"My condolences on your father's death, my king."
The baritone was so familiar to Hayden that he didn't need to turn around to face the intruder. He remained low on his haunches, staring intently at a large footprint in the snow like he expected it to reveal its secrets to him. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and grim.
"My father succumbed to his injuries two days ago, Commander Flynn. The entire kingdom has already paid its respects, including you."
"I know," the Commander replied. "Yet I feel bound to say it personally to you. Your absence from the palace made me seek you out here."
Clenching his jaw, Hayden exhaled as he stood straight and faced the Commander. "Well, you've found me. Now you can leave."
A gentle breeze caused Commander Flynn's dark cloak to billow about, exposing the metallic armor he wore underneath. His chiseled, stern face showed little emotion as he returned Hayden's stare with equal intensity. "With respect, my king," he said monotonously, "I will not. You're not meant to be here, especially this deep in the Venari. It's not safe for anyone with that thing still prowling around."
"That thing still prowls around because I failed to kill it," Hayden said bitterly. "It's my responsibility to find it and put its head on a spike before it strikes again."
"We all failed to kill it, my king. But that doesn't mean we should embark on individual suicide missions in its territory. We're simply making ourselves easy targets for the enemy."
Hayden scoffed and waved the Commander's words away. "If you're afraid of being ambushed by an eight-foot howling monster, then you should go home."
"Then you're coming with me."
Hayden's eyes blazed with fury. "Don't you dare throw orders at me, Flynn Emberton. I'm still your king."
"And I'm still your friend."
Hayden started to retort, but something in the Commander's hazel eyes prompted him to stop. Flynn's brown, wavy hair flickered lightly under the influence of the wind as his unwavering gaze bore into Hayden's.
"We've known each other since we were little children," he began calmly. "My father, Briar Emberton, served as the Commander of the Imperial Guards then, under King Baustas's rule. We had lessons together, we played together, and we practically grew up together. I've always considered you and Cassian as my brothers. Especially because of the support you both showed me after my father's death. Do you remember how you helped me prepare for the Grand Tournament of Champions?"
Hayden looked down and chuckled in spite of himself. "Of course. How could I forget? There were so many credible candidates vying for the position of Commander that my father decided to host a contest, where the contenders would battle themselves and the victor would be chosen as the new 'Sword of the King'. I remember how astonished I was when you told me of your intentions to participate, not because you weren't already a master of several weapons, but because you wished to compete against men twice your age and experience."
Flynn wore a rare smile as the memories started to ignite anew. "We would sneak out to the fringes of the forest before the crack of dawn, and train until high noon, when we were bruised and exhausted. Cassian kept covering for our absence during our lessons, which is probably why he's smarter than both of us combined."
"There has to be some truth in that," Hayden agreed with a wide grin. "We did our part, and you did yours. The people of Wysteria were writhing in shock each time you defeated an opponent. In the end, your victory was difficult, but definite. Not only did you become Wysteria's youngest Imperial Guard, but also its youngest Commander."
"None of that would've happened if it wasn't for you, Hayden," Flynn said as he brushed his fingers against the cold metal of the medallion hanging from his neck. "You helped me keep my father's honor, whilst forging a new legacy for myself. Your support when I needed it was immense, and I'll eternally be grateful for that. That's why I'm here, Hayden. Not just because I understand the pain you feel, but also because I want to be here when you need me."
Flynn took a few steps forward and held his hand forward. "If you want to find this creature, then we'll do it together. It might be invincible, but it doesn't stand a chance against us. Side by side, we'll send that beast back to the hole it crawled out from."
Hayden stared at the young man before him for a moment, not seeing the stoic Commander he'd gotten used to, but the energetic childhood friend he'd grown up with. With his chest swelling with gratitude, he clasped Flynn's hand in a firm handshake, locking eyes with him as they silently sealed their promise.
"Thank you, Commander," Hayden uttered quietly, his eyes nearly tearing up.
"Might as well just call me Flynn when we don't have an audience," he responded with a surprisingly bright smile. "But only if that pleases you, my king."
The subtle mockery in his voice made Hayden laugh, and for a moment, the weight of the world on his shoulders was somewhat alleviated.
