Dragon Frost (18 page)

‘
Why?’
 I
ask.

‘
That is what you must find out.’

We hike
up a large hill after passing through a dense snow covered forest.
We stop to rest on several boulders and I pull out my canteen that
was held to my waist through my energy bonds. The Nephilim have a
similar way to hold things to their body while humans seem to use
magnets, glues or heat to hold or mound things together. I honestly
can’t remember the last time I needed water than again my body is
different. There’s no need to have water as much as humans after
all we were built for war—it’s not expected that you’ll find water
on a war torn world or food for that matter but that’s why we were
trained from a young age.

“
So what
do you think is up there?” Varden questions as he scans the brink
of the tor. It won’t take much longer until we reach the bend but I
wondering what were expected to find exactly that dragon seemed old
and wise so I trust his words for now but I don’t trust it as of
yet.

The
trusting of a person takes a lot longer. Even Altair is still
working back my trust after he withheld information from me—one
part of me says “he did it for the better” the other concludes
conspiracy. I try to disregard the other but I can’t help not
trusting him right now.

“
We don’t
know yet but that’s what we’re going to find out.”

“
Why are
we doing it?” I ask and catch the attention of both men. Their blue
eyes lock onto me and I continue, “I mean there are Shadow Knights
and Rangers they do this whole Intel thing all the time.” I say and
feeling slightly annoyed at my words why on earth our Chief made us
do this when we had to escort Varden back to Midra.

“
Don’t
know?” says Varden. “Maybe he was trying to give you guys more to
do?”

“
Doubt
it.” I retort.

“
There
has already been Shadow Knights and Rangers here.” says Altair. He
turns his gaze on me ignoring Varden. “We’ve already been given
Intel I just haven’t had a chance to tell you.” I glare at his
words. He has some nerve. Who does he think he is keeping stuff
like that from me?

“
And you
didn’t tell me because you don’t trust me?” I jump down from the
boulder and place my canteen on the side of my utility belt where
it is often positioned. “Let me guess orders right?” The words
coming from my mouth surprisingly weren’t painful. I couldn’t help
but act very sarcastic. “So you decided that we go see the dragon
for what? So you can learn more or was this also a part of your
plan?” I question feeling almost disgusted with myself. I’ve been
humiliated and shamed so many times that I can’t even begin to
count yet now that I am where I am today and have not uttered a
single lie ever since I took my vows as a Knight. I can’t believe
the damage I’ve managed to cause. It’s been three hundred years and
he still remembers. “You know I’m used to people not trusting me. I
don’t trust me either but that doesn’t mean you can rub it in!” I
spit and storm away.

I brush
past Altair and not bother looking at him and make my way towards
the top of the hill, the snow becomes a lot paler under the sun. I
sit down in the snow and scan the horizon. There’s nothing but I
know there’s more to it than meets the eye. I honestly couldn’t
believe him some people know how to forgive and forget but not him
and yet he’s the one that is actually trying to patch things up
with us—how ironic is that?

There is
no sound, no movement, the layout before me is just empty and
lifeless like me. What’s the point of living if you have no heart?
I would wonder to myself at times. There was a time long ago when I
wanted to take my life but couldn’t because I thought of it as a
cowards move a pathetic act of giving up. I guess what I didn’t
realise then but did now. I have already given up but still live
and breathe.

A gentle
whistle sounds through the air and I look up. My eyes wide where I
bring up my forearm guard, the arrow is deflected and I stand on my
feet. Many more arrows arrive and I deflect them easily as my eyes
are sharp to take in that which not all will see. “My . . . my,
haven’t you become stronger.” says a familiar voice. I turn to the
sound and see a woman in black armour her face now covered. I stare
at the woman before me, she tilts her head to the side and I fight
the urge to ring her neck where she stands and wipe away any
self-confidence she has in my presence.

