Forced into Fantasy
Chapter 11 - Betrayal

Adomis;

The crazed Wreather soars in overhead for another attack on my soldiers, sending a searing path of fire raging down from the skies, burning all who stand within its path.

The sounds of terrified screams and roaring flames fill the skies...

And then there is silence as the beast disappears back into the darkness once more.

In its wake are massive flames burning everything away into nothing but ash and rubble.

The beast has destroyed three of our eleven ballistas now and we aren’t managing a clear enough shot every time it comes in to strike.

I begin to feel as though we may not stand a chance after all, that is until there is a sudden light projecting out from the high tower, one of neon blue that grows in circumference with each passing second, spreading out across the entire castle like a glowing wave.

I can’t help but watch as the light rises high into the sky, warding off the massive creature and causing it to shriek loudly in frustration as it is forced to alter course and retreat.

The last thing I see is a haze of darkness as it disappears into the darkness.

A sense of relief floods over me and I let out a large thankful sigh, closing my eyes and lowering my head as the men around me cheer and rejoice for their sudden victory.

We have managed to fend the creature off once more. But it will be back, that much is certain.

The question is, when.

I glance upwards at the high tower and know straight away whom I am to thank for our apparent victory.

Only one man resides in the high tower of my castle, only one man has such incredible power.

The Mage, Zarkin.

Ivy;

My hands have been tied behind my back with thick rope.

I can feel the coarse restraints rubbing against my wrists as I struggle to pull them free from where I sit inside of the carriage.

I am also gagged with a long length of cloth, torn from my own dress.

Those fuckers could have used their own clothing to gag me but no, they ruined a perfectly good dress.

I actually liked this one too.

Across from me is one of the two soldiers who managed to successfully kidnap me right from beneath Adomis’ nose, but he won’t meet my gaze.

The other I assume is driving the carriage as we travel quickly along a bumpy pathway.

I am unable to see outside of the carriage, there is a blind covering the only window and every time I go to get up I am pushed back down by my kidnapper, rather forcefully I might add.

Dozens of questions run through my mind as we travel along in an awkward and overbearing level of silence.

Where are they taking me?

And who are they anyway?

What in the world could they want with me?

I’m a nobody.

I shouldn’t even be here, in this make-believe world!

I glance up at the roof of the carriage suddenly wondering why the dragon hadn’t tried to attack us when we left the castle.

I wonder how we managed to escape so easily.

Surely a moving target like a lone carriage would have been easy prey for a hungry dragon on the hunt.

So why didn’t it give chase?

Why was the dragon attacking the castle in the first place?

A possible answer to all of my questions formed within my mind but I found it too hard to believe and waved it aside.

Was the dragon attacking the castle merely a distraction to allow these men to locate and kidnap… me?

Na...

As crazy as it seemed, I couldn’t help feel I had stumbled upon the true motive of these strangers currently whisking me away from the Overlord I had been forced to live with since my arrival in this strange and mythical world.

But what was so special about me? Why would these men go to so much trouble to replace me?

And what was going to happen now that they had me?

As strange as it seemed, I felt safer with Adomis than I did with these two strangers.

Now, I feared for my very life.

Adomis;

Once we had been given the all clear and allowed to retire for the night after the dragon’s sudden attack, I returned to my chambers expecting to replace a warm bed waiting for me when I arrived with a beautiful blonde woman lying fast asleep beneath the covers.

Opening the chamber doors I entered the room and sensed that something was off immediately.

First of all, the balcony window was slightly open which allowed the night wind to whisk in through the small crack, filling the room with an unnerving chill.

And secondly, as I approached the bed cautiously my suspicions were proven as I threw back the covers and found nothing but a pile of pillows in her place.

Ivy... she was gone!

“GUARDS!”

I bellowed furiously, turning to face the door as the two soldiers stepped inside of the room and quickly stood at attention.

“Where is she? The woman being guarded here in my chambers?”

They looked to one another, apparently unsure of their answers and too afraid to admit that they had no clue.

“Speak now, or I will have each of your tongues!” I snapped.

“Sire, please. We were summoned not long ago and asked to take over the chamber watch. We were told that both Peter and Harold hadn’t shown up for their nightly shift, my lord.”

The shorter soldier began to explain, his voice showed obvious fear, as did his facial expression.

“Both hadn’t shown up and no one thought to alert me?” I query furiously.

“Have them located and brought to me immediately! GO!”

With that I storm out of the chambers, past the now bowing trembling soldiers and down the corridor on my way to speak with the General and alert my men of Ivy’s disappearance.

“She’s missing?”

The General seemed surprised by this as he turned to look out of the window in his chambers and continued to speak.

“I had heard that both men failed to show up for their scheduled watch but just assumed they were off somewhere drunk off their asses, as per the usual with those two.”

Tabius was dressed in his sleep attire after having suddenly been woken by the brutal assault at his chamber door.

My assault.

He knew better than anyone that when I came calling at such an hour it was wisest to simply allow me entry without quarrel.

“Do you think she could have run away?” Tabius asks me, turning back around to meet my angered gaze.

I think about his question for a moment and realise that I’m not quite sure.

Would she have run off?

Would she be that stupid?

‘Knock, knock, knock…’

“Enter!” Tabius commands sternly.

The door opens and Captain Khalan enters, bowing his head toward both of us as he makes his way over quickly to report his replaceings.

“Overlord, General. We’ve located both Peter and Harold…”

He paused, hesitating before continuing on.

“They’re both… they’re dead, my lord.”

“Dead?” the General queries in apparent shock as my heart sinks.

“Yes General. We located their bodies hidden down in one of the outer courtyards only moments ago. Both their throats had been sliced wide open.” Khalan reported grimly.

“I have the castle on high alert and full lockdown, though I’m afraid we may be too late to replace the killers now.”

“Is it a coincidence that the two soldiers tasked with watching over Ivy are both murdered, then she too disappears at the same time?” I challenge both of them.

“Not to mention the dragon that chooses to attack us right at that very opportune moment. I think it’s rather obvious if you ask me.”

General Tabius nodded his head in agreement.

“I agree. It's clear that she’s been kidnapped.”

“But who would be foolish enough to do such a thing?” Khalan asked us.

“Even from within your own walls? Someone must have seen something!”

“Whoever did this had to of known when and where to strike prior to this evening. They took out the two soldiers on guard at my chambers and successfully convinced Ivy to go along with them. All the while a fucking dragon is attacking my castle and keeping our focus on it instead of what’s happening beneath our very noses.” I explain.

“If you are correct my lord, than that would insinuate we have a mole within our midst.” the General pointed out.

“Only someone on the inside could have orchestrated such a well-thought out plan. Someone we already know and trust.”

“Fuck.” Captain Khalan cursed aloud, running his fingers through his hair.

“Where do we start?”

I am right, I know I am!

Someone I know and trust has betrayed me.

Someone close to me cannot be trusted… this will not stand.

But the question still remains; who?