Chapter 34 - The General (1/2)

Solskin

Saying we were summoned was putting it lightly. At the break of dawn, a small army marched into the inn, dressed in full armor. Through closed steel helmets, we were informed that we were summoned. Without a second to spare, we were escorted into an eerily secure wagon, complete with a barred window and a door that only opened from the outside. I felt like a prisoner on his execution day.

The trip wasn't much better. Outnumbered by the guards in the wagon two to one, the atmosphere quickly became suffocating. Not once did they tried to talk to us or let go of their hilts. I stared out of the window to the early morning city. The early morning sunlight blanketed everything in a white light. It felt surreal.

The wagon slowed to a stop. There was a brief conversation outside before I heard the rattle of chains. We had passed into the inner circle of the city: the palace. From the window, the tall white walls loomed over us, casting a formidable shadow over the gardens inside.

I stuck my head as close to the window as possible with childish glee. ”We are in the palace. Odin's beard.” I couldn't quite believe my eyes.

”I hope this will be quick,” Xavier mumbled to himself.

Persephone looked up from her hands and turned towards me. ”I wonder what this is about? I don't think we are that important for such treatment.” Her voice was flat, but it was clear that she was unhappy with the situation. Her frosty aura was practically freezing the entire cabin.

The wagon made a sharp turn, jarring its passengers back into silence. We turned away from the gardens. The green scenery was quickly replaced by stone buildings, soldiers hustling about their morning tasks. There was a constant thudding that cut through the busy camp. It was the sound of metal biting into leather. It wasn't hard to tell we had arrived at the barracks.

We finally stepped out into a barren courtyard. Surrounding the perimeter were more guards. Standing at attention, they were like statues. Lieutenant Savah was there, dressed in a ceremonial uniform. Dipping his head in greeting, he beckoned us to follow. We marched down hallways and corridors until he arrived in front an unassuming door and stopped. On it was embossed General Nightrider.

Xavier hesitated at the door. For a brief moment, I swore to Odin that there was a flash of nervousness and fear across his eyes. He hesitated to open the door. Before I could do anything, Lieutenant Savah barged in front of us and opened the door. The room inside was quite spacious, books lining the walls and a large table in the center. There were two people seated facing us.

I was jolted back into the present. Looking inside, I noticed the man sitting directly in front of us. He looked exactly like Xavier, except for the fact that he was missing the scars running down the side of his face. The resemblance was uncanny. Countless medals adorned his brėȧst and on his chair leaned a massive axe. When we entered, he stood up with his arms outstretched. ”Greetings.” The voice was overly friendly, his gaze focused on Xavier.

The man next to him looked like he wanted to sink into the depths of his chair and never be seen again. He looked human, if one overlooked the massive red wings and scales that covered every inch of his body. He tapped his fingers against a large tome in front of him.

The standing man continued. ”The reports of your death were as exaggerated as I thought.”

”Hello, Carolinus.” Xavier's words were crisp and icy cold.

”Now, is that the way to treat your brother?”

There was a brief pause. Xavier looked like he wanted to get away from it all, his eyes kept shifting around the room, searching for any possible escape routes. Much to his disappointment, he was quickly pushed into the room by the guards and barred from leaving.

”I doubted you were dead since the beginning. You have always been a stubborn bastard. And besides, Epoch is a terrible, terrible, liar.” Carolinus shot a teasing glance at Epoch.

The dragonborn was visibly uncomfortable, his face almost as red as his scales. He whispered guiltily, ”Sorry, Xavier. He wouldn't stop hounding me about it.”

There was a friendly atmosphere being built. Until Xavier killed it immediately with ice cold words. ”What do you want with me?”