Red, fiery anger consumed him. His vision burned with it. His body shook with it. Feeling it boil through his veins, he allowed the shadows that were always present around him, to soar out in all directions at once. Instantly, every torlic touched, choked and gurgled for seconds before falling to the floor, dead. He didn’t care if they had been a part of the search for Galena or not. His anger was all that mattered now. That and something else. He felt it creeping up from somewhere at the back of his mind, but no, it couldn’t be. For he was Rau. That particular emotion did not bother him.
He looked around the enormous room; bodies littered the floor. Disgusted at their worthlessness, he swept his arm across the space, causing the bodies to fly over the floor, and through the door. With another sweep of his hand, the great stone doors slammed with an echoing boom. He felt his anger dissipating as his curiosity overtook him. How had she been able to evade his mercenaries? He knew she, along with the others traveling with her, had killed several of the parties that had managed to cross her path, but now, it was as if she had simply vanished. She was not using her powers or he would have been able to locate her. He could no longer feel her presence at all, which bothered him greatly. He didn’t like not knowing where his enemies were.
Well, if she wanted to play these games, he would play them too. He knew where she was headed, and he would be ready. A small army would be there to meet her. She may be clever with the sword, but he would make sure that she was greatly outnumbered.
We’ll see how she fares then, he thought.
Rau was on the verge of calling his general when a light began shimmering in the center of the room. This light seemed to beckon thousands of other light beads together, creating a human form within. It grew in intensity until Rau had to shield his eyes, which were so accustomed to the darkness of his castle, from it. The light dimmed and in its place, stood a tall man shrouded in a red tunic that reached the floor. A powerfully built man, he stood taller than even Rau. He had a sliver dagger that hung on his golden sash wrapped around his waist. His long hair matched his midnight black eyes, which flashed with anger.
“Haulua,” Rau hissed, falling to his knees in respect of his lord.
“Why haven’t you captured her yet?” Haulua demanded, his angry voice sounding like crashing waves and rolling thunderheads colliding together. It caused mountains to collapse and rivers to change its course. It echoed around the room and bounced off the walls. “Have I not warned you that she can destroy everything?”
Rau clutched his ears in pain. “You have,” Rau moaned.
“My brothers and sister watch me closely. They have ever since your creation. And somehow, they have tied my life with yours,” he boomed.
Rau fell face first to the floor, blood trickling from his ears. “How is this possible, my lord? You who are so great,” Rau gasped. His head felt as if it were splitting in two.
“I am not sure. I only just discovered it when I overheard them talking in the great hall,” Haulua said more to himself. Haulua began to pace up and down the length of the great room, agitation apparent in his every step.
“I know the direction they’re headed, my lord,” Rau groaned as he pushed himself up to his knees. “I’m sending an army to deal with them there. There will be no escaping this time.” He gasped as the pain in his ears and head threatened to overwhelm him again.
“Are you sure of this?” Haulua asked, hope in his voice now.
“I am.”
“If we are to win this, I would send more than just a small army. You have underestimated this silly female one too many times.” Haulua began growing bright again. Pieces of the light began to drift off and away as Rau slumped to the floor once more. “Do not fail me again,” Haulua warned before he broke apart into thousands of tiny lights, flying in every direction until it was dark again.