“
Golgotha,”

“
Yes. It
is. I.” she states coyly. I clench my hands tight by my sides. She
glances down at my hands under my cloak not that she can see them
but my body language is all she needs and she knows it. “What’s the
matter? Cat got your tongue?” she churns and I force my face to
become expressionless—I know how to fight her—show nothing. “Still
fighting the emotions I see. Tell me . . . wouldn’t it be better to
remove all those stupid emotions? Wouldn’t it be better to feel
nothing?”

I don’t
say anything.

“
The
silent treatment I see.” Her form slowly becomes black and gaseous;
she drifts around me like a breezing current her voice close to my
ear. “Hand him over and I’ll give you that freedom. I’ll release
you from those holy emotions.” she whispers and I swing my fists
around nothing touches her—nothing fazes her. “You and I are one in
the same, you know that. We have been running around each other for
as long as I can remember yet neither of us has given in. Have we?
They’ll never accept you and they’ll never 
trust
 you.” My eyes widen at the
word: 
trust
—as much as
I hate to admit it—she’s right. They’ll never trust me and it is
that same reason why I can never be a leader. It is that same
reason why, I can never be a lover.

“
You’re
after Varden, aren’t you?” I ask. Her razor-like teeth, stretchinto
a smile across the darkness as her black gaseous form refuses to
give awayher identity—to give away, her origin. It refuses to
display the female thatshe was instead—her body—a mist—of darkness.
   

“
We’ll
done, very well done.” she mocks. “You’ll never be a part of that
world you’ve always wanted. You’ve been dropped into the darkness
and left to die. When you suffered no one was there to quell the
pain or the sorrow, no one was there to remind you who you are. No
one was your real friend.” Her words hit home and I fight back the
tears that threaten to expel down my face. I refuse to cry. Not in
front of her!

“
Why
don’t you hand him over willingly and I’ll give you what you
desire,” I feel her hand on my shoulder as her lips are close to my
ear. The gas expels around me engulfing me in a storm of obscurity.
“I’ll give you your solitude.” I nod. “Take him to Midra there
you’ll find a man dressed in black clothes of a man with a golden
tattoo. Covering his features, he’ll wait for you at the stroke of
midnight, at the edge of Midra. Deliver him to us deliver the
Prince.” With that lingering in the air, she’s gone.

By the
time I return Altair and Varden are deep in conversation, I can
hear them talk about things I’ve done and Varden says, “That’s
all?” I’m surprised at his nonchalant reaction; it makes me think
differently of him. I wonder if he really accepted me for who I am
rather than what I’ve done—if that’s the case he has my complete
trust and I know at that moment I would do whatever it takes to
protect him from Golgotha. He seems to notice my eyes on him and he
turns to me, his face is soft, a small smile pulls at his lips that
make my chest lightly flutter. I continue to stare I don’t know how
long we locked eyes for but by the time it’s broken by Altair
standing in front of me with his hands on his hips.

“
Took
your time.”

“
I have
time to kill.” I retort glaring back at him.

“
We need
to continue towards the base of those mountains.” he says nodding
his head in the direction they came and I nod. Feeling someone’s
eyes on me I know than they are watching me—waiting. Waiting to see
if I’ll keep my word or slip up, if that’s the case than I’ll have
to play my cards carefully. I have no idea why I agreed to
Golgotha’s request but the idea of being left alone in this world
made me feel better, it made me feel more secure. No one can hurt
me nor can I hurt them. It seems like the best way to live. The
question is: “will I be willing to cut myself off from the rest of
the world? Or will I be hesitant like now?”—My eyes land on Varden
from over Altair’s shoulder. “Look at me when I’m talking to you.”
he demands and I trace my gaze back to Altair’s firm face. He
doesn’t look too pleased not that I care at the moment. “You are to
hang back with Varden, I’ll scout the area.” This makes me want to
punch him.

“
Fine.” I
say without argument and he gives me a confused expression for a
moment before leaving me with Varden, Altair without another
glance. By the time, he’s gone I make my way over to Varden and sit
down on a boulder beside him. “Did you mean what you said?” I blurt
out after a moment of awkward silence.

