Chapter 293 - The Cheer and Quiet of Victory

I was so, so wrong about there being one more chapter left. There are at least 2 more after this one (but i'm 90% certain it's only 2 more).

Happy New Year everyone. New years resolution is to write 2k words per day every working day. I've managed it two days in a row so far and will keep you up to date with how it goes.

Hump stared ahead with empty eyes, his mind still on the vision of the past. For as long as he’d remembered, he’d dreamed of the power possessed by those of the old world, where gods did battle, and legendary practitioners were born. The tales were so grand, it was impossible to tell what was myth and what was real. They were told that Osidium formed Sheercliff in a single blow, and that Hestia created Fisher’s Lake when she buried the temple of the Three Eyes wizards in water, but was such power truly possible?

Today, Hump had his answers. He’d seen the scars of battle left in mountains and forests. Every warrior seemed more powerful than he was, and they were just pawns in a war between gods. And then there was the owner of the eye, who had commanded his daughter Irila, and sent a wave of death sweeping across the battlefield that was so powerful Hump thought it might just end the world. He had to have been a god. Hump wasn’t sure what mechanism had left his final moments stored within his eye, but there must have been some spark of his spirit left for it to exist on.

None of that was what terrified Hump, though. The most shocking thing of all of it wasn’t how powerful the warriors on the battlefield had seemed, or the owner of the eye. It was how in his final moments, it was a distant Owalyn that had struck him down in a single blow. Hump could still see her silver arrow, radiating such pure killing intent. It was no wonder the gods of the Pantheon had sealed her in Drakalyn.

And this was the world Anthony and his warlocks wanted to unleash again. It was the great war that Starrick of the Three Eyes had warned them of. Just a glimpse of it left Hump horrified.

The keepers didn’t need long until they were ready to leave. While Hump investigated the eye and the formation, they spent their time exploring any additional chambers nearby, discovering a small collection of rooms filled with artifacts, books, and wealth. In time, the people of Drakalyn would return to uncover what else might lie in this place, but for now, they returned home, to rest, to grieve, and to celebrate.

There was no need for a hammock-sling on the dragon ride back. Hump rode atop Brutus behind Leif, soaring through the clear blue sky with the wind in his face and the sun on his back.

They’d won, the lich was dead, and now Nishari called him home.

The dragons flew in formation, eleven of them wing to wing. There was no hurry now. They swept through the skies at a leisurely pace, travelling at the speed of Itris, the mightiest and most badly injured of all of them. The dead were spread out in hammock-slings and carried by the fittest of the keepers, while the fallen dragons remained in Estora for now, guarded by their surviving keepers along with Ado, Quin, Tessa, and Finnian, who had all volunteered to remain behind. Wagons would come from Drakalyn to help carry them home.

“Mother’s mercy,” Leif said. “Look at that, lad. Something’s wrong with the tree.”

Far in the distance, Hump made out the faint branches of the Great Tree. Even so far away it appeared tired, its branches drooping, its leaves brown and wilted. The awe-inspiring power he usually felt from it was gone.

“It seems that Irila’s spell at least partially worked,” Hump said. “But Owalyn must be okay, right? Your blessings would fail if she died, surely?”

“I… I think she lives,” Leif said. “I feel her. And the fact that Celaine reached her fourth blessing is surely a sign of that.”

“Exactly,” Hump said. “Either way, she is far beyond the strength of any one of us to help. All we can do is focus on what we can do. I have a feeling it will be a long day yet.”

Soon, they reached the lake, heading toward where the majority of the fighting took place. As they neared the temple where the hunters of Drakalyn held the line, Hump spotted countless bodies. Undead of all kinds lay unmoving like a field of bone and flesh. Amongst them were the most hideous of monstrosities. Without the lich’s magic, their forms deteriorated into unidentifiable mush. How they would ever remove so many bodies, Hump couldn’t guess.

It wasn’t long before they came to Drakalyn’s people. A campsite was already established where the wounded were tended to. People and wagons flowed back and forth along the forest trails, bringing in supplies and taking people back to Drakalyn.

Cheers came from below as the dragons were spotted. Men and women stood together, holding their weapons up high as they bellowed victorious shouts. Even from a distance, the sound echoed thrilling and liberating across the lake. Yunillia roared in answer, the keepers and Chosen joining her cry. Hump added his own voice just before the dragons unleashed a mighty roar that shook the air like thunder.

