Page 9 of Feral Gods

Near a frozen stream, I discover fresh tracks—not dark elf, but something else. Larger, heavier impressions that sink deep into the snow, accompanied by a strange, dragging mark. The scent is unfamiliar, musky and laced with magic.

Waira.

The man-eaters of Causadurn Ridge, long thought to be mere legend even in our time. Apparently, they are quite real, and judging by the tracks, this one is massive. A potential threat, though perhaps not an immediate one. The tracks lead away from the temple, deeper into the mountains.

More concerning is what I find an hour later, on the ridge overlooking the main approach to our sanctuary. A small clearing has been disturbed, the snow trampled by multiple sets of footprints. A temporary camp, recently abandoned, with the remains of a small fire and scraps of rations.

This was no ordinary scouting party. The precision of the campsite, the careful concealment of evidence, the strategic positioning overlooking our sanctuary—all point to elite training. And the subtle traces of magic lingering in the air suggest purna involvement.

They're already here. Watching. Waiting. The dark elf scout's information was either deliberately misleading or, more likely, outdated. The advance force has already arrived, which means the main attack could come at any time.

I launch myself skyward with powerful thrusts of my wings, racing back toward the temple. The wind carries a new scent now—ozone and copper, the unmistakable signature of battle magic being prepared. They're moving sooner than expected, perhaps alerted by the failure of their scouts to return.

Landing with a thunderous crash in the temple courtyard, I find Ravik already organizing our defenses.

The temple entrance has been reinforced with massive stone slabs and glowing neptherium wards.

Zephyr stands atop the highest tower, hands weaving complex patterns that send ripples of protective magic cascading down the sanctuary's walls.

"We have company," I announce without preamble, striding toward Ravik. "Elite guard, already positioned on the ridge. Purna witches with them."

Ravik's amber eyes narrow, his massive form tensing. "How many?"

"Couldn't get an exact count. The scout I interrogated claimed fifty warriors plus purna support, but that's the main force. The advance team I discovered numbers perhaps a dozen, with at least one witch."

"You engaged scouts?" Ravik growls, his wings mantling aggressively. "Without reporting first?"

"I eliminated a threat," I counter, refusing to back down. "And gathered intelligence we desperately needed."

"Intelligence you should have brought back immediately, not after playing hunter in the forest!"

Our confrontation draws Zephyr from his position, the scholarly gargoyle landing gracefully between us. "Perhaps this discussion would be more productive inside," he suggests, gesturing toward the temple doors. "Away from watching eyes."

A valid point. I rein in my temper with effort, following them into the main hall.

The human stands near the hearth, watching our entrance with wary eyes.

She looks better than she did yesterday—some color has returned to her cheeks, and she stands with more confidence, though she still clutches Ravik's cloak around her shoulders.

"What's happening?" she asks, her gaze moving between us.

"Your former masters are coming for you," I inform her bluntly, ignoring Zephyr's disapproving glance. "With considerably more force than one might expect for a simple runaway slave."

Her face pales, but she doesn't cower or weep as I might have expected. Instead, her spine straightens, her chin lifting in defiance. "King Kres doesn't tolerate defiance, especially from humans. I'm not surprised he'd send forces to retrieve me."

"This goes beyond standard retrieval," Ravik says, studying her with intense amber eyes. "Elite guards and purna witches represent a significant commitment of resources. Why would the king deploy such force for one human slave?"

Kaia shakes her head, genuine confusion in her expression. "I don't know. I was just a house slave, nothing special. Personal maid to Lord Vathren's daughter. I had access to the family quarters, but nothing of true importance."

"Access," Zephyr repeats thoughtfully. "To private quarters. Where sensitive discussions might be overheard?"

A flash of understanding crosses her face. "There were...conversations. Between Lord Vathren and King Kres. Behind closed doors, but the walls in that house carry sound in strange ways."

"What did you hear?" Ravik demands.

She hesitates, clearly sorting through memories. "Something about 'the awakening.' A weapon or power of some kind that the king sought. Lord Vathren seemed skeptical, but the king was insistent. He mentioned consulting with his personal witch, Morwen."

The name sends a chill down my spine. "Morwen still lives?" The purna witch had been ancient even in our time, renowned for her cruelty and ambition. She, herself, betrayed her own kin for power.

"She serves as the king's chief magical advisor," Kaia confirms. "Feared throughout Liiandor. They say she extends her life by consuming the essence of those she sacrifices in the king's rituals."

"Charming," Zephyr murmurs, though I detect genuine concern beneath his dry tone. "If Morwen is involved, the situation is more dire than we anticipated. She was instrumental in crafting our curse."

I turn to Ravik, frustration building. "We should attack now, before their main force arrives. Strike while they're still establishing position."

"And leave the temple undefended?" Ravik counters. "Exactly what they would expect. No, we fortify here, make them come to us. The sanctuary's magic gives us advantage on defensive ground."

