DESTRUCTIVE MYTH
Three Riders

Galaleiath landed several feet away smacking into a rock with the force, falling sideways, sinking into snow as Drathis’s power erupted over him. Losing consciousness, he drifted in and out for a time till finally, his mind jolted him awake, he began shoving at the snow to sit right up. A shooting pain ran down his back and arms as he felt the grinding of bones, quite a few somethings were broken. Looking up he tried to see where he had left Drathis but a blurry figure stood in his way, reaching for him. Galaleiath swotted at them trying to clear his mind unable to focus, the sound of hooves nearing causing him slight panic, he was not in the best state to fight right now.

“Breathe small one.” Came a displeased voice, and before he could object, he was no longer cold, no longer fighting off the snow. Galaleiath opened his eyes again and could have swarm he was before Queen Dimas in some room.

“My queen?” Galaleiath croaked several times in disbelief till he could finally make out colors as solids.

He was in the Zitex castle library on a couch watching, watching the most bizarre argument between Queen Dimas and the Goddess Velda.

“Impossible!” Dimas snapped spinning to face Galaleiath, daggers in her eyes.

“Is it? You happen upon two elven brothers and assume that’s it? You didn’t even bother to continue your search for their race! What a naive thing to do, even for you.” Velda fired at Dimas. Galaleiath groaned at their high raised voices as he held his head with both hands feeling the tender parts on him cut open and bleeding.

“How many are left?” Dimas queried, her rage on pause as curiosity took over.

“I do not answer to you.” Velda snapped starting to pace the room.

“And you are sure she is dead?” Dimas asked looking from her to Galaleiath who nodded slowly.

“She was his mate! The parcel I needed securely out of Zitex! The one that needed to be kept safe from your war!” Velda hissed turning to face Galaleiath, “Do you have any idea how rare it is to be perfectly paired in your race? Especially with such dwindling numbers!”

“Then why didn’t you stop it.” Galaleiath groaned sarcastically holding his thumping head starting small healing spells on himself.

“You think gods sit and watch what you eat and shit out all day? If I wasn’t otherwise detained, I would have stopped the fight between you three, way before it began.” Velda said dryly.

“Thought gods don’t meddle” Galaleiath chuckled then frowned as pain ran through him again.

“Where you two are concerned I feel I need to hire a permanent babysitter! Do you have any idea how much you have royally messed things up?” Velda snapped demanding attention. “This is a serious situation! Especially now with a titan having been woken.”

“So, you disobeyed me to hunt down your brother, disturb a titan, and best yet, I hear of an elven female that you have never mentioned before, and you say nothing?!” Dimas roared, “How dare you! Where is Drathis?!” Dimas asked not giving them a chance to say more.

“I messed nothing up, only set the record straight.” Galaleiath grumbled to Velda feeling his side as he undressed to assess the damage.

“You leave Drathis alone, he has been through enough with you two constantly on his tale!” Velda warned nearing Dimas with a pointed finger.

“He is mine!” Dimas smacked her finger out her face, “Do not point at me.”

“He is not your locked-up pet anymore!” Velda warned inches from Dimas’s face. “Do not push me, today my patience is on its last string.”

“Locked up?” Galaleiath frowned looking towards Queen Dimas, “Explain?” He questioned to which Dimas waved her hand as if it was of no significance.

“This fool went to kill Drathis, capture Sinira, and come back with her to replace you as queen, yet you still stuck on the one elf that doesn’t want you?” Velda questioned looking down at him with distaste again.

“Not to be replaced.” Galaleiath grumbled an objection to Velda’s words through more healing on his broken ribs.

“She rejected his request and for that, he shoved her off the pit’s edge!” Velda turned from Dimas to face him. “What happened to good old-fashioned courting? One no and you try to kill her?”

“She loved him not me! She was not my match!” Galaleiath finally snapped looking up at the goddess through clenched teeth. “She didn’t want me!”

“So, you tried to kill her out of jealousy? I thought you would know better.” She turned from him back to Dimas, “I’m sure you will deal with him properly this time!”

“I am not a dog! You can’t put me in a cage for a time out!” Galaleiath roared jumping to his unsteady feet.

“And nor is Drathis, touch him again by your hand or another and there will be severe consequences.” Velda said before vanishing.

