behind her ear, then raised her hand planting a gentle kiss on it never losing eye contact.

The gorgeous man could stare wholes right through a women's defenses.

“Tuck it behind your ear again and I might just have to unhook it with my tongue.” He growled in a low husky voice. The women actually gulped, and Galaleiath smiled knowing he had won, he was about to ask her to be his midnight snack when Sinira stepped out slowly from behind her, a warning in her violet eyes.

Usually, he would have snapped the neck of a servant daring to even cast him such a disrespectful look, but oh this one, he might just snap it after he ruined her.

Reluctantly he took a small step back obeying the little servant's silent request with her witchy eyes, but this was indeed one of the last he would give her.

The rest of the women seemed to drift towards them trying to get his attention, a few pulled Ashleigh aside complementing her look and Galaleiath took the distraction to grab Sinira near one of the room's main pillars.

“Why do you deny me her? Is it because you wish to be in her place?” He growled lowly into her ear.

“No, it’s so that you will not ruin her as you have so many.” She hissed in his grasp. Galaleiath frowned looking in Ashleigh’s direction, watching how she bit her bottom lip, eyes hungry for him between her conversation.

“She looks like she wants me to ruin her.” He smiled turning his gaze back on Sinira, he pushed her back into the pillar placing a firm but loose grasp around her neck tilting her head up to meet his. “Your lifelines are running out, I will choose another tonight but the next time I come here by the king's request, it will be her, then you, deny me this and ill have you thrown into the dungeons, gods know I have the right to visit you down there,” His eyes roamed her with his double meaning before he released her pulling back. “Alone.” A small left-sided smile pulled at his lips as he took in a deep breath before observing the bustling room again, nearest to him stood an olive-skinned babe wrapped sparingly in purple silk and lace. He walked up to her whispering something before grabbing her by the hip with one arm pulling her into him, “One down, who would like to be next?”

Sinira dipped through the crowd of women begging to be picked and pulled Ashleigh by the wrists out of sight into the shadows.

“Come we leave now.” She whispered pulling her still towards one of the small adjacent bedrooms, Ashleigh followed grumbling a protest. “I know you want one night with him, but you can’t, your uncle is here tonight waiting for us.” Sinira pleaded with her to hear. “Please Ashleigh.”

Sighing Ashleigh finally stopped watching the crowd and nodded, “We will wait here till he leaves then go out through the servant’s door.”

“Good, I have our riding gear ready.”

“No need, I found Arun.” Ashleigh smiled still in a whisper.

“Where? I thought he must have gotten himself killed; we haven’t seen him since our last journey.”

“Yes, he was in the dungeons.”

“What for?”

“For losing my luggage,” Ashleigh said defensively.

“What?!” Sinira raised her voice an octave in shock before looking around and asking more quietly.

“Don’t look at me like that, I didn’t put him there, the council did. Our last trip out was to get the remaining gold I had from my informant at Avon, remember? The king wanted it to bride the royals visiting us to send their reinforcements here to help us?”

“Yes, yes I know, but what has that,”

“Let me finish,” She raised a delicate hand to silence Sinira, “When we got back, I was told Arun came through the kitchen and left my bags right there in the open, they obviously went missing, and when the king called me to ask why he hadn’t received the bags of gold I panicked.” She looked down into her hands filled with guilt, “But one of the servants said they thought they saw him in the dungeon below, so I sent a letter and,” She looked around quickly before whispering lower. “A means to escape, which I’m sure he has followed. So, he now waits for us by the carriage to take us back out.”

“But, but the king hasn’t given us a pass to leave?” Sinira asked confused till Ashleigh’s eyes lit up, she pulled a rolled-up scroll from her dress folds handing it to Sinira. She unrolled it quickly scanning the writing and saw the stamp of approval at the bottom with the king’s name.

“I don’t even want to know how you got this.” She giggled handing it back.

They put on warmer coats listening to Galaleiath bidding the ladies goodnight before stepping out through the main hall with two women, and a bottle of wine. They watched with slow breaths as the trio exited and the double doors slowly swung closed.

“Give it another minute and we sneak out,” Ashleigh whispered tying the ribbon of the cloak around her neck.

