Page 60 of Beyond the Treaty
I swallowed hard, the reality settling over me like a shroud. We had escaped, but Ebonshade still held Kaelen and Withers in its grasp. And if we were going to save them, we would have to be ready for whatever darkness awaited us next.
CHAPTER 32
The silence that followed our escape from Ebonshade was heavy, charged with unspoken thoughts. The firelight flickered against the stone walls of Azrael’s keep, casting elongated shadows over the room as we gathered our breath.
“We need to go back.” My voice was firm despite the exhaustion in my bones. “We can’t leave them there. Not like that.”
Azrael pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply. “Elara, if we rush in without a plan, we’re dead. That was
barely a battle, we were prey to them.”
Darius leaned against the bookshelf, rubbing his temple.
“For once, I hate to agree with him, but he’s right. That was not a fight; that was us surviving. We need more than just a good intention.”
I clenched my fists. “Then we find a way to fight back.”
Azrael’s gaze flicked between us before he slowly nodded. “We need allies. And creatures that can match the power Withers and Kaelen now wield.”
I frowned. “You mean summoning an army?”
“Not just any army.” Azrael stepped forward, his eyes dark with determination. “We need the forgotten clans. The ones whoturned their backs on the world with the Great War ended centuries ago. The Lycans of the Ashen Wilds, the Nightborne Fae of the Silver Glades, and the Revenant Knights from the Ruined Sanctum. They swore never to interfere again, but if we can convince them...”
Darius whistled low. “That’s a long shot. The Lycans don’t trust anyone, the Nightborne Fae play their own twisted games, and the Revenant Knights? They follow nothing but the call of vengeance.”
I crossed my arms. “We don’t have a choice. We bring them into this fight or lose before it even begins.”
Now, the Lycans of the Ashen Wilds are fierce, battle- hardened warriors, standing around 6 feet 5 inches tall with muscular builds. Their armour, made from dark steel and wolf pelts, is protective and intimidating, adorned with a snarling wolf symbol. Armed with massive weapons like a great-axe shaped like wolf jaws, they are swift and deadly in combat. Their wolf-grey hair and golden eyes reflect their primal nature. Loyal and unyielding, they protect their territory and pack with fierce determination, howling as a symbol of their power.
The Nightborne Fae of the Silver Glades are ethereal beings, standing around 5 feet 8 inches tall with slender, graceful builds. Their skin is pale and shimmering, and their glowing violet or midnight-blue eyes hold an enchanting, dangerous allure. With long, flowing silver or black hair and pointed ears, they exude an air of mystery.
Their armour is crafted from enchanted silver and dark leather, adorned with moon, star, and rune symbols, allowing agility and blending with the shadows. These Fae wield dark magic, drawing power from the Silver Glades to manipulate shadows, create dark energy weapons, and ensnare minds with illusions. They are masters of the night, elusive and deadly. The Revenant Knights from the Ruined Sanctum stand 7 feet tall, with skeletal, gaunt forms shrouded in ancient,
decaying armour. Their hollow skulls hide any humanfeatures, and their armour is dark steel, engraved with faded runes and adorned with spikes. They wield cursed weapons, large, cruel swords or spiked maces etched with glowing sigils. Their shields are imbued with spirits, weakening enemies. These spectral warriors are bound to the sanctum, embodying vengeance and loss, guarding the ruins with relentless, silent duty. These are powerful creatures; we need them. I turn to look at Azrael; he looks... uncomfortable.
Azrael hesitated. “There is one more thing.”
Darius raised an eyebrow. “Oh, this should be good.” Azrael took a deep breath, his gaze flickering toward the
stone beneath us. “I have...a weapon. One that has remained dormant for centuries, hidden beneath this keep, in the volcano’s heart.”
I stiffened. “A weapon?”
Azrael hesitated, then exhaled. “A dragon.”
Silence crashed down upon the room. Darius choked on
nothing, his eyes wide. “I’m sorry, you have a what?”
Azrael’s expression remained serious. “A dragon. A primor-
dial one, from before the time of men. The first warlocks bound it in a deep slumber beneath this keep. It is untamed, unpredictable, and immensely powerful. If we wake it... It could turn the tide of this war.”
I stared at him. “And you never thought to mention this before?”
Azrael’s jaw tightened. “Because if I wake it and we can’t control it, we are as good as dead. It does not serve. It does not obey. It is chaos itself. It was tamed centuries ago, waiting to be used for the Great War, but why they didn’t use it is a mystery.”
Darius ran a hand down his face. “So, let me get this straight. We have to convince three groups of people who hate us to join our war, and our backup plan is releasing a god-damn dragon that might kill us instead of our enemies?”