"A siege favors the larger force," I argue. "They can rotate troops, maintain constant pressure while we exhaust ourselves. We should take the fight to them, scatter their advance team before reinforcements arrive."

Ravik steps closer, using his slightly greater height to loom over me. "I am still commander here, Thane. We defend the sanctuary."

"Your caution will be our undoing," I snarl, refusing to be intimidated. "We didn't escape stone sleep just to cower behind walls!"

"Enough!" Zephyr interrupts, physically inserting himself between us. "This discord serves only our enemies. Ravik speaks wisdom regarding the sanctuary's defenses, but Thane's concern about being besieged has merit."

"Perhaps a compromise," Kaia suggests quietly, drawing all three of our gazes.

She flinches slightly under the intensity of our attention but continues.

"The temple has hidden passages, yes? Ways to move without being observed?

One of you could disrupt their position while the others maintain the temple's defenses. "

I stare at her, surprised by the tactical acumen in her suggestion. The human continues to defy my expectations.

"The eastern tunnel," Zephyr confirms, nodding thoughtfully. "It emerges in a ravine beyond their observation points. A small force could exit there, circle behind their position."

Ravik considers this, his expression unreadable.

"A diversionary attack," he muses. "Draw attention away from the temple while we complete the magical defenses.

" His amber gaze shifts to me. "You want blood, Thane?

Very well. Take the eastern tunnel at dusk.

Create chaos in their ranks, but do not engage their full force. Distract, delay, then return."

The compromise satisfies my immediate bloodlust while acknowledging the strategic necessity of protecting our sanctuary. I incline my head in reluctant agreement.

"And the human?" I ask, gesturing toward Kaia. "If they want her badly enough to commit such forces, perhaps we should consider whether protecting her serves our interests."

The temperature in the room seems to drop at my words. Ravik's eyes flare with golden fire, his wings extending in a clear display of dominance. "She broke our curse," he rumbles, each word like thunder. "She is under our protection. That is not open for negotiation."

The vehemence of his response intrigues me. Ravik has always been protective of those under his command, but this seems...personal. I glance at Zephyr, who watches the exchange with scholarly interest, clearly noting the same anomaly.

"As you command," I concede, though not without a pointed look at our human charge. "But I suggest we learn exactly what makes her so valuable to King Kres before his forces arrive in full. Her ignorance may be genuine, but it doesn't explain the king's extraordinary interest."

Kaia meets my gaze unflinchingly, her hazel-green eyes filled with a surprising resolve. "I've told you everything I know. But I'm willing to help however I can. I've no desire to return to Liiandor in chains—or to see you three imprisoned in stone again."

"Your assistance has already proven unexpectedly valuable," I acknowledge, thinking of her tactical suggestion. "Perhaps you're not entirely useless after all."

A smile tugs at the corner of her mouth—a quick, fleeting thing that transforms her face in a way that momentarily captures my attention. "High praise, coming from you."

"Don't get used to it," I grumble, turning away to hide my own involuntary response to that smile. Ridiculous. She's a human, a temporary ally at best. That she shows occasional glimmers of intelligence and courage changes nothing.

Ravik assigns tasks with his usual efficiency.

Zephyr will continue strengthening the magical defenses, focusing on the most vulnerable areas.

Ravik himself will prepare the physical fortifications, reinforcing the temple's ancient stonework with his considerable elemental magic.

I am to rest until dusk, conserving strength for my night raid on the dark elf position.

And Kaia? She is to assist Zephyr with the temple's defensive mechanisms, her smaller hands better suited to manipulating the ancient control systems designed for dark elf use. A task that keeps her safe within the sanctuary while still allowing her to contribute—a shrewd decision on Ravik's part.

As we disperse to our assigned duties, I find myself watching the human's retreating form.

She walks beside Zephyr, her head tilted attentively as he explains some aspect of the temple's magic.

Despite her obvious exhaustion and the lingering effects of her ordeal in the blizzard, she carries herself with a quiet dignity that seems at odds with her supposed status as a mere slave.

Perhaps there is more to this human than I initially assumed. She survived a journey that would have killed many of her kind, broke a curse that has held for centuries, and now faces the prospect of a small army coming for her with remarkable composure. Not typical human behavior, in my experience.

A mystery for another time. For now, I have blood to spill and dark elves to terrorize.

As I retreat to my assigned chamber to rest before the night's raid, I find myself unexpectedly anticipating the coming battle with something approaching joy.

Not merely for the violence itself, though that has its appeal after centuries of enforced passivity, but for the purpose behind it.

We are defending something that matters—our freedom, our sanctuary, and yes, even our unusual human ward. For the first time since awakening, I feel truly alive, with all the messy complications that entails.

Let the dark elves come with their elite guards and ancient witches. Let them discover what it means to face the fury of gargoyles unbound. Let them learn the price of betrayal, paid in blood and terror.

I have waited centuries for vengeance. Tonight, I begin to collect that debt, with interest.