* * *

Talgrim gates opened releasing three riders. The titan’s unrest was a cause for alarm. It was known for the titans to stretch or move slightly over the generations, but this had been more movement than ever recorded. An entire mountains peek had repositioned changing the entire skyline known to Talgrim. The tremors had continued for longer than needed causing a patrol to leave and investigate.

The three riders waited for the main gates to close before taking off, listening to the large gates different locks click several times till in place.

“Do you honestly believe they still exist? I mean, no one has ever seen or heard of a titan move in hundreds of years.” Bronson said kicking his horse forward as the other two followed.

“I believe them to be real, I mean look at the sky? An entire mountain peak is missing.” Blue said in awe pointing to the sky.

Brody the third rider, looked behind them at Talgrim gates, ignoring his brother Bronson and best friend Blue, wanting nothing more than to be back home finishing his breakfast.

“Could have just slipped off into the pits, those dam pits gain more ground each year.” Bronson argued as they rode forward.

“What are we to actually do?” Brody finally asked pulling up alongside his brother. “I mean after all we have never actually been called to inspect a titan.”

“Guess we are to see what caused its unrest and report back.” Blue offered with a small shrug.

“So, we are just to seem like we know what we doing?” Brody asked with a small smile.

“That’s how we get the gold.” Bronson laughed.

“Its honest work Bronson and not to be done just for the gold.” Blue objected.

“Who is honest these days.” Brody chuckled ignoring the side-eye from Blue.

Blue was one of the kings and queen’s most trusted warlocks, and went along with the two brothers as often he could, just for the sake of getting out of the mundane palace life of studying and training. The brothers, Brody and Bronson were loyal to the king but rebels in every sense of the word. They would die for their king and blindly follow him to the great unknown, but the moment the king’s eyes were not on them, mischief was at play, and who else but Blue right behind them putting out the fires keeping them in the king’s good books.

The brothers were daredevils that feared nothing, accepted new challenges without thinking it through. They loved life and something about that had Blue keeping them close.

“Blue?” A concerned Bronson called pulling Blue from his thoughts, hearing the thud at the same time looking to the sky. Blue’s eyes went large as he saw the dome of green magic erupt into the sky above them, their eyes jumped down immediately, spotting a black shadow barrelling towards them, coming out from the mountain pass’s entrance.

“Is that a horse?” Brody frowned thinning his eyes.

“Dam the horse, look at the sky man!” Bronson called turning to Blue, “What the hell?” He asked his friend watching his color pale.

“Brody catch that horse!” Blue called watching the clouds above, absorb the green power feeling the rush of wind pass them howling and pulling at them from the magical blast.

“Um, no need.” Brody said watching the black horse coming straight for them as the wave of strong winds passed.

“I think we need more men.” Bronson called looking from the sky to see all eyes focused on the black horse.

“No need, whoever used that amount of power is not a threat anymore, they are either dead or unconscious, so much magic drains.”

“Whooow!” Brody called turning his horse sideways raising his hand in the hair. “Slow down!” He called to the black horse now trying to skid to a halt.

“Stop.” Bronson commanded pulling up alongside his brother.

The horse skidded in the snow till it came to a slow trot right in front of them snorting. The brothers gave each other a look of astonishment.

“Check the size of this beauty!” Brody gawked.

“Now that’s some good breeding!” Bronson whistled in response.

“And she has a rider.” Blue pointed towards the saddle and the side bags that were still attached.

The horse snorted again bobbing her head up and down demanding attention. She turned around to go back from where she came, stomping her hooves, snorting some more before coming to a stop, turning her head back towards them, waiting.

“I think she wants us to follow her?” Blue said looking past her to the road she had come from looking for any signs of a trap.

“Screw that, let’s take her back with us!” Brody scoffed.

“Brody!” Blue snapped.

“What? She is the best-looking mare I have ever seen! One night with the king’s horse and boom I have a breed everyone will pay top coin for!”

“What makes you think the king will let you set up his stud?” Bronson folded his arms with a smirk on his face.

“Why not? That horse of his needs some love, besides ill give him some of the profits.” Brody smiled with a wink.

“Let’s put aside the horse's love life for now, and perhaps follow it? I’m rather curious to see what caused that magical eruption.” Blue smiled kicking his horse forward to follow trying to remain calm, he didn’t want to cause alarm but something about the eruption had him wanting to call for extra warlocks just in case.