His heart was pounding now, and it only beat faster as he sensed Nishari in the distance. Excitement, exhilaration, and relief flooded their bond. With it, Hump felt life returning to him. His body felt warmer, his soul cleansed, his mind cleared. At the same time, her own emotions flooded him uncontrollably. He caught an image of Myra holding her back and stopping her from flying out of Drakalyn to meet them and smiled to himself.

They did not stop at the encampment, instead following the wagons back to Drakalyn. It was a solemn sight. There had to be hundreds of wounded already on the road, yet even amongst them came high-spirited cheers.

The next few minutes were dragged on endlessly, Nisha’s excitement growing with every passing moment. When they finally arrived back in town, every able-bodied person was at work. They helped the wounded, provided food and water, or tended the dead. People were on their knees in tears, while others celebrated victory, and all of them came together upon their return.

It was then he noticed the tiny fire at the top of the temple, barely even an ember. It had almost dwindled.

A problem for them, Hump thought. The issues of Owalyn are far beyond me.

Following Yunillia and Itris’ lead, Brutus descended to the plateau beside the Temple of the Everflame, buffeting his wings as he slowed just before they landed. The crowd pressed in all around them, exploding with a chorus of happy cheers. Hump couldn’t help but laugh as his gaze roamed over the gathering of people. He heard names shouted, cheering for Yunillia as she dismounted.

He slid from Brutus’ back, coming to stand by his face where he stroked the magnificent creature. “My thanks, Brutus.”

The dragon huffed, then turned to the left where a handful of children broke through the crowd and rushed over. He lowered his head happily as they poured over him with attention.

Celaine came to Hump’s side, laughing. “This is madness.”

Hump laughed back. “But it’s the good kind of madness. Do you see Nisha?” he pointed toward the steps of the plateau. “I sense her over there.”

“Near the back, but I see her,” Celaine said. She took his hand, dragging him in that direction and leaving the cluster of keepers behind. “Come on.”

The crowd parted for them, hands patting their backs and cheering their return. Others called out to Celaine, wishing her the Mother’s blessings.

Soon, Hump glimpsed Myra’s face behind the people ahead of them. A moment later, Nisha exploded from between their legs, racing at them. Hump grinned, urging the little dragon to calm down, but it was too late. She threw herself at Hump. He tried to catch her, but she was too big now for him to take at full speed and she barrelled him over. His staff fell away, but Celaine caught it, laughing as she watched Nisha climb over Hump. The little beast licked at his face as she scrambled over his chest.

“Careful,” he tried to say, only to get the dragon’s nose in his mouth. Then she collapsed on him in a wriggling mess.

Nearby, Celaine’s family emerged from the crowd, embracing her. As the initial excitement fell away, Nisha climbed off Hump and rushed over to Celaine, her entire body swaying back and forth in her excitement. Celaine knelt and rubbed Nisha’s scales with both hands as the dragon tried to climb up onto her shoulder.

As Hump stood, Myra pulled Hump into a hug too. “Welcome back, Hump. We were worried about you.”

Looking at the smile on her face, and the shimmer in her eyes, Hump knew it was genuine.

“Have you heard from Vamir?” Celaine asked.

“He’s well,” Sera said. “But he refuses to leave the battlefield until everyone else has made it home first. You should see Eva later. She’s with the other wounded and was asleep when we left her.”

Celaine looked at her with worried eyes. “Is she going to be okay?”

They briefed her on her condition. The Chosen had taken a spear thrust through the stomach but should live. Being of the first circle was enough to help with her constitution, so the risk of infection was slim.

Soon, a quiet came over the crowd as the hammock-slings were opened at those that died were revealed. In that moment, it was as if reality set back in. A murmur of blessings spread throughout everyone, Elder Ashera’s name in particular on their lips. Cheers of victory gave way to a feeling of fear and grief—they’d won, but it was at a great price, and as of yet Owalyn had not spoken.

With their smiles broken, Hump saw the fear. They were scared. Scared of what happened to the Great Tree, the Eternal Flame, and to Owalyn herself.

“The two of you should return and rest,” Celaine’s father, Gareth said.

“Yes, go,” Sera added. “You don’t need to be here for this. We’ve left meals for you both, along with anything else you might need.”