* * * * *

Drathis had so far managed to sneak in through another servant’s door the squire had pointed him to, and so far, he had avoided anyone that would have found him suspicious. The servants passing by had kept their heads down, and the odd group of patrolling guards had given him a once over and left him on his way, thankfully none recognized his face from the ball, well not so far.

Climbing another round of steps just off to the side of the main staircase for the servants, he paused briefly for the first time looking out a small window. The sky was dark and filled with thick grey and dark clouds thanks to the scorched black and white landscape; some buildings were still burning, random fires could be seen all around and that which had died was covered in a blanket of snow. Closer to the castle stood makeshift tents, groups of clustered men, and defenses all around the final wall separating the world from the castle, it was a morbid sight. He recalled the smells of the dead and different burning thick smoke that made his throat dry but standing down below in the courtyard, you couldn’t see any of this. You could almost pretend it was just a field on fire that tended to happen over the winter times.

His heart arched for all the innocent lost, there were no doubt thousands of families and lives that had been content, filled with dreams and hopes for the future, and… He locked his jaw turning to carry on his climb, the thought just maddening him.

And, the bastard of a king had not let any of the villagers into the walls for protection, he had most probably left them to die as a distraction to build his own walls higher. Another muscle worked in his jaw at the thought, looking through the window proved it beyond a doubt, arrogant selfish bastard.

At the top of the stairs, he tried to recall his steps to Galaleiath’s rooms ending up in a complete circle till he ran into a familiar-looking servant. Acting on impulse he had to sell his story and fast, “Ah there you are!” Drathis slurred pulling his hood back leaning against the wall, he shook his head slightly with a mocking chuckle at how dumb he had just sounded, he felt like a bloody idiot.

The servant jumped startled at the sight of him then pulled himself together in a bow, “My lord.”

Trying to think quick on his feet to get the servant to direct him to the room, without making it obvious, he pushed up against the wall swaying slightly, looking back at the servant he didn’t know if his brother ever requested help for anything, but with his limited knowledge from when this servant helped him prepare for the ball, he assumed his brother was perhaps dressed daily, what a pompous royal ass he had become.

“You supposed to, get me ready, to see the king.” Drathis slurred again adding a hick cup towards the end his voice hitching at the end selling the cover best he could.

“The, the king my lord? I, I was sent to turn down your room.” The servant realized he had back chatted and quickly dipped into a deep bow, “I apologies my lord, I did not know the plans had changed, right this way.” He hesitated dipping again extending his arm out in the direction needed showing Drathis to take the lead.

Drathis swiped the air as if to show he wasn’t fazed then took a step forward to stop again, as much as the servant had pointed ahead, he still had no idea which door, he turned to face the savant. “Between you and me, I don’t even know what floor I’m on.” He chuckled at the slurring he had perfected, who would have known he could pull it off, he had never been drunk, but the prison guards at the Black Maser had sure given him a show.

Not knowing the servant could bow lower, Drathis watched in fascination uncomfortable with the treatment before the servant straightened up leading the way, it unnerved him being bowed to and waited on hand and foot. Within minutes they were on the right floor as his brother’s door, he tensed slightly looking around. He knew Galaleiath would probably be busy with the king for some time, but having snuck in the castle and right up to the devil’s door he couldn’t help but hesitate, everything thus far had been too easy.

Opening the door, Drathis took in a deep breath. There were no ways he would ever be able to miss the feeling the room gave off, the morbid menacing feeling that hung within the four walls could have him eating his own wrists off, as much as they were blood-related, looked mostly alike, they were complete opposites.

The savant went in first lighting a candle before starting on the fireplace, Drathis peeped out the room one more time before confirming the hall was empty then shut the door. He walked to the only window in the room looking out, he was at least five stories high, there was a small jutted-out wall three floors down joining the tower, he did a quick calculation then nodded to himself, it was possible.

The servant was pilling new logs in the fireplace about to light them, he wasn’t sure how he was going to be able to send him out for anything so he snuck up behind the poor fool and wrapped an arm around his neck and the other over his mouth holding him steady, the servant kicked and pulled but was no match for his strength, eventually due to lack of oxygen the servant slumped in his arms, Drathis released slowly laying him down on the carpet, he hadn’t killed him but was sure when the servant woke later the headache that followed would be astronomical.