* * *

After an hour their unmanned guide slowed down while Bronson and Brody kept their eyes to the sky expecting an ambush. Blue held his staff close, the top of its crystal alight helping them see through the howling wind and snow blowing all around them. The horse in front came to a stop hesitantly stepping nearer to a dark shape, stopping near it, Blue watched the horse’s snout touch it. Brody and Bronson flanked Blue as they pulled to a stop hopping off their horses, edging nearer Blue stopped again feeling Brody pull on his arm.

“Look.” Brody said in astonishment pointing past the horse. All three sets of eyes looked to see trenches in the road, squinting Blue tried to analyze it till he understood.

“That’s, a hand, print.” Blue said slowly in awe looking to Bronson for confirmation, he nodded, eyes transfixed to the scene before them. Blue looked from the crushed land, mangled bodies starting to bury themselves under fresh snow to a huge indent of charred rock around the horse and figure. He watched the snow whip around them in every direction landing where nature intended, all but the circle around the horse and figure near the edge of the pit. The snow would fall but sizzle into nothing as it hit the rocks around the figure, still simmering in small green flames.

“I can’t get a reading off of him.” Blue said as they all turned to see a kneeling man near the edge of the pit.

“Is he dead?” Bronson asked moving forward slowly, sword drawn with Brody at his side watching the horse they had followed nudging the figure.

“Hello?” Brody called. Bronson nudged him with his elbow giving his brother a look to be still.

“Can’t just call out hello, what if he isn’t friendly.” Bronson whispered looking back at Blue, “Is he a threat?” Blue held out his staff trying to get a sense of what they were dealing with, but the moment his spells hit the circle the green flames snuffed them out.

“I am unsure.” Blue looked at the brothers with concern. They stopped a meter or so from the circle watching the horse nudge the man again, he was on his knees, one fist in the ground the other gripped onto a sword, his head was down and he hardly seemed to be breathing. Blue began to wonder if perhaps the individual had killed himself from the overuse of power till, he heard the man speak.

“Leave me.” Came a gruntled husky voice, Blue looked from the figure to the brothers to see if they also heard it, they had.

“Who are you?” Brody called.

“Leave me!” A snarl bit through the air and all three men jumped back as the figure’s head snapped to face them. Long black hair still covered most of the face, but intense glowing emerald eyes locked on them. Blue shuddered as recognition ran through him.

“Is that a?” Bronson backed up a bit more looking to his brother

“Yeah, an elf.” Brody answered matching his brother’s steps.

“What the hell is an elf doing this side of the wall?” Bronson asked. Blue raised his hand for silence as he stepped up to the edge of the simmering circle, taking a knee he lay the staff over both palms in respect.

“Namárië. Greetings elven one.”

* * *

Drathis clutched his sword drifting in and out of consciousness, his heart had been ripped into a million un-stitchable pieces.

“I love you.” Her voice filled his head followed by her dying scream. He shuddered again with the agony denying it, opening his eyes he looked down at his bloodied fist from hitting the ground, an almost invisible jade smoke was still licking his fist from his earlier release. He watched a teardrop from his cheek onto the flame with a soft hiss.

“Don’t, we don’t end like this.” He recalled his words to her, till his mind filled with her scream again, each time it ripped a new hole in him, not where his heart used to be but right through him, through his soul if it somehow hadn’t left his body yet.

Drathis closed his eyes again falling to the other knee, the power that had exploded from him had been more powerful than anything he had ever felt. Slowly he began to feel the pull again to unconsciousness. He knew certain limits shouldn’t be reached, it could kill the user, but who the hell cared, his mate had been taken from him before he had made a life with her, a future.

The image of her ashen face as she had been pushed into the pit blew up in his mind’s eye again, and Drathis felt fresh agonizing tears spill.

Galaxy, as she always did, found him then, he could feel her nudging him to get up. The horse wasn’t stupid, he knew either a threat or his brother was coming up behind him to finish the job.

“Let them kill me.” Drathis whispered to Galaxy as her nudging became more persistent. “I am but a ghost of a man now.” He said hoarsely, throat raw from screaming. Roaring his denial, raging against Sinira’s death.

“Hello?”

He heard unknown voices from somewhere behind him, so perhaps his brother had fallen into the pits, he couldn’t be so lucky.

“Leave me.” Drathis gritted out as he held onto the sword, contemplating falling on it for the tenth time.

“Who are you?”

Drathis heard the question through his blinding grief, through the pull of almost emotionless sleep, who was this disturbing him! He felt a rush of anger pulse through him as he looked back to see three men.

