It is difficult to comprehend that others, most others, are different. They are cattle, or they are parasitic, or they are evil. Most of them don’t even have the presence of mind to know they are these things, or they’ve lied to themselves to sufficiently ease their guilt or despair or inferiority. Civilization begins when the right men have the will to bend nature’s chaos despite the cattle. Strength of will and a heart closed to pity have done more to lift us from the gutter than empathy for the evil and the wretched.

  -Harald Erling, as dictated to Leif Olander

  ***

  “I am sworn to defend the queen and prince of Maedelund.”

  Blazing liquid light appeared in the space before Leif’s hands. “Move or die.”

  Hestan added, “You are good and loyal servants of the crown but we do not want to kill you. You are released from your duties today. Go home to your families.”

  Hestan’s sword was out. There was anger in his eyes that matched Leif’s own but he was controlled and calm.

  The four soldiers who guarded the palace gate were hardened. They stood tall and defiant but their eyes betrayed them. Each of them stared at the violent glowing energy in Leif’s palms. They had never been confronted by a wizard before.

  Hestan tilted his head and the tip of his sword towards the light in Leif’s hands as he spoke again to the guards, “You cannot stop us. Decide.”

  Leif gave them the span of one breath. He was done waiting.

  “Too late,” Leif let the light evaporate and with a surge of his magic he swept the guards aside and blasted the great doors open. He didn’t wait to see where they fell or if they lived. He hoped they did but if they hadn’t, so be it. He was here for Karalee.

  Leif and Hestan pushed through the gate and locked it behind themselves. They sprinted forward. Who knew what Magnus was doing with Karalee. Evil thoughts sprang into his mind unbidden and he forced them out.

  They moved through the grand main corridor, passing several ornate doorways and hallways until it opened into the throne room. Leif hadn’t been here for some time. The structure was the same but the room was far more grand. The floor was polished stone. Bright banners hung from the vaulted ceilings.

  The stone columns had been chiseled into ornate designs. Most were statues of various people, the two closest to the dais held captivating vines with small flowers and thorns. Leif assumed they held some meaning but he didn’t know or care.

  A curious line of beautifully crafted swords hung on the wall at eye level. They wrapped around the room and met behind the two bright and cushioned chairs atop the dais which stood empty. There were tall windows set behind the dais which brightened the entire room.

  Four soldiers in shining armor, who were rapidly drawing their weapons, occupied the space before them. Between the dias and the first column of vines, across the room from Leif and Hestan, Isabella sat at a small table. A pot of tea, with a wisp of steam, sat beside two teacups.

  Beside Isabella sat Karalee. Her feet and hands were bound. A thick roll of fabric was looped across her mouth.

  Isabella barked a laugh as the four soldiers closed in before Hestan and Leif. “Oh really boys don’t make me laugh. Surely Harald could have mustered more than you two.” She looked at her attendant, “inform the guards, and send for my son.” She took a sip of her tea then stood. “Or did you both come to attend my son’s wedding ceremony?”

  “Release my sister.”

  “Really Hestan, I’m surprised at you. I would have thought you would have started with Estrid given her state. She must be in such distress.”

  “Vigo is attending to Estrid.”

  Isabella screeched out a cackle. “Vigo is on his way to Maarten’s Tower then? How delightful. Once Harald’s lap dog is gone I expect we won’t have any more issues.” She took another sip of tea, “Estrid is not at Maarten’s tower. Indeed, she is with Magnus’s pet, Deila, in the caverns just north of the palace. I don’t imagine she’ll last long alone in her state.”

  “You are a hideous and hateful bitch.” She sneered at him for that but Hestan turned to Leif and said quietly, “you can take him?” Leif nodded. “Kill them. Bring Karalee. Someone has to go for Estrid.”

  “Go,” Leif nodded again as Hestan rushed out.

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  Isabella looked at Leif then spoke loudly to the soldiers, “This young man has come into your queen’s presence with a bared sword. He has threatened her life. This is not just an attempt at murder but as a subject of Maedelund, it is treason. Arrest him. He can share a cell with his father while he awaits his execution.”

  Leif delved within himself for his magic. It flowed into him like a mighty river pouring down a mountainside. He looked at the soldiers stepping towards him. Several more filed in and made a protective wall before Isabella and Karalee. Leif held out his hands and laughed. The flood of power in him swelled and burned, begging to be unleashed.

  He took one look at Karalee. Her eyes welled up with fear. Despite the gag she still looked beautiful. “It will just be a moment, Karalee.” He winked at her as the soldiers before him attacked.

  He flowed into them. Power and pride surged through him at his ability, at his competence and skill. These men had no chance. He would have pitied them had they not blocked his way to Karalee. Now they didn’t matter. They were nothing more than obstacles in his path.

