Seth was laying in his bed back home. His eyes cracked open. Where am I? He sat up, looking at his window. Something was different. His eyes couldn’t focus. As if Seth’s energy was sapped from his body, he laid back down.
His door opened and a figure wearing a red hooded robe entered his room. The hood covered the person’s face.
Seth tried to get up, but couldn’t. “Who are you?”
She pulled her hood back as she knelt next to the bed. It was Sally. “Easy.”
Seth shook his head. “Not possible.”
Sally put her finger in front of her lips. “Shhh, never mind that. Someday, you’ll learn how special you really are. Brock has no idea about your potential.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I love you.” Sally beamed at him. “I am so proud of what you will do.”
“But—”
She grabbed him by the shoulders. “You must wake up.” Sally shook him. “Wake up, Seth. Wake up!”
Seth jumped up, only to yanked back down by the rope that tied him to the oak tree. His clothes were damp with the early morning dew. He blinked. The small camp was on a river. Had to be the Bahr River, right? There were no other big rivers this side of the Wailing Mountains. They were deep in the woods, not near any road or regularly used path.
Jena and Ellis were tied to the same tree and both were still asleep. Seth smiled; at least they were all right.
Smoke from the campfire stung his nostrils as the wind blew the smoke into his face. Around the fire sat four green creatures. They were short, and all were bald. One was noticeably larger than the others. Was he in charge?
“Taz, do we have any tea left?” the larger said.
The smallest out of the four looked up. “Yes, Dez, we do.”
Dez grinned. “Well?” The others began to laugh as Taz got up to do Dez’s bidding. “He’ll have courage, someday.”
“I have courage,” Taz snapped.
Dez’s face grew dark. “Fix my tea already.”
Taz’s hand began to shake. “O—okay.”
The others burst out laughing, again. The goblin wearing the gray tunic looked up at Dez. “When do we get paid?” He pointed at Seth. “The longer we have to hold onto them, the riskier this venture becomes.”
Seth blinked. What was he talking about?
Dez grinned. “Take it easy, Mor. Soon, we’ll be a thousand crowns richer.”
“I know,” Mor said, “and I don’t want to lose it. You saw the dwarves.”
Dez looked over at Seth. “I did, and I saw what the boy did, too. That’s how I know he’s the right one. There’s been a bounty on his head for over ten years and I got him.”
Mor cleared his throat. “We got him.”
“Yes, of course,” Dez said. “Sorry.”
Taz handed Dez a crude porcelain cup. “Here’s your tea.”
“Good, now sit down,” Dez said.
“What’s next?” Mor asked. “When do we get our money?”
Dez sipped his tea. “We’ll contact Shania and let her know that we have her prophesied boy king.”
Mor shook his head. “She won’t believe you. How do we prove it?”
“Just tell her what he did to the dwarves,” Dez said. “Pretty simple, I think.”
“I guess,” Mor replied. “What do you think?”
Seth nudged Jena and Ellis. “Wake up, we’re in trouble.”
Jena’s eyes popped open, frantically looking around. “Where—what happened?”
“There’s a bounty on us,” Seth said.
Ellis yawned. “Really? Finally, someone realized how important I really am.”
Seth frowned. “It’s not a good thing.”
Jena looked over at the four goblins. “What are they going to do with us?”
Seth swallowed. “Seems like they are going to turn us over for a thousand crowns.”
Ellis’ eyes flew open. “A thousand crowns? I’d turn you in for that.”
Jena glared at Ellis.
“Sorry,” Ellis said as he looked away.
“What do we do?” Jena asked.
“Can you use your—stuff—to get us out of this?” Ellis asked Seth.
Seth shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t know how I did it before.” Seth felt a clawed hand slap him on the back of his head. He stared into Dez’s deep red eyes.
“No magic, boy, or they die,” Dez said. He pointed at Ellis. “Starting with him.”
Ellis’ face went white. “Me? Not me. Why not her?”
Seth glared at Dez. If he backed away in fear, all hope would be lost. If he came off too brazen, they wouldn’t get their chance to escape. Seth took a deep breath. “Why are we here?”
Mor looked up. “Don’t tell them anything.”
Ellis smiled at Mor. “You don’t sound as stupid as you look. How’d you manage that?”
Mor jumped up with his dagger in hand. “I’ll slit your throat. We don’t need you.”
“Well, if you don’t need us, just let us down and we’ll be on our way. We don’t want to inconvenience you any more,” Ellis said as he winked at Seth.