Grabbing the candle, he made his way to the desk still pilled with a mess of letters, books, and plans he recalled scanning through showing the castles underground tunnels, but since his last time in the room the information now before him made perfect sense, it was not the escape route Galaleiath had been plotting for the king and all within these walls; it was for Dimas if they couldn’t breach the walls this was the plan of entry. Either way by just skimming overall he could see on the desk, the war was won, Zitex was doomed.

Muffled voices and women’s laughter drifted in under the door close by, Drathis put the candle out with his fingers grabbing his sword right where he had left, it tying it onto his belt, he had miss judged the time he had left and cursed as the door swung open slowly, rushing to the window he shoved it open hopping up onto the ledge outside turning back to see his shirtless, drunk brother with two babes.

He raised his brows in amusement, the man was drunk, his wits clearly dampened as he stared at him in confusion, but despite his hesitation, he stepped forward frowning at Drathis. Drathis regretted again trying to leave, a part of him really wanted his brother back so desperately, while the other half of him raged to leave him deeming him a lost cause, swallowing his emotion he forced a small smile on his face.

“Till we meet again, brother.” Drathis saluted jumping out the window landing on the narrow wall below jumping again down onto a small roof, slide across the tiles then hopped off landing on the ground below. He looked up to the window drawing his sword expecting to see his brother watching him, or at least out the window after him, but there was no one.

Racing back to the carriage he nearly smacked into an elder man typing the horses to the carriage.

“I forgot your name, the not Arun hey?” The man said thoughtfully patting the horse’s rump, “They all set for you to go now.”

“Thank you, Hannie.” Drathis said climbing up on the front of the loaded carriage, he had no idea how he recalled the man’s name, but he needed to leave, and leave now.

Grabbing the reins, he turned the carriage around heading to the castle entrance to fetch the lady, his skeptical eyes watching every window, every door, every face. Pulling his hood over his hair closer around his own face he came to a stop in front of the entrance where a red carpet had already been rolled out, tapping his foot impatiently he watched the doors open with a few guards leading two women down the steps.

His heart was racing, he should leave the women and flee, Galaleiath would be on his heels at any moment, he might be able to take him on alone but strongly doubted all the guards around as well. He tapped his foot faster clenching his jaw with impenitence, his honor would not have him abandoning them. One of these women had helped him escape the prison, the least he could do was get them out and drop them along the way, there was no way he could leave them here to be killed by the Black Maser, he would replace a small town along the way to drop them off.

It had only been a few short minutes, but waiting for them to be closed into the carriage felt like a lifetime, Drathis kept his eyes locked on the entrance, he was sure if someone had to just poke him right, he would explode.

The guard closing the carriage door looked up to Drathis, “Arun, travel safe.”

Drathis nodded about to push the carriage forward when the castle doors burst open again, Galaleiath was blazing through them with a group of armed men behind him, he stopped observing the yard still shirtless but armed with two swords and the rage on his face had his eyes giving off a dark pulsing green and black glow.

“Shit,” Drathis hissed whipping the horses forward, they took off for the main gates, “Hea, Hea.”

“Stop that carriage!” Galaleiath roared pointing at it with a sword, the men around echoed his command to the main gates and the group of soldiers stationed there jumped into action grabbing their weapons and shields creating a human wall.

Drathis pushed the horses faster, there was no escape, everything was blocked, the horses kept on forward moments away from reaching the main gate, he pulled the reins tightly to the left and the carriage almost tipping as they turned around, he had to replace another way out, looking around he found none and at the way the men were running around, the soldiers would create a barricade stopping them this side soon too.

“Arun, go back to the main gate!” Came a voice from behind him, he looked over his shoulder at a woman hanging out the carriage door.

“What?” He looked at the main gate still lined with men, “They will kill the horses before we can even reach it.”

“Do it, I have a plan.”

“It’s blocked!” He called back in aggravation, could the women not see?

“I can get us out trust me Arun!”

“We can’t fly.” Drathis snapped back through the rush of wind missing her reply, pulling the reins again narrowly missing soldiers running towards them with raised spears. He turned them around again focused on the main gate whipping the horses forward. “I dam well hope you knowing what you doing.” He called out watching the line of men increase in size and closed his eyes bracing for impact, he didn’t know this woman but something in him believed it was going to be ok.

Yet not even his vivid imagination could have prepared him for this…