"So I'm assuming that's what made you come all this way," Flynn gestured to the ground behind Hayden. He sighed, turning back to his problems. Namely, the footprint in the snow.
"The werewolf fled into the forest that morning after I couldn't kill it," he explained. "On the same day, after my father was pronounced dead, I went back to the woods to find it. Its footprints were still visible, even after several hours of snowfall. And they led me here."
Hayden pointed towards an old hut that stood a few feet away from their position. It was a small, circular structure that was erected on several wooden stilts that raised it from the ground. The framework of its exterior consisted of small logs of wood bound tightly with tough vines, all of which had proven surprisingly resilient against the harsh elements. The trees surrounding the hut resembled intimidatingly tall sentinels guarding valuable treasure, prompting Hayden to wonder how long it had stood there. More importantly, who lived within.
"I've never seen this shed before," Flynn stated with amazement.
"I doubt anyone has," Hayden replied. "No one has been this far into the forest. Not in the last few decades, at least."
Flynn moved forward, with snow crunching underneath his booted feet. "This is remarkable. Does anyone live here? This far away from civilization?"
"I haven't had the opportunity to answer that question for myself," Hayden said as he nodded at the ground. "I only followed those footprints here. But judging from how preserved the wood looks, and how the roof is clear of snow despite the recent blizzards, it's safe to assume someone's taking care of their cozy little home."
Flynn's armor clinked as he shifted his gaze from Hayden to the mysterious hut. "Do you think this is related to the attacks? To the beast?"
A white trail of cold air escaped through Hayden's mouth as he released a deep breath. The rays of the sun were starting to break through the ashen clouds, giving the falling snow a shimmering glow. It felt surreal to Hayden that a place of beauty and mystery like the Venari could harbor a horrid creature of death and destruction.
"I can't say for sure," he finally admitted. "The tracks just ended strangely. But if someone does stay out here, then they might've seen something worth telling. For all we know, they might even be in danger."
"Indeed," Flynn agreed. "Yet here we are. Trying to find something that can't be killed."
"Oh, it can be killed. You just don't possess the right weapons."
Both men looked at each other with a frown for a brief moment, then their heads whipped around in search of the sudden mysterious voice.
"Who was that?" Flynn demanded, his hand already floating towards the hilt of his sword.
"Sounded like a woman," Hayden muttered as his sharp eyes swept over his surroundings until they rested on a particular tree. "There. Up ahead."
Hayden and Flynn looked on with surprise and caution as a slender figure dropped from a tree to their left, landing softly on the ground. The newcomer rose slowly, pulling back a blood-red hood to reveal a feminine face. Her hair, which was the colour of burning embers, matched her fiery red eyes and her long red cloak. It was a colour code that rang warning bells in Hayden's head, not to mention the fact that the snow around her feet had begun to melt in a noticeably wide circle.
Commander Flynn's sword gave off a resonating ring as he drew it out swiftly. He gripped his weapon firmly as he growled, "Take another step, and you'll find your head far away from your body."
The woman gave him a brief, blank stare. Then she ignored him as she turned to Hayden.
"It's rare to see people this far into the Shadow Glade," she noted in a silky voice. "You're quite far from the safety of your palace, your Highness."
"Shadow Glade?" Hayden asked with a narrowed brow. He put a hand on Flynn's shoulder, signaling him to stand down as he took a step forward. "What does that mean?"
The stranger wore a disarming smile. "You Wysterians get everything you need from the fringes of the forest. Beyond that, however, lies a realm overrun by monsters and creatures of the night."
She stretched her arms wide open. "Hence, the Shadow Glade."
"So does that mean you're not the one inhabiting that shed?" Flynn inquired.
"Only a fool would make this cursed place their home," the woman answered quite harshly. "A brave fool, perhaps. But a fool nonetheless."
Hayden frowned at the stranger, sweeping his cloak aside to reveal his own sword. "Then who are you?" He asked with a more definitive tone.
"My work has earned me several names," she replied with a shrug. "Most of which are rather foolish. But you can call me Pyra. And I'm here as a solution to your werewolf predicament."
She looked Hayden dead in the eyes as she made a shocking revelation: "I'm here because your father sent for me."