The Guardians' Blade
Epilogue

The smell of smoke wafted up into the air, as an armored form strode through the village. Fire raged in all directions, many of the buildings having been torched by the Warlord’s men. There were screams in the air, as the peasants were rounded up, and thrown into prison wagons to be taken away.

“Wolf my pet. You have done well this day.” Dargoth smiled slowly as he stepped up next to the Warlord and rested a hand on a cloaked shoulder. “Eagle’s Pass and the plains of Dilbare are now ours. Soon we will have all of this land in the palm of our hand and you will realize the fullness of your power.” He turned away then, and walked back to where his horse stood, swinging up into the saddle. Things were progressing better than he could have dreamed.

The Figure had stood silent and still the entire time that he had spoken to her. As he left, she turned her head slightly, lifting the visor a little to reveal the pale features of Malificent. A slow smirk stealing over her lips. Her plan was now taking fruition, she gripped the sword and walked towards her horse, swinging up into the saddle with a low little wicked laugh escaping her lips. To be called his Wolf pet was a delight, gaining his full attention was pleasurable. Posing as his precious Dragon child was even better than she had dreamed. He was blind to the fact that that pathetic girl child wasted away in one of his dungeons half insane. She made it her business to pay her visits, to torture her by giving her the memories of all that Malificent did in her name. The girl’s pain was a sweet delight, and made this ploy even better.

She nudged her horse forward and felt the presence of Rangor as he joined her. It was a dangerous plot, but it granted them both the power that they sought. Although once Dargoth realized what was going on, they both would be severely punished but right now the rewards were sweet.

The air was damp, the stonework cold against bare flesh. Chains made a slight metal clanking sound as the prisoner shifted on a cot. Her dreams were full of nightmares, flames and smoke, screams and clashing of swords. She was often lost to the nightmares to a point at times she could not tell what was truth and what was dream. The door to her cell opened and she jerked away, though the sounds of her nightmares still echoed in her ears. She stared a long moment as the tall form that entered her cell. Watching as he approached and then bent down to cup her chin and lifted her head. Wild knotted hair framed her ash white features, eyes that had once been sapphire were now fully black and stared at him almost sightlessly.

“Do you know who I am?”

The voice was softly purred out but she gave no acknowledgement of understanding or comprehension. She just continued to stare at him as if she was looking through him and at the wall. He abruptly released her chin, than grabbed her hands, holding them up and inspected her left palm. A low growl escaped him a moment when he noted there was no sign of a brand. Before a snicker replaced the growl. With a swift movement the manacles of chains were removed, and he drew her to her feet. “Come my little pet, I think it’s time we fixed something.” He led her out of the cell and down various tunnels before taking stairs that lead up out of the dungeons. He took her into a large room and clapped his hands. Collared slaves rushed up to them and the girl figure was stripped of her rags, and was vigorously cleaned up. Hair brushed out, fresh clothes put on, a wolf hilted sword strapped to her hip. Dargoth looked her over thoughtfully and gripped her chin to make her look at him then he whispered harshly. “You are my warlord, you will make war on all of the nations. You will follow my orders and you will make me powerful.”

She blinked but once before speaking. “I will obey you master, I will see your will done.”

Dargoth smiled slowly and patted her cheek then snapped his fingers as he bellowed. “Bring the prisoner in to us!” The doors to the chamber were heaved open and Sidhra escorted a struggling Guardian into the room. He let out a low dark chuckle and motioned to the young woman standing at his side. “Do you recognize her Guardian? Your precious little friend that you promised would be welcome by your friends is now my little friend. Where were you when she needed you the most?” He smirked as he gripped the young woman’s shoulder tightly. “Nowhere, I am the one that came to her aid when she needed help.”

Soryn grunted as he tried to jerk free of the grip of hands that held him at bay from ripping Dargoth’s head off. He looked at the young woman closely as at first he had not recognized her. But after a couple of minutes he knew that face. “Serreria!? Serreria look at me. I’m here for you. Don’t listen to what he’s said to you. I came to get you out of here.”

Serreria gave no sign that she recognized him, though she stared at him, it was almost like he wasn’t there. But in her troubled mind, she was seeing him amidst the nightmares that plagued her. “What does the master want me to do?”

Dargoth let out a low wicked laugh that echoed throughout the entire room. And pointed a finger at Soryn. “Kill him.”

Serreria mechanically approached the struggling Guardian, his pleas for her to listen to him fell on death ears. As in her eyes his face warped into something else. Drawing her sword she drove the blade into his stomach, deaf to his pain and blind to his reaction as she drew a now bloody sword out of him, barely noticing as he collapsed and was dragged from the room. Though she felt like a thousand voices were screaming in her head that what she had just done was wrong. A gloved hand gripped her shoulder and the voices were silenced as Dargoth guided her away.

