"Oh, no. Fuck that with the might of a wyrm," Edryd crossed his arms. "I think it's a great idea! Never really had the chance to see you in a two-versus-one," Bernar jeered. "You two are gonna gang up on me, now?" Edryd asked, panic showing clearly on his face.
"We'll be nice, don't worry," I grinned at my brother. Edryd sighed and shook his head. "I hate you both," he said, making Bernar and me chuckle. "Oh, come on! It'll be fun!" Bernar said. Edryd wasn't happy about the way he had said that at all.
"This is gonna hurt, isn't it?" Ed sighed, adjusting his grip on his sword. "Probably. Provided you don't fuck up," I said, getting a chuckle from Bernar as he readied himself.
"Begin!" Bernar called out, immediately starting a charge towards Edryd. Bernar struck from above, but Ed parried it by sliding the incoming sword off of his and away from his body. I attacked from the left side and forced him out of position, only for him to block another from Bernar, who was waiting for him.
I struck again from above, but Edryd blocked it, throwing his weight against me as I pirouetted out of the way. Bernar stuck again, this time aiming for his legs. He blocked most of it, but the tip struck the base of his calf, throwing him off balance.
Edryd regained his stance, recovering from the blow with a grunt of pain. "It didn't draw blood, so don't be a turd about it," Bernar sneered. Edryd grinned and lunged at him, but he deflected the blow. I attacked immediately afterwards from behind, but he twisted his sword behind his back with the force from the deflection to stop my incoming blow.
I feinted an attack, then twisted out of the way of Bernar's that I knew was coming in behind me, aimed directly at Edryd's hurt shoulder. Ed grunted with the blow, but kneed Bernar in the stomach, and spun around, attacking me with a twisting leap. "That's my move, fucker!" Bernar shouted playfully. "I'm borrowing it," Edryd replied through a wry smile.
Bernar grinned and moved in for what would be a blow to end the fight, but I got there first, repeatedly attacking Edryd in a quick succession of blows. He had a hard time keeping up with them, but managed to find a gap amidst the barrage and swirled to trip me.
I hit the ground hard and was immediately winded, feeling the sting of the fresh scar racing across my back while Bernar was coming in for his turn. Edryd blocked the blows and tried to counter attack, but Bernar saw it coming.
He had baited him into that move, after all.
He grabbed Edryd's sword arm and kicked his legs, throwing him to the floor. "Fuuuuck," he coughed, losing his breath from the impact with a wheezing grunt. "Eh, you're okay," Bernar reached down to help him to his feet.
"Not bad for someone who's just come out of the ward," he said as I got to my feet. "Could've been better. I still feel the injury is limiting my movement a little," I shrugged, rolling my shoulders forward then back with a grunt. "On that note, I'm surprised you moved as well as you did with your own wounds being so fresh, Thoma," Edryd replied, dusting himself off.
"Oh, I was in pain the whole time, but I couldn't allow you to show me up that easily," I replied with a pained chuckle. "In the future, keep an eye out for open spaces like that one I had to trip you," Bernar mentioned, helping me dust my backside off. "I will," Edryd replied with a nod.
"Well, guys, it's been fun, but I have to go," Bernar said. "Kick your ass some other day," Edryd said. "You wish! Cocky little shit," Bernar muttered as he tousled his hair. I smiled as I walked over to Edryd and put a hand on his good shoulder. "I'm sorry about that, by the way," I said, gesturing to the other.
"Eh, don't worry about it. It's still better than being mauled to death by those fucking bugs," he shrugged. Flashes of the scene rushed into my mind like a white-water river.
"I guess," I shrugged. "In any case, I'm sorry. I had never actually tested my spell before using it back then," I said solemnly. "Ah, so that's what that was," he replied as if a puzzle piece had finally fallen into place. "Yeah. I know we're never supposed to use untested spells in battle, but it was all I could do from where I was at the time," I replied.
"Well," Edryd began, putting his hand on my shoulder. "If it's of any consolation, I'm still alive, so thanks," he said warmly.
I smiled, truly relieved to hear that.
"Good to have you back, bud," I gave him a hug. "Don't go all soft on me," Edryd said with a chuckle, patting my fresh scar. I grunted as pain shot across my back, immediately pulling away from him. We stared at each other, then burst out laughing for a short while before walking back to the main fortress.
"You know you're going to have to teach me that, right?" he said as he punched my shoulder. "I don't know if I can do it well enough to teach, but I'll try," I replied. "How long did it take you to come up with something like that?" he asked. "Three months," I replied, scratching the back of my head.
"Three months? Holy shit," his eyes widened. "I haven't given it a name yet. As one who has lived to tell the tale, why don't you name it?" I suggested. "How about Whip of Doom, or Chaos Bind?" he asked almost before I could finish my sentence.
I just looked at him and laughed, genuinely surprised at the speed with which he answered.
"Whip of Doom sounds a little foreboding, don't you think?" I asked through a light chuckle. "Nope. Sounds about right to me," he grinned. "I've seen it first hand, and I have to say it's pretty dooming to anyone or anything that gets in its way," he shrugged. "Whip of Doom it is, then," I laughed.
We continued walking for a short time, when Edryd heard something. "Oh, it's just a raven," he waved dismissively. I looked for it, and saw it flying southeast. "Shit," I muttered, my eyes opening widely as the realization hit me.
Please, let me be wrong, I thought, seeing the pouch on the fowl's chest.
"What? It's just a raven, Thoma," he shook his head, not understanding the look on my face. "Not just any raven; a carrier raven. Follow me," I said, sprinting towards the fortress. "What the…?" he trailed off and rushed after me.
We went through the fortress doors and straight up to the Master's study, where Bernar, Garett, and the Master had just begun holding council. I burst through the door and saw all six eyes snap toward me, staring at me curiously.
"Master, forgive my intrusion, but was it you?" I asked between breaths. "Calm down and tell me what the matter is. Was what me?" the Master replied. There was no surprise written on his features, but his tone suggested he knew I was about to say something that didn't bode well for anyone.
"Another raven; headed southeast," I urged. The Master's eyes opened widely. "I thought we'd found him already," Garett muttered in disbelief. "Apparently not," Bernar replied.
The Master remained still, looking straight into my eyes. He broke my gaze and walked about the study. "Come in and shut the door. You too, Edryd," he gestured to us. Edryd looked at me, though all I could respond with was a terse nod as I shut the door behind us.
"What I say here, stays here, understood, boys?" he asked. We both nodded quickly, but remained silent. The Master cast a spell on the door, blocking all sound from potentially being leaked through the wood and spaces in the door frame.
"To make sure we're all on the same page, here: It seems we might have a traitor in our midst," he began. Edryd looked at me with questioning eyes. "I know the hearts and minds of everyone in this room, but I must ask you, Thoma: do you trust Edryd?" he asked seriously.
"He was the one who spotted it first, Master. It couldn't have been him," I nodded, getting one in response to show understanding of my words before he continued. "Edryd, you might not be aware of this, but the fact remains that someone has been sending out unreviewed messages to someone outside the fortress," he said, the air of severity hanging heavily in his tone.
"Who would do that?" Edryd replied, immediately understanding the gravity of the Master's words as his face paled. "It could always be someone sending a love letter," Garett shrugged.
"Not likely. The day of our return, Thoma saw two ravens flying that way, one just before we had crossed into our land, and the other before entering the fortress. Which most likely means that someone was trying to keep track of our location, and judging by the frequency, someone not too far away from here," the Master said.
Ed and I glanced at each other briefly.