“We should stay,” Celaine said.

Her mother shook her head. “Go. Leave cleaning up for the rest of us. You’ve both more than earned a break.”

Myra took Celaine’s hand. “We’ll eat dinner together, okay? Once the wounded are tended, and everything else is done, you can beguile us with the tale of today.”

Celaine smiled and nodded. “Dinner. We’ll see you then.”

***

It was a simple stew that waited for them back at Celaine’s family home. They ate together quietly, doing their best to avoid the more serious topics and take a moment to rest and enjoy each other’s company and Nisha’s. Despite the commotion, the little dragon was as famished as always, desperately begging for whatever Hump was eating at the time, even if it was a piece of fruit.

He gave her a fingernail sized piece, which she pinched tentatively between her teeth before carrying it away to the corner of the room and dropping it on the floor. She lay there, picking it up and dropping it again curiously.

Celaine burst out laughing. “Every time I leave, I forget how adorable she is.”

“I know right.” He was about to get himself another helping of food, when he noticed the wound on Celaine’s head was bleeding again. “Your head wound’s opened up.”

Hump stood up, making his way over to where she sat at table. He stood behind her, reaching for her head when she leant away from him and gave him a suspicious look.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I’m not bloody hurting you, am I? What do you think I’m doing? Unless you want blood all over your hair, let me see it.”

She frowned, pressing her lips together, then leant back toward him. “Fine.”

Hump smiled at her stubbornness, parting her hair to see her skin split, the wound perhaps two inches long.

“I can take care of this for you,” Hump said, walking over to get his staff and returning with it. “Stay still.”

“What are you doing?”

“We’ll seal it up with Control Fire and stop the bleeding.”

Celaine leant away from him again and stared at him with wide eyes. “There’s no way in this world I’m letting you burn it shut.”

Hump’s face split open into a grin. “As if I’d do that! Do you really think I’m that much of an idiot?”

Celaine pouted. “I don’t know. Maybe… Sometimes.”

Hump rolled his eyes. “I’m going to use Healing Touch, with your permission, of course.”

“Go for it.”

Hump’s body was cold already, and his essence dwindling. Still, it was only a Tier 1 spell and even though it was healing magic, he could manage this much. He channelled essence to his staff until it glowed white, then place a hand over her head.

“Healing Touch,” he said.

White light and warmth spread from his hand, encompassing the wound, as cold took its place in his body. Before his eyes, blood clotted, and a scab formed over the wound. The skin tightened and came back together, following the natural healing process but sped up a thousand-fold.

“There,” Hump said. “You’re welcome. Pretty useful having a wizard around, don’t you think?”

“Surprisingly so. I forgot you could heal now. Would have been handy having that before.”

Hump chuckled. “You’re so ungrateful. I should have left you to heal the normal way.”

He was about to back away, when Celaine leant the back of her head against his chest.

“I am grateful,” she said quietly. “And I’m really glad you’re okay. When I saw the lich…” her voice croaked, and she coughed. “When I saw what she was doing to you, and the pain you were in, I thought I’d lost you.”

“It’ll take more than a lich to get rid of me.”

“Enough with the false bravado,” Celaine snapped. She pushed her chair back into Hump, sending him stumbling back with a grunt. She glared at him, then turned away quickly, but not fast enough for Hump to miss the redness of her face.

Hump smirked at her. “You’re all red.”

“Shut up. I’m going to wash off. Don’t go skulking around with any funny ideas.”

Hump took her hand as she turned to leave. “I’m alright,” he said. “Really. I know it was bad, and we got really lucky, but still, I’m okay. I’m not oblivious to that fact.”

She nodded, looking at Hump’s hand. His heartbeat was as loud as the war drums in his vision. He didn’t know what to do or say, so just stood there gormlessly.

“That’s good then.” After a few more seconds, Celaine let go of him. “I’ll be back in a few.”

She returned soon after, the blood washed from her hair, they sat awkwardly at the table again, avoiding the topic of what just happened. What was left of the day passed quickly and soon her family returned.

When Hump left the house that evening, he felt like there was progress. No matter how much he tried to move on, something about Celaine called him back, and seeing her today he was sure she felt it too. Maybe not today, or even soon, but sometime, on a day where people hadn’t died, maybe there was a chance.