Dragon Realm
Episode 21
Something else is missing. There was absolutely no reminder of the Purple Dragon's reign. Gryphon has cleared the city—and especially palace—from the signs of the creature. In order to show his feelings to the commoners, he had set up some of his own.
The huge iron gate opened as they approached. They're expected. Blane ordered his men to go to the barracks. He had to accompany the two travelers; the commanding officer's order was to report directly to the ruler of Penacles himself.
For Cabe, the hardest part of their journey to date was the stairs they had just started climbing. He estimated there should be at least a hundred. This should be a defensive measure. Undoubtedly the invading army would soon find itself lying exhausted about two-thirds of the way up, an easy prey for the defenders.
When they finally reached the top, he looked down. The black horse has gone. The guards at the base, one hand in control of the commander's horse, seemed oblivious to the fact that his other army had disappeared. Cabe knew his unnatural partner would meet them later.
A servant brought them in. The interior of the palace proved to be almost as simple as its exterior. Their host didn't have much time for luxury, it seemed. Here and there, some strange artifacts hung on the wall or stood nearby, but all of this seemed to pulsate with their own lives. Cabe glanced at Gwen, and she nodded. Blane knew nothing unusual and just looked straight ahead.
Finally, they reached an elaborately decorated door guarded by two beings who were only a few humans. Both of them stared blindly and had iron skin. They did not move at first, causing the three to believe that they were only statues. The confidence was crushed by the servant, a skinny little man who walked towards the one on the left and spoke to him.
"I came with three important visitors for Lord Gryphon."
To their surprise, the head was tilted to look at the servant. Each movement is accompanied by the sound of a metal hinge that craves oil. It peeked at the man for a few seconds, never blinking, and then turned to look at the three.
“Commander from Zuu will enter first and alone.” His mouth was not yet open, almost making them believe that someone else had spoken.
The voice was melodious and completely the opposite of what they had expected. Blane moved slowly towards the door, his hand on the handle of his weapon. He was not a coward, but like most ordinary men, he tolerated magic when it was with him and did not believe it when there was a small chance that it did not happen. The commander turned from one guard to another until he passed the doorway. The door closed behind him.
The waiter apologizes and leaves Cabe and his partner alone. The guards on the left kept staring at them with eyes unable to see, and Cabe had the desire to find a hiding place, preferably outside the city.
Gwen whispered in his ear. “Iron golem! I think the formation of such a creature has been lost for centuries! ”
“I hope it has happened. Does that creature have to keep looking at us like that?”
“He didn't see us. He has no eyes as we know them. The only reason he acts like that is because he wears a human form.”
He looked at the two guards. "I wouldn't say 'human'. If he can't see, how does he know if something happened?"
“I'm not saying he can't see; I'm saying that he doesn't have eyes, at least as we know them. He sees it another way. Unfortunately, I don't know how.”
Voice disappeared. Despite his knowledge, the iron golem still made him nervous as well. He knew little about their limits, attacks, and defenses. The fact that the Gryphon entrusted his life to them made them even more dangerous. King Penacles rarely put his trust in anything unless he knew it would not disappoint him.
After a few minutes, the door opened and the commander from Zuu came out. He was pale and sweating, but there was a respectful expression on his face. He nodded to them.
"Mr Gryphon is waiting for you."
As he passed by them, Cabe whispered quickly to his friend. "Have you ever met a Gryphon?"
He shook his head. "No. I'm sure we have something to look forward to.”
They walked past the open doorway, Cabe watching the golem leaving. Nobody is moving. Any unsuspecting person would consider it a statue.
“Welcome, my friends.”
Cabe turned. However, he stopped, no more surprised than Lady. Tall and majestic, Lord Gryphon is its king. The aura of strength and wisdom is unmistakable. But this is not what made the couple so happy. For Gryphons more than humans. Although his form was close to that of a human, his face was not.
His face was like a bird of prey, a proud eagle with all-seeing eyes. The gryphon walked towards them, and the huge golden mane that descended past his shoulders trembled as he did so. He stretched out his hand, and they saw that it was covered with feathers but had claws that were much more like birds. Although they should have felt disgusted by this image, they did not do so. Instead, they felt the urge to kneel before the great majesty of these humans. The Dragon King ruled through terror. The Gryphon, however, rules through intelligence and understanding.