  They were capable swordsmen, as he expected, but they were no match for a wizard’s speed and strength. The first man lunged forward with his spear. Leif brushed it aside with his hand and spun forward. He slid his blade through the soldier’s chest. As he drew it out he swept the blade across the face of another.

  Blood sprang out from the soldier's wounds. Leif felt it on his hands and clothing but he ignored it.

  Leif exhaled as more spears and swords came at him. He lopped off the tip of a spear before cutting through the fingers of a hand gripping a sword hilt. The soldier grasped his hand and screamed in pain. Leif slid his blade through the opening in the man’s armor, into his ribs, and continued on.

  Leif was drunk with magic and exhilaration. The death he caused was horrifying yet he lusted for more. He lost himself in the violence. He spun and swung his blade, cutting through limbs and stabbing through bodies as soldiers collapsed around him. Finally he swept his blade around and froze.

  The bloody tip of his sword was a hairsbreadth from Karalee’s throat. She was pressed back into the chair she was bound to. Her chin was stretched upwards, straining to keep out of reach of his blade. Isabella stood pressed against the wall, her eyes wide and her hands covering her mouth.

  Leif slid his sword along Karalee’s cheek and severed the fabric around her head. It fell away. Her eyes looked past him and she immediately screamed, “Leif!”.

  Leif spun and raised his sword. Magnus’s blade crashed into his with all the force of the prince’s magic-fueled arms. Leif smiled, “In the back, Magnus?” He shoved Magnus’s blade back and slowly stepped away from Karalee. Making space so she wasn’t wounded by one of their errant strikes.

  “Cousin, so good of you to come for the wedding. Unfortunately, you’re not on the guest list.”

  Leif did laugh at that, “You are beaten, Magnus. Your throne is worthless.”

  “Am I? And where is Vigo? What will King Harald do without the hero of Danaria to protect him from me? I have his daughters. I will take his kingdom without an army. The throne of Danaria will be mine and your campaign to destroy the wealth of Maedelund will be for nothing. But you won’t mind because you'll be dead.”

  Leif chuckled but tightened his grip on his sword, “I did notice you couldn’t let Vigo believe Estrid was here. Afraid of what he would have done to you?”

  Leif felt the magic coming towards him. It caught him up and he was slammed against the back wall before he fell to the floor. His sword clattered next to him. He should have expected it. The back of his head had cracked against the stone. He felt his throbbing head for blood but his fingers came away clean.

  Isabella chimed in, “Kill him and be done with it, Magnus. We have this disgusting mess to clean up. Unfortunately Leif, your father will have to pay for this as much as you.”

  Magnus’s eye twitched and he sneered at Leif. “I’m afraid of no one. How could I be afraid when I stand on the verge of total victory and control of the continent? Your friend Vigo will die. You will die. We can’t have you popping up to spoil our glorious future can we?” He looked at Karalee then back to Leif, “Time to humiliate you again.”

  “We’ll see.”

  ***

  Hestan looked through the hole in the stone into the open cavern beyond. It was large and surprisingly well lit for being inside of a mountain. Torches burned and skylight holes allowed yellow sunbeams into the space.

  The great dark dragon wrenched and clawed at the massive collar around its neck. Its great wings jerked and extended in frustration. Deila, Isabella had called her. She tested and pulled the chain trying to inch closer to the very pregnant woman at the far side of the room.

  Estrid appeared surprisingly calm. Her breaths were controlled and her face, framed by her golden hair, was a mask of bravery. Thin trails of tears that had run down her cheeks betrayed her but her arms were wrapped protectively around her belly, her child. Vigo’s child. Hestan’s nephew or niece. He was proud of his older sister. He imagined the child of Estrid and Vigo would be bouncing in glee at the thought of battling a dragon.

  There would be no child if Hestan couldn’t save Estrid.

  The dragon, Deila, blasted fire upwards in a rage at her own captivity.

  Dark thoughts swirled around the outer edges of Hestan’s mind, trying to force their way to the forefront. They were shards of fear and doubt trying to break his will. Confronting dragons was wizard’s work. No human had survived a fight with a dragon that he knew. He was facing his death.

  None of that mattered. Vigo and Leif weren’t here. They’d been misled. They had fallen for the trap and split up.

  Hestan was the only hope for his sister and her child. He was their only champion, their only hope for salvation from the demon before them. They had to be saved and so he would save them or die. He laughed inwardly as he found himself hoping Vigo and Leif’s trials would be equally as daunting.

  He hefted one of the tall shields from a rack just inside the entrance. It was heavy and he discarded it without another thought. He checked that his sword was loose in its scabbard, then he knocked an arrow onto his bowstring. He smirked at the thought that this was just another hunt. He thought once again of the way Else’s red hair swayed when she played at the harp. He hoped he would hear her play again. Then the heir of Erling stepped down the stairs and into the cavern.