“Leave me!” He snarled feeling his eyes illuminate, watching the men jump back. He was so sure they would tuck tail and run till the oddest thing happened, he saw recognition in one of the men’s face. A bald-headed man in his mid-thirties layered in blue robes stepped forward and knelt down. If Drathis hadn’t have been so confused he would have reacted, but the warlock lay his staff out in front of him as he knelt looking back up at him with respect. Drathis frowned at the behavior, had he finally lost his mind for good? Was Sinira’s death what was needed to push him over the edge. He closed his eyes still hearing her scream till the warlock spoke.

“Namárië. Greetings elven one.”

Drathis looked to the man in disbelief, all anger extinguished. He hadn’t heard an elven greeting since he was a little boy.

“Namárië.” Drathis whispered, his mother tongue sounding foreign, watching the man in blue he eyed him suspiciously but there was no threat from this man. Drathis frowned looking at the emblem on his robe then up to the two men who had crept forward behind the warlock, they had the same emblem on their armor.

“Talgrim?” Drathis asked gruffly, his throat still raw. He knew that emblem, having looked at millions of maps, he would be able to spot Talgrim’s insignia anywhere.

“Yes.” The warlock stood leaning on the staff to get up then looked back to the two men. “I am Blue, and these are my friends, Brody and Bronson.”

Drathis looked from him to the two brown-haired muscled men, then back at Blue.

“Blue huh?”

“Not to be confused with your everyday orange, this one doesn’t taste so good.” Bronson joked slapping the back of Blue’s bald head playfully.

“Although when he been in the sun too long you can call him red.” Brody burst out laughing as Blue turned to them.

“We are trying to introduce ourselves to a new friend not scare him off with your jokes.” Blue snapped trying to keep the corners of his mouth from twitching.

Drathis rose to his feet slowly, swaying slightly till Galaxy pulled up alongside him for support.

“New friend?” Drathis asked placing a hand on Galaxies neck leaning into it, “Why because the colorful chameleon here guessed at what I was?” He closed his eyes and another wave of exhaustion ran through him, he felt the pull half hoping it was death more than sleep. “I am a free man; you will not have me.” Drathis sighed turning to try climb up onto Galaxy.

“No one is here to capture you; we came to help.” Blue objected.

“Help? Help with what?” Drathis looked over his shoulder back at them.

“We saw the titan move, saw your power shoot up into the sky.” Bronson said stepping up to Blue.

“Titans don’t just move without their being threats.” Brody added.

“So, you have come to help get rid of the threat?” Drathis smirked turning to face them pulling up his sword getting into a defensive stance. “I still have fight in me.” Drathis smiled wickedly

“No!” All three shouted at once backing up raising their hands.

“No, we are not here to harm, capture or hurt you in anyway. The titan mountain range is on our land, you are on our land, if I look behind you, I can see the results of what must have been a great battle between you and them.” Blue pointed to the crushed bodies indented into the ground. “We are scouts send from Talgrim, as you noticed, to investigate what happened, that is when we found you, thanks to your clever horse.” Blue pointed at Galaxy. “We would have left you on your way, but when I saw your eyes, I knew you were elven.” Blue dropped his voice stepping nearer, hand still raised in surrender. “And none of your race should be this side of the wall, come with us, come reunite with your kind. There are a few still among us.”

Drathis went numb, all his dreams, deepest hopes had been true, they lay in Talgrim. He took a step forward shuddering as his mind filled with her voice again, he looked back to the edge of the pit wondering again what would happen if he were to jump off after her.

“Who did you lose to the pit?” Bronson asked softly watching Drathis’s eyes close as a single tear escaped. Blue turned to Bronson shushing him then looked back to Drathis his eyes still closed. After several moments Drathis opened his eyes swallowing repeatedly as he tried to get the right words out, he would not break down in front of them.

“My woman.” Drathis said through clenched jaws swinging himself up onto Galaxy turning to face them. “I take it you have scouted the area for any survivors?”

“Yes.” Both brothers nodded looking from him to Blue.

“Don’t.” Drathis warned watching the sympathy on Blue’s face. “I do not want pity! If you are absolutely sure no soul is left alive here, then I will follow you back to Talgrim, if I am indeed welcome.” Drathis cleared his raw throat again gripping onto Galaxies reins as he neared the men climbing onto their horses. “The names Drathis.”