Dez started to laugh as Mor’s face reddened.
Mor punched Ellis in the stomach. “Can I eat this one?” He smiled. “Alive.”
“Later, after I have my crowns,” Dez said.
Mor smacked Dez in the shoulder. “Our crowns.”
“Of course.” Dez grinned at Jena. “Then you can eat them both.”
Seth glared at Dez. “Are you afraid to tell me? I’m going to be turned over and they’re going to be lunch. What do you have to lose?”
Dez looked over at Mor, who shrugged his shoulders. “They’re dinner. My mother always said to have a light lunch.”
“Well?” Seth asked.
“Why not?” Dez sat down next to the fire. “The Darkstriders put a ransom on your head since the fall of Staerdale Castle. It started at 50 crowns. They publicly said it was for the handmaiden and the blacksmith, but privately they told our tribe the real target, you.”
“Why me?” Seth asked.
Dez shrugged. “I dunno. But, they said they are looking for a prophesied boy king who wields magic and will unite the world against them.”
The other goblins laughed.
“Dark Elves get a little dramatic,” Dez said. “But, we saw what you did to our competition.”
“Competition?” Jena asked.
“Yeah, a few months ago they told everyone that your friend here was somewhere east of the Wailing Mountains.” Dez grinned. “They were right.”
“So—the dwarves were after us too? For the—reward?” Seth asked.
Dez nodded. “By you killing them, you saved us the trouble.”
“Can we get something to eat?” Ellis asked.
“No.” Dez started to giggle as the others burst out laughing.
Seth tugged on his ropes. They had to escape, soon.
Seth stared at the goblins over the next few hours. It didn’t take long for them to get bored with the trio. They returned to verbally torturing Taz. The more ale the goblins drank, the louder they got. One by one, they fell asleep. Taz was put on the first watch, maybe the only watch. Who knew?
Jena shivered. “I’m getting cold.”
Ellis moved his head around the tree so he could see Taz. “Hey, toad face, can we eat something?”
Taz grumbled next to the fire as he poked it with a stick.
Ellis’ face went red. “I’m talking to you.”
Seth kicked him in the shin. “Shut your mouth.”
“I’m hungry.”
“We’ll be dead if you wake up the others,” Seth said. “We need to be smart.”
“He didn’t mean it, Taz,” Jena said. “He’s always mean to everyone.” She glared at Ellis. “Even those who care about him.”
Taz shook his head. “I’ve got nothing to give you. Even if I did, I wouldn’t give it to you. Dez would throw me out of the raiding party.”
Was this an opportunity? Seth thought. “Why do you want to be with them anyway, Taz? They treat you like crap. You must have a family.”
Taz snorted. “I do, and he’s right over there.” He pointed at Mor. “He cares more about impressing Dez and doesn’t care about me at all. I’m not a rogue, as they are.”
“Can’t you go home? To your parents?” Jena asked.
“No, they sent me on this trip to become brave like Mor,” Taz said. “I…”
Seth closed his eyes. How did I do that magic before? I need it now! He desperately tried to remember every detail about their encounter with the Dwarves. What did he do? A word? A thought? A feeling? Was it so simple? What was he feeling? He looked over at Jena. Her, it was her. Jena was in danger and he—no, he wouldn’t lose her like he lost his mother. A tingling began in his chest.
“…I wish we didn’t have to take him back,” Taz said, “but, the Darkstriders will kill our kin if we don’t.”
Ellis gulped. “What about Jena and me?”
Taz shrugged. “Rations are running low.” He pointed at Jena. “Dez says she has other uses, so we’ll eat her last.”
Electric tickles ran up and down Seth’s skin. His eyes began to glow in the darkness.
Jena pulled away from Seth.
Ellis did the same. “So—where is home, exactly?”
Taz blinked. “What’s wrong with his eyes?”
The rope touching Seth’s skin began to smolder. He blinked as the smoke entered his eyes.
Ellis shook his head. “Not sure. Head cold? Don’t you get allergies?” He shot a worried glance at Jena, who reciprocated the gesture. “If you give him some water from the river, he’ll be all right. I promise.”
“No,” Taz said as he stood up. “I have to tell the others.”
Small arcs of electricity jumped from Seth’s skin, burning not only the rope but the tree they were tied to.
Ellis shook his head. “No, we just need water. Now, go and get some.”
Taz’s green face went white as the rope fell away from Seth’s wrists. He kicked Mor. “They got out.”
