Page 88 of A Brat's Tale
Corrik shakes his head. “The only reason we’re still alive is because we’re the most recent abductions. The others were already nearly sucked dry when I woke up here.”
Fuck.
“Stand back,” I say once Salamir is out of the way. I use my sword to first break the chain between Corrik’s wrist shackles and then I work on cleaving them off. I break both Corrik and Salamir out of their ankle shackles.
When Corrik is free, he gathers me in his arms. “I thought I’d never see you again.” He kisses my lips.
Jagar rushes in at that point. “I heard loud noises.”
“We were just breaking our cargo free,” I tell him.
Jagar sets eyes on his boy. “Salamir.” He rushes to him, checks him over and then waves his hand over him head to toe. White light envelopes him and then he starts coughing; his eyes open. “Pa-Papa…?”
“Oh, my boy. My sweet, sweet boy. Papa’s here.” Jagar takes Salamir from Aldagir.
“Friends of yours, Tristan?” Corrik says.
“My apologies Highness, we’re being rude. I do believe we’ve made your acquaintance before. I am Jagarbendir and this is one of my sons, Aldagir. There are no words to express our gratitude for what you’ve done for our boy.”
“I just wish I could have saved the others.” Corrik’s eyes frown as he surveys what’s left of the others.
“Are there any more of those things?” I ask.
“I think so, but I don’t think one will appear for another few months. There is little in the lore about them, but I’ve had plenty oftime to think about how these creatures work based on what I know and what I’ve observed. They live on Elven blood, but they take the halflings because they are easier prey containing enough Elven blood—and Elf is better, but a halfling is enough—to get them to their next phase of development. Feeding makes them stronger. That one captured me by pure luck. It took me by surprise. I will tell you the