“
About
what?”

“
When you
and Altair were practically gossiping,” I utter. His face twists
into a screen of surprise and I fight back a smile. “Did you mean
what you said . . . you know about it being not that big of a deal?
What I’ve done I mean.” I add the last part and he turns from me
his eyes are locked onto Altair’s now vanished form and I continue
to watch him after some time I turn away to get up feeling slightly
let down.

“
I did.”
he says after a moment pause. I stand not too far from the cluster
of boulders scattered off to the side of a natural trail where we
sat. His gaze lands on me with an unreadable expression—eyes firm.
“I mean . . . it’s not what you did then, it’s what you
do 
now
.” he
declares and I translate this as: “I know you’ve changed” I
couldn’t help but think how he’s jumped to that conclusion, then
again, he’s seen aside of me that not everyone can see.

I turn to
Varden—surprised. A smile forms on his face and I couldn’t help but
smile myself, not a false smile, a genuine smile. It’s like the
world stopped and he is the only one I saw. “Thank you.”

“
No
problem.” he says still holding a smile.

“
There
are Covenant flanks, north and north-east.” Altair declares walking
towards us. It didn’t seem that long he was gone but the position
of the sun tells me otherwise. He stops before us and continues to
direct his fingers in the general directions. “Spotters are seen
floating around and Bilants are not too far behind with
Hunters.”

“
So
there’s a lot.” says Varden, slowly, unsure by the
terms.

Altair
nods.

“
Don’t
worry, we won’t let them touch you.” he says and Varden turns to me
for confirmation which I was surprised he needed from me but didn’t
let it show. I nod. He turns to Altair to discuss the next phase of
action while a pang of guilt fills my stomach. The sun has set and
I lay under a shrub regarding the burning fireplace. Still feeling
the presence of someone over my shoulder—I ignore it.

I won’t
give my stalker the contentment of knowing I know. I’m playing a
very dangerous game I know that but I have no option. I would take
back those words but Golgotha will not accept them and I have no
idea what brought it on but something told me to agree, something
told me to keep my enemies closer. Still, is it worth it? Varden
will no doubt consider me a traitor and I wouldn’t want to hurt him
in that sense but my word was final. I glaze the campsite. Men and
women sit around the campsite; large fur beasts, slender shark-like
women and heavily armored demons. Their black armour is the only
dead giveaway and their glowing red eyes that stand out of the
shadow. I wait for the signal—there it is!

The men
and women surrounding the first bonfire move and investigate. I
know is Altair drawing their attention. I push aside the shrub and
creep into the clearing, slowing peering over my shoulder and
around me. My eyes and mind remain vigilant should I run into
danger. The thought of what they would do to a Knight in their
territory didn’t sit well with me and I feared the worst even if
that were to happen. I wouldn’t give them the satisfactory of
seeing my pain or running my mouth. I would be silent as the
night.

I slip
into a few tents and assassinate a few that slumber in their sleep
before setting their tents on fire—as a sign to the other’s that
one objective is down and several more to go. A volley of flaming
arrows fly through the sky one after the other but they are spaced
at tight intervals there I know its Varden raining down on the
parade. I know he isn’t exactly supposed to be involved but we
couldn’t exactly leave him alone. The last thing I want was for him
to be captured by the enemy. Then again; isn’t he already? The
campsites are set up in a pattern; left, right, right, left. I
can’t help but move through the forest, through the tree branches
and to the next camp where I repeat what I did before. While Altair
takes care of the men and women he has drawn to himself.

This plan
seems to be working effectively when I stop at my last destination.
The air is silent and I see they haven’t noticed my presence nor
have they noticed their numbers dwindling. The silence is what
confirms our plan and its achievement. I sit on a branch, in the
shadows of the forest and creep along it like a panther. The sight
of me will probably cause people to be frightened but I’ve always
crawled along things like an animal—it’s only natural. “Well
haven’t you been busy.” says a familiar voice and I turn to see a
white clothed man. Lifet!