Cabe took the offered hand, feeling very awkward in every move. King Penacles did not move as much as it flowed. Every action is right.
“Greetings to you, Cabe Bedlam, Nathan's grandson. I'm honored." He turned towards Lady and grabbed her hand. When he did, his face changed. The lion has gone. Instead was a man with a face like an eagle who could easily steal many women's hearts. Gwen smiled as she kissed his hand.
He straightened up and saw both. “That woman I know by her reputation. You, friend Cabe, only I know through mutual acquaintance.”
The Gryphon showed a figure, unwittingly until now, sitting on the sofa behind him. The hood and robe were enough to identify him, but that blurred face determined the problem for everyone.
“Simon!”
"The mountain!" Gwen's face was a sea of hatred.
He turned around to face the Gryphon once more. “How can you deal with a person like him? Even if he claims to be on our side? His mixed past cursed him beyond all justification!”
The city lord frowned at him. The stern look was such that he was forced to retreat. “Simon paid for her sin with every moment of her life, Lady Gwen. He will do what he can for us.”
"Until next time!"
Throughout this conversation, the hooded witch remained silent. Cabe couldn't read his face, but there seemed to be tremendous sadness in his movements. Sadness—and guilt. What a great guilt.
The Gryphon finally calms the woman down by offering her a look at the library. The thought of knowledge shook his heart. Cabe was also invited, but he refused. Something inside urged him to talk to the shadow witch.
When they are alone, Cabe walks up to the man who calls himself Simon. The others looked at him expectantly; but before Cabe could speak, they were both interrupted by the sound of the clattering of horse legs.
“Can't someone at least tell me when it's safe to come here? I keep hiding so I won't scare away that good commander from Zuu!”
Shade chuckled, his depression instantly lifted. “Good commander? He must have praised you, my friend.”
“Just give me a rather reluctant respect given by some people.”
"I only have the greatest respect for you."
The black horse snorted. “I'm referring to that woman! I assume you are treated the same way! ”
Almost as quickly as it passed, Simon's depression returned. “They are not easy to forgive. … He doesn't have to either. I take full responsibility for my curse.”
The witch suddenly stood up. “If you excuse me, I have some preparations to do. Accompany the child, old friend.”
Shadow disappeared.
Cabe looked at the dark horse. "What's he doing? Why did Lady bring so much hatred to him?”
An *******. “Sit down, friend Cabe. It will take time.”
He did as Darkhorse suggested. A ghostly mountain stood in front of him.
Cabe tried to imagine what it would be like if someone came in and found him talking to a slender black horse. Then again, it only took a minute to realize that this creature was not a true animal. The aura of immortality was quite clear to anyone who saw.
Cold eyes were on him. “Something when there was a witch with extraordinary powers. Shade. A man possessed with one purpose. Biggest goal man ever sought.” A pause. “That goal is immortality.”
Immortality. The word itself seemed to blow a miracle.
Cabe recalled the story of countless individuals who had been searching for a treasure larger than gold. Chances are enough to send entire nations to war, either against themselves or each other. It never matters.
"Did—does he find it?"
Darkhorse ignored the question completely. “Shade is a man of two minds, both competing for supremacy. He walked on a thin line of gray between white and black. Sometimes he would stagger in one direction or the other, but he never really got entangled. As the years passed, he acquired an incredible knowledge of both powers, and it was this combination of knowledge that led him to what he believed was the solution. He grunts. "Such as man's ego and greed lead them to unparalleled calamities."
Cabe didn't say anything. It's an ancient story.
“Shade uses the power of both sides, a powerful force that no one knows today. However, he failed to consider one thing. Where light meets dark, there is always conflict. His nature proves that. Shade finds himself caught in the middle of the anger of both sides. The lower man will die. Shade, as himself, faces a far more terrible fate.”
There was sadness in the voice of the creature. Darkhorse had few friends, and nothing was more important to him than a shadow magician.
“In their collective anger, the power overcomes its protection. He who was about to become immortal even found himself a puppet under the mercy of some masters! He was twisted, altered, thawed, torn to shreds. Every power is trying to make it their tool. Each of them only partially succeeded, and when it ended, the power returned to the realm of their existence. From the witch Shade, all that remains are battered corpses.”
Cabe gasps.
The demon horse nodded. “Corpse, yes. For a week, he lay where he fell. No one, of course, entered the witch's lair if they could help.