| {Ok, these two bad boys are mine, Dark Mage, Also known as D Mage or DM. Depending. And Dryakus DarkenHeart, or Darkheart. Think I'll stick with Darkenheart though, it sounds way cooler. You can use them so long as credit is given where it's due. Cash is preferable, so are chocolates. But you can use them so long as you disclaim them to Mwha. And to the Lovely person who inspired me to start writing this again Kobura Doragon. I will keep posting more so long as you promise to review. And if you want to spread the word of my writings!} Dark was Currently refusing to heal himself as he walked around getting reports, trailing blood in his wake. Dryakus grinned as he followed suite, adoring the stares of disbelief the Warlord Dark was receiving. Even though Dark wouldn't admit to it, he was extremely happy about the demise of the ship. But, Dryakus could plainly see as if Dark was holding up a Sign, that something was wrong. Dark wouldn't tell Dryakus about what happened inside the ship, as he was still too shaken up over it. He didn't even want to think about it, as he was going to have nightmares, and his brain had finally shut off after he had summoned his demon dragon of hell fire. He couldn't seem to get his brain back on now, so he was now running on automatic. He gave orders for the clean up and removal of corpses, along with burials. Giving move out orders and supply orders. He told the commanders were to shove it when they came complaining about losses. He never made promises about how many were coming back alive. In fact he had proclaimed he would lose over half the army, which thankfully he didn't. But still to him, any lose was great, and the fact Sama's currier was complaining to him didn't help. Soon it was all over and he returned to his tent, Dryakus answering the door. Dark wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone with complaints, for he would smack them and tell them to figure it out them selves. He was contemplating those poor souls he had killed. The helpless creatures that had been aboard that ship, he could still fell the sadness, helplessness, anger, fear, and horror. It was all so vivid to him. Though he had fallen, he could still feel that horrid pain they suffered. And he could do nothing about it. "Dang D�" Dryakus never new what hit him till he was on the floor and Dark was standing above him with his arm in the after motion of a back handed blow. Dryakus stared up at his commanding officer with wide eyes, disbelieving the man had just hit him, but the truth was so obvious. "I'm sorry." Dark stared down at his commander, whose face showed the hurt and confusion of one who wasn't quite sure what they had done. Dark realized Dryakus had no clue why he just got backhanded. Dark lowered his hand as he responded, his voice making ice seem warmer. "No, I'm sorry. I had no right. Just don't call me D again please. I'm sorry. Here." Dark held out his hand to his first officer and Dryakus took it, looking slightly chagrined. Dryakus didn't make eye contact with Dark, for fear that the ice in his voice would be there. "It's ok. No need to be sorry. We've all had a long day and I should probably leave you to your self. You've had it rougher than the rest of us." "No Dryakus, I'm sorry. But I do need a favour from you." Dark Paused, awaiting Dryakus to confirm he would do so. Dryakus glanced up at him, slightly nervous now. Dark had never hit him before like that. Their sword fighting was one thing, but a move like that was something Dryakus hadn't been ready for. When Dryakus nodded he was ready for his assignment Dark continued with his request. "No doubt there will be a celebration tonight. I want you to take the debris from that hellish ship to my citadel. Take who ever you need to discover it's secretes. I want to know what we are dealing with." Dark said as Dryakus nodded his understanding. Dryakus straightened himself out as Dark continued. "It was kind of disturbing, being inside that ship. Those things were once living, but now. And some how I know there are many more out there. And they will come for us. And force us to live within their hell." Dryakus stared at his lord, as he knew something was grating on the mans mind. But nothing like this. Dryakus suddenly felt terrible for calling him by his honoured name. D was one of the Defenders of the city of light so many years ago, till he fell from grace, by permitting her ladyship to die a horrid death. Dryakus just nodded his head and with a "Yes Sir." He Left to do Dark's bidding. The celebration started as soon as they returned to the caverns of the Drow Elves kingdom. Dark was almost amazed. Black robes were having civil conversation and debates with the white robes about magic, without it turning into a mage battle. Clerics and the undead minions were actually in the same vicinity of each other, though the undead really didn't participate in the celebration, only being there incase of fights. And to top that off, all the races were crowding the streets without shouting out about prejudice. It was amazing to the warlord, who being brought up to believe, that his race, was by far, the best. He knew it wasn't true, no one race was better than the other. People were better than others, not a single race. The gods may have created the races, but not the whole race was blessed like one single individual was. At least for right now, they were all blessed with peace and harmony. For now at any rate. "My lord?" A female voice caught his attention and he spun around to see an Elf maiden with honey blond hair and green eyes. She was elegant, her features having an ethereal beauty that was enhanced by the blond hair that framed her face. She was a few inches shorter than he was, but willowy thin none the less with a grace of grass in the tall winds. "Would you care to dance?" Dark was in for a pause. Him, dance? He hadn't danced in years, and briefly wondered if he still could. He sighed and shook his head as he responded. "I don't dance. Perhaps you should find someone more capable of such things than I." "Oh." She looked rather downcast at this. Then she smiled at him, and gave him a courtly curtsy before taking her leave. She ran off in the direction of