Mor shot up. “What?”
Taz ran into the woods.
“What’s going on?” Dez said.
The fourth goblin just snored louder.
Ellis and Jena tossed the rope aside, looking at Seth. “Weapons?”
As if he didn’t hear him, Seth moved towards the camp with his hands glowing like the lightning from the sky.
Mor grabbed a dagger and charged at Seth.
Seth sidestepped and grabbed Mor’s shoulders.
Mor began to convulse, dropping the dagger as his eyes popped out of his head.
Seth dropped him to the ground and stared right at Dez. “You’re next.”
“No!” Dez said as he stared at Mor. “No, that’s not possible. Even the—even the pyromancers can’t do that.” He backed away, tripping over the fourth goblin. “Get up, Lil.”
As soon as Lil saw Seth glowing in the darkness, he bolted into the woods.
Dez grabbed his short sword.
Seth saw their weapons near the fire. He tossed Ellis his daggers as he picked up his sword. As soon as he touched the weapon, it began to glow.
Dez dropped his sword. “I’m sorry. I—I’m sorry.”
Seth raised his weapon.
Dez fell to his knees. “Please, spare me.”
Rage. Hate. Love. Friend. Foe. Enemy. Seth blinked. He kicked Dez over.
Tears ran down Dez’s eyes. “I’m sorry. I won’t tell Shania anything. I promise.”
Sparks jumped from Seth’s eyes. “Who is Shania? I must know.”
Dez backed away. “Shania is a Dark Elf, a Darkstrider assassin. She blames you for the death of her brother and father.” He gulped. “Please, let me go.”
Seth shook his head. “You were going to eat my friend and the woman I love.” Would a true knight kill an unarmed foe, begging for his life? What would his real father, Galin the IV of Ravenward, do? But, it would be so easy to kill him. No one would know, except for Jena and Ellis. Why would they care? He’d saved them, right? As if the power within his body was trying to take the reins, Seth’s thoughts were all about the good reasons to kill Dez.
“Seth, don’t do it. Let him go,” Jena said.
Jena? Why would she object? He loved her. He was doing this for her. Seth blinked. What if she was right? Yes, she was. Seth’s glowing eyes glared at Dez. “Run.”
Dez jumped to his feet, but he hesitated.
“Run, before I can’t stop it from killing you,” Seth said. The power, the rage, he had to expend it. Focus his anger and hatred on—something else.
Dez bolted into the woods.
“Can I help you?” Jena asked.
“Get away!” It was as if the power he now possessed wanted to control him. He had to expend it or dispel it, but how?
Ellis dragged Jena away. “You’re starting to scare me.”
Seth glared at Ellis. Was he jealous of the power Seth now possessed? Was he after Jena? That bastard, he always wanted to marry Jena, didn’t he? No, where did that come from? He does. No, he doesn’t. He does. No. Yes. No. Seth dropped to his knees. “I can’t control it. Back away.”
“No,” Jena said as she lunged towards Seth.
Ellis grabbed Jena and dragged her into the woods.
Seth had to expend it. But, how? He summoned all his rage and hatred, focusing on the campfire. His skin glowed brighter.
“I hope he never gets this pissed at me,” Ellis said.
Jena gulped.
Seth raised his sword above the fire. He hated that fire. Those embers were the cause of all his troubles, right? Yes, those embers killed his parents and wanted to kill his future wife. Seth closed his eyes. “You bastard!” He slammed the sword into the center of the fire. The fire and all the ground within five feet vanished. Seth fell into the hole. The voices and the tingling left him. His skin no longer glowed.
Jena ran up to him. “Are you all right?”
Was he? The voice was gone and those evil feelings were gone, for now. “I couldn’t control it. I—It wanted me to kill all of you.” Tears flowed down Seth’s cheeks. “I’m so sorry.”
Jena hugged him as if her life depended on it.
Ellis stared at Seth. “We need to go. They’ll get some courage and try again.”
“Where to?” Jena asked.
“Home,” Ellis said. “I’m not sure I can continue on like this.”
“But, Ellis,” Seth began.
Ellis frowned. “No, after what just happened there’s no way. I—I need to think.”
“What about Dane?’ Seth asked.
“He can wait,” Jena said. “We need to figure this—thing—out.”
Seth sighed. “Fine, let’s go home.” He picked up some rations from Dez’s pack. What would’ve happened if I couldn’t focus the energy into the campfire? Seth led the trio out of the camp towards Crey Village.