Audeliah Beaumont.
Marched up to a man arrayed in lustrous polished armour that spanned from head to toe. The armour smouldered like steel under the silvery moon. While the gloomy green forest remained stagnant in the outlined obscurity that shadowed each spec of untouched grass.
He was a Knight, she knew and she was his Damsel. Carefully handing a cerulean shade of blankets to him, she informed, ‘I managed to evade the trackers.’
‘So ... she’s unharmed?’ Krylancello Beaumont insentiently asked in a deep suasive striking voice, taking the small scaly form curled in the drapes that sat sheltered her within his sturdy arms. Audeliah nodded but she didn’t need to, he already knew.
Out of fear, the woman’s eyes darted around the clearing—searching, for what she knew would destroy her. ‘They’ve got wolfhounds and serpents.’ she whispered in horror. She stared into the foreboding darkness that surrounded her, reaching every corner of the silent forest and the clearing where she stood. She was certain, there was nowhere safe. Audeliah wasn’t too sure what she dreaded more, being mauled by the hounds or squeezed to death by the serpents. Dread flooded through her, he could tell, it equally threaded its way through him. His gentle but strong hand rested on her evenly strong shoulder as he held the sleeping baby in one arm.
‘They’re not going to find her.’
‘How do you know this? Do you know what the Dark Cartel would do to her if they found her? She’s but a babe.’ Undeniable distress laced her wary voice. She knew better than anyone what would become of her if the Dark Cartel managed to find her.
‘I know.’ Krylancello’s voice washed over her, settling her down a little as she eyed the child with incontestable adoration. ‘But I also know that the United Council needs her. Not now but in the future—they will.’ Removing his hand from his wife, he softly stroked his child’s milky coffee coloured chubby cheek. He remembered the day she was born, it was a forbidden birth but they had her. A rebellion against what they knew was utterly erroneous. She was a precious jewel that kept them strong, together and sane and they knew out of everything—they had to keep her safe.
‘Krylancello,’ Audeliah whispered. Fear peaked beneath her skin once again while her blood pounded loudly in her ears. His head shot in the same direction Audeliah stared at. They both could hear them; with their sharp Nefaliem ears. They took in the sounds surrounding them. From their enemy’s individual heart beats, to the crunching of sticks and leaves beneath their metal combat boots and the echo of their breaths as they reflexively inhaled and exhaled. ‘They here.’
‘The portal’s closing in fifteen.’ he advised her.
Making a single decision Audeliah waved. ‘Go. Take her and go.’
Stunned, Krylancello managed, ‘But...’ The words wouldn’t form. She knew he didn’t want to leave her. He saw the summoning of a sterling silver sword forming from the particles in the air, upon her back exceeding the elegant silky navy blue dress that lined her form in gleaming silver and gold armour. Equally blue scales were in view beneath the elegant dress she wore, starting from her strong jawline to every inch of her body leaving her face a soft dark chocolate tissue of scale-less features. Her silky midly-transparent dress housed slits on either side of her gown; it was a dangerous sight, he knew but a style all her own, as he remembered quite clearly, the time when he battled her in order to win her feisty hand. Her legs would slide into the air quicker than lightening almost catching him a few times unlike her previous unfortunate opponents.
As he took her in, he knew right now because of the lack of armour she wore, she wasn’t fully equipped to battle so many adversaries, as he was and because of this, he wanted to stay by her side but they both knew better.
With classified information kept from his wife, his stomach dropped as he knew the sacrifice he’d have to make. Their daughter came first and if that meant leaving her alone—he had to, no matter how much he didn’t want to. He knew where the portal was, he swore an oath not to tell anyone where it was and she knew this. His stomach curled as the knowledge of his sacrifice blossomed.
He kept his usual cool composure—the one she loved so much.
He knew he had to trust that she was a warrior, she was a Knight like him but she was also a lady of the Council and the Empress and as her Emperor he had to make the best decision possible for their people as the survival of their race depended on it.
He turned his back to her and smoothly craned his head over his shoulder. His azure eyes like hers were hidden beneath the dark faceplate that protected his fine features. ‘Be careful.’ In a moment, that scared woman was replaced with one of utter bravery as she smiled at him. Though he saw it, it lurched at his stomach. A single tear grazed her smooth cheek. He didn’t focus on the tear but on the moving smile. It was a smile worth a thousand of those beautiful smiles and he knew deep down—it would be the last time he would ever see that same smile again.
Before it became too much to bare he ran into the shadows of the forest not without hearing the echoing whisper of his beautiful wife’s voice trailing after him, ‘I’ll always be with you, my love.’
Moments later, it happened. Enemies fell at her feet. Swiftly, her movements danced with excellent precision and skill. With his dragon ears he could hear it all but also felt it too, her fear for her daughter flowed through her veins and the anger surging beneath her skin was like a dangerous untamed inferno. He knew if he didn’t hurry, they’d gain on him and his only window of opportunity would close.
As quickly as he could, he sped through the forest. The Ravangers were at his heels hundreds of meters away from their masters. Fighting them off, he held his child close and sprinted to the portal at his inhuman speed. Once clear of any enemies, he gently placed his daughter on a nearby boulder, holding her vast, she giggled as her large cobalt eyes, with wonder and curiosity, rested on her father’s milky tanned features. Her blue scaly hand uncurled reached for him and he smiled, pain played at his heartstrings. ‘You’ll be safe little one. I promise.’
Soon, a portal cut the air a few centimetres off the ground. It was a vortex of blue swirling energy and power. The dirt beneath the portal, circled in the air like a mini tornado while the tall thin grass violently swayed like the clashing waves of the ocean.
Tenderly scooping his daughter into his arms he allowed the portal to consume him. It remained opened a moment longer before it shrunk and melted away into the still air almost as if was never there.
Moments later, footfalls loomed and the clearing was surrounded in grotesque beasts and demons. A man cladded in silver armour sat tall on a giant bagger-mole and growled a monster’s frustrated growl as he could no longer smell their scent. His tight green eyes scanned the clearing beneath his silver war helmet. His attention solely rested on the woman chained at her wrists, her arms yanked behind her back as she kneeled in the clearing feeling the grass graze her exposed stomach. ‘Where is he? Where has he taken your daughter?’ Audeliah’s attention rested on the man on the bagger-mole and her eyes threateningly narrowed.
‘I don’t know but for her sake to a place you’ll never find her.’ Audeliah spat in her idol form—a form that was almost human. It emphasised her russet skin, black hair, evenly matched murky eyes and grim pink and brown lips. The man’s pale bony lips purged into a thin line with a nod of his head, a large Hunter Troll sauntered up behind Audeliah and yanked out a large sharp spear. Audeliah look up and as she did, it was too late. The spear shot through her right eye and the rest of her body, piercing her hear and killing her within an instant.
ns 15.158.61.52da2