“Excellent, you are more than ready to take your place at my side.” He murmured as he led her through another set of doors and into his throne room. “We will deal with Malificent and Rangor when they return from their current mission. Than you will command my armies and lead them over the mountains as you were meant to. And all will fear your name, Wolf of Dargoth.” He clapped his hands once again and collared slaves rushed about once more. The fire pit was heated up, and a brand was placed in the coals. He turned slowly to regard the girl, a dry smirk on his lips as his gaze traced over her form. She was thin now, and looked half starved, her eyes flashed in a wild manner like a insane creature. There was promise here though, in this particular moment she could be easily molded into the Warlord he desired. Malificent had over stepped her bounds, and she would pay dearly, he had been lucky he had caught the whispers of the slaves who spoke about the wild child in the dungeons.

“The brand is ready my lord.” The words invaded his thoughts and Dargoth nodded his head slightly. Extending a hand he snapped fingers and two heavy set guards strode up to grip the girl by her arms. She was forced down onto her knees, and her left arm held out before her with her palm raised upright. Dargoth regarded the girl who did not struggle but seemed to stare on with a blank look upon her face. “This day I mark you as one of my own, you will serve me in every way that I desire.” He began to whisper out a incantation as one of the slaves brought towards him the brand, taking it up he held it aloft while contuining to sound out the words. Dark mist began to form around the brand, the metal heated up turning a bright white then a dark green. He spat out the final words before gringing the brand down to burn it into the palm of her hand, the sickly smell of burning flesh touched the nostrils as a faint waft of smoke trailed up into the air.

“NOOOOOOOoooooooo!” A female scream tore through the throneroom as Malificent shoved the doors open, and her eyes fell upon the scene. Her betrayal had been revealed and Dargoth was rectifying the issue. Drawing the sword at her hip she swept towards the Wolf King, lips drawn back as she hissed out. “That was mine! Mine alone!”

Dargoth’s head lifted slightly to glance beyond the girl at the approaching furious warlord. His thin lips twisted into a crooked smile as he tossed the brand to a slave then made a motion of his hand. The guards that held Serraria moved to carry her out of the throne room and into a side room so he could better focus on this intrusion. Drawing his own blade he waited until Malificent was almost upon him before he deflected her first two strikes then stepped forward to lash out with a booted foot at her chest. He sent her flying several feet back, skidding along the floor. He then rapidly strode towards her, reaching her before she could adequately regain her feet. He bent and tangled fingers in her hair, hauling her up to her feet and slammed her into a nearby column. Dargoth leaned in close to her, and spoke in a soft voice as he regarded her intently. “Malificent you did a very bad thing. That was my pet, she was mine to train and mine to control. You must understand only I will control her and no one else.”

Malificent drew in a shuddering breath, she struggled to keep her senses about her. The Wolf King was a very powerful man, and right now she was feeling every inch of his anger. She lifted a hand to placed it lightly over the arm of the hand that still had grip of her hair, her wide sapphire eyes meeting his before managing to replace her voice. “Not even her sister?” she whispered out before she slammed the palm of a hand into his chest, unleashing a blast of dark energy at him. Her attack freed her of his hold and sent him skidding back a metre or two before he regained his balance. Though the look of shock on his face was sweet revenge for how he had treated her all this time. Straightening away from the column she dusted down her leather and pushed hair back out of her face before fixing a glare at him. “You’re not the only Black Shar’tah out there in this realm.”

Dargoth raised the dark blade in his gloved hand and held the tip leveled at her. For a moment he looked like he was going to argue with her, however he thought better of it and sheathed the blade. “I should kill you.”

“But you won’t.” She smirked as she slowly walked up to him, resting hands on hips. She turned her head allowing her gaze to trail around the throne room before she looked back at him. “Your father wants the girl as much as he wants to control this realm. You have so far kept him from the truth of the girl being here in your stronghold. So you can use her power to take his throne.” She lifted a hand and tapped the side of her nose. “I know what you are scheming, it is what everyone else is. I believe however that we can come to a mutual understanding.” She swept past him and walked towards the stairs that lead up to his throne, boldly making her way up, to turn around and settle herself upon the dragon bones elegantly. Her hands came to rest upon the arm rest as she looked down at him and crossed one thigh over the other. “I don’t like your sister anymore than you do, but your father has indicated she will inherit his rule. I have backed you so far and will continue to do so if you keep your Wolf on a leash.” Her gaze shifted towards the doors where Rangor stood hunched over and listening intently to the conversation. “We keep watch over her whenever she is abroad and away from your side. To make sure you never loose your leverage with your father.”

Dargoth ground his teeth, he despised being blackmailed or being manipulated but the woman had a point. He was very tempted to drag her from the throne and severaly beat her for her insolence however he thought otherwise. With a slow step he moved towards the stairs and rested a booted foot on the first step while looking at her pointedly. “Very well, we are in agreement.” He lifted a hand motioning for her to come down from the throne. “From this day forth however, you will not harm her. The girl is my puppet and I need her focused on the task she will be given to complete. You and Rangor will make sure that she goes through with it.” He waited until Malificent passed him then grabbed a fist full of her hair, jerking her back sharply against him and hissed in her ear. “If you ever betray me again, I will not hesitate to kill you.” He abruptly released her, shoving her away so she fell forward onto the floor and moved to retake his throne. He smirked as Rangor had been slowly approaching and moved quickly to Malificent where she fell. Dargoth leaned back slowly on the bones of the ancient dragon, murmuring softly. “Dark days have arrived.”