the celebrations in the street were drunken fools made such out of themselves. Dark sighed, realizing he forgot he had a drink of his own in his hand. Normally he would have finished it within seconds, but not today. He didn't think he could forget those poor creatures that invaded his mind back aboard that vessel. As it was, he was due for a speech in like an hour he realized, and still he had nothing to say. "Dark?" This time it was a male voice, one he recognized without even really trying. Dark looked over his shoulder at Dryakus, who was standing as far as he could from the Mage without appearing to be. His voice was silent so those around couldn't hear their words, but it was loud enough for the shadowed man to hear. "We investigated the ship. We are learning a lot, but it's all to confusing. It's like the technology went mad and began a parasite process." "Someone had to have created it. Maybe they have a way to stop it." Dark then muttered something unintelligible, but Dryakus dared not ask the man to repeat himself. Dark returned his attention to the festivities, motioning Dryakus to join him. The smaller man did so, apprehensively, causing Dark a pang of pain deep within his soul. "Look at that Dryakus. No one is above anyone else save those hanging from the balconies. They get along like even they never knew they could." "They never knew things we know. Nor would they ever My Lord." Dryakus responded with a bittersweet smile. He wasn't going to participate in the party, he was to accustomed to being an out cast. But to him it was nice to see the races forgetting they were different and joining together for something other than greed. "I have to make speech Dryakus. About the victory of this battle." Dark said to change the subject. He didn't want to make an accursed speech. Isn't that what politicians did. Made speeches. He had been upset with the Council, and the speech he had given them was an angry ranting. "It was a victory with a loss. What more do we need to know." Dark and Dryakus stood in their respective places on the stage. Or on the Scaffold as Dark had put it, as he was the one to give the speech. The leader of the council, Lee Ekhasith Was giving a speech about Dark and Dryakus's bravery, leader ship, and whatever else he could use to up their stats with the people. Dark rolled his eyes at this beneath his hat, realizing just how smart he was to cloak himself in the shadows of his black clothing. He noticed the expression on Dryakus's face. It was the expression of someone pretending to be paying apt attention, except probably pondering about how to get up and run out without being noticed. Dark grinned deviously, this was why none should ever mock his dress style. Dryakus glanced at Dark from the corner of his eyes for a brief second before returning his attention to the Lord Ekhasith. Dryakus could sense Dark's boredom, and he knew he mirrored it almost perfectly. This was taking forever and a century, Dryakus thought as he resisted the urge to roll his head back and stare at the ceiling. Finally Ekhasith finished his eternal speech and motioned for Dark to take the podium. Dark stood up and went to stand behind the ornate stand, looking at the crowd of people who awaited his words eagerly. He sighed silently, standing up to his full height, he took his time as he collected his words. "I'm not sure what to say." He started it out. His silent voice being carried by the power he was imbued with. He had no need to shout, for his words no matter how silent, would always be carried to those who chose to listen. "I've seen the very races fight amongst themselves. Today I saw them stand together, play together, hang from the chandeliers together, and not fight about mundane things. "We were brought together under one sun for the day when we would discover the truth. That there are things out there that don't care whether we are, human, dwarves, Elvin, ogre or whatever our race may be. They will be the doom to all. Except we have chosen not to be doomed. Together we stand. We are all brothers and sisters of life. We are born, we live, we die. Eventually." Dark let his words sink in a moment before he continued. "I must apologize to my forces for not staking the politicians out in the fields like I said I would. But though we had losses this day, We won a bitter victory. Let this remind us, we can not stand up for ourselves if we cannot stand up for each other. Just as we can not stand for our world if we cannot stand for ourselves." A few sniffles here and there, some men looking more stern than they had looked even in battle, nodding to his words. "We lost many good people this day. Many people will not see their loved ones ever again. But the children who live on in their steed, I hope they will be able to see their children. "One thing though I do want to address is. I heard that the army started to argue among themselves when I was fallen in Battle. No one can lead you unless you want to be led. I lead armies for the one cause we had to win this, else we would be cowering in these caverns for all our lives, and the future lives of our children. If you cannot stand together the moment a leader is fallen, then there is no way we can stand in the future as the Culture that defeated the monsters from the Darkest of the Beyonds. "We are no longer elfin, and human. We are not land dwellers or water dwellers any longer!" This caused a few people to raise an eye brow. Dark now had an idea where he was sending this speech, so he cut to the chase. "We are not one race. Not a perfect, better than thou race. We are a culture. We are a mix of cultures! We should understand one another, accept each other. Not ridicule one because of this and that! We are too many to be divided by anything if the truth is to be told. "I believe that if we can stand together for one day, we can stand together forever and a day." Dark finished as he turned and walked off with out another word. All was silent as his words sunk into those who understood them, angered those who felt threatened by them. Suddenly the multitude of peoples cheered for the General who had not only saved their lives, but made it clear, they all stood under the same sky. Home |