Aria adjusted the cloak and pieces of her armor. They felt strange after so long without wearing them. The bow rested in her hand, the string pulled tight, just as deadly as she remembered.
Varkas looked at her.
—We're all together again.
—Yeah. —Aria adjusted the shoulder guards.— I missed wearing this.
—You still remember how to use a bow? —Darian asked with a faint smile.
—Of course I do. Don't question my skill.
Aria smiled back. Vael walked over and bumped his head against her leg. She scratched behind his horns, and the dragon let out a soft clicking sound. For one second, everything was calm.
Kára stepped closer.
—Alright, we're ready. We need to move fast. More guards could arrive any moment.
—Perfect —Darian said.— Let's move.
Vael suddenly backed away. He crawled beneath an overturned table and curled into himself. His golden eyes glowed from the darkness.
They moved toward the door.
Then the explosion hit.
The entire room shook. The door burst apart into splinters. Darian shielded himself from the debris while Varkas threw himself in front of Kára and Aria. Torches crashed to the floor. Smoke and dust swallowed the room.
Inside the cloud, two red lights appeared.
Heavy footsteps thundered against the stone.
The dust split apart.
A colossal Golem emerged from the smoke. Stone. Roots. No mouth. Only eyes. Only weight. Roots twisted through the cracks in its rocky body like living veins.
Behind it stood another figure. Tall. Athletic. Light black armor. A long sword glowing with spectral green light. Eyes filled with murderous intent.
And from the shadow of the giant, a third figure appeared.
Smaller. Black clothes. A mask covering the face. Two short swords, one in each hand. It stood perfectly still.
Watching.
The Golem stepped aside.
Aelthas walked forward.
His black robes remained immaculate.
He crossed the shattered room calmly, stopped, pressed fingers against his temple, and rubbed slowly. He closed his eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, then lowered his hand.
When he spoke, his voice was calm. Cold. Controlled.
But something trembled underneath.
—We had an agreement. A wedding. An alliance. Everything was going to be perfect. —He smoothed his robe.— And you... ruined everything.
He extended his hand.
A sword appeared out of nowhere.
Black as night.
Its hilt was decorated with crimson and gold details.
Aelthas took it carefully. Elegantly.
Threads began to emerge from the weapon. Black. Red. Gold.
They wrapped around his hand, crawled up his arm, and pierced his skin. The moment they embedded themselves completely, a pulse of darkness spread through the room.
The torches flickered.
The air became heavy.
The shadows stretched across the walls.
Aelthas raised the blade. The filaments pulsed in rhythm with the sword.
—I need Aria to fulfill her role. So I cannot allow you to take her away. I'm sorry. Truly. —He inclined his head slightly. A thin smile crossed his lips, devoid of warmth.— Ready to die?
The stone giant charged first.
It grabbed Varkas by the arm and lifted him effortlessly. Varkas drove his sword into the creature's forearm. The blade scraped against stone. Sparks exploded outward.
The Golem didn't even react.
It slammed Varkas into the wall. Stone shattered. Varkas pushed off with his legs and seized the creature by the throat.
Both massive bodies crashed through the floor.
The stone gave way beneath them.
A hole opened into darkness.
Varkas and the Golem disappeared below.
A roar echoed upward.
Then another.
Heavy impacts.
Something breaking.
The masked assassin stepped forward. Both short swords spun in its hands.
Aria pulled back her bowstring.
Released.
The arrow cut through the air.
The figure vanished.
The arrow embedded itself into the wall.
Aria turned instantly.
The wind shifted to her left.
She jumped backward.
The short swords slashed through the air where she had stood moments earlier.
The assassin landed silently before her.
The mask showed nothing.
Aria smiled.
—That all you've got?
The figure tilted its head. The twin blades spun once more. With a fluid motion, it carved through the wall.
Stone split apart.
An opening appeared.
The assassin leapt backward into the darkness beyond.
Aria grabbed another arrow, drew the string, and jumped after it.
Green light flashed.
The swordsman raised the spectral blade.
Kára spun Kazak'Thur.
Lightning crashed down from the ceiling.
The explosion shattered a column. Stone and dust erupted everywhere.
The swordsman charged.
The spectral sword passed through rock as if it were air.
Kára blocked with the hammer's shaft. Green and blue sparks illuminated the corridor.
Kára shoved forward.
The swordsman slid back one step.
Then another.
Kára rammed him with her shoulder.
Both of them burst into the hallway.
Blow after blow.
Hammer against specter.
The walls cracked under the impact.
And then—
Darian and Aelthas were alone.
Lumine shone brightly.
Nox exhaled black mist.
The twin swords rose together.
Aelthas rotated the black blade in one hand. Another pulse of darkness echoed through the chamber. The torches flickered again.
—I regret that this has to happen. Truly. I have a kingdom to rule. A war to win. And you... are wasting my time.
—That blade is alive —Lumine whispered.
—And it hates us —Nox growled.
Darian said nothing.
Outside, the castle burned.
Beasts screamed across the sky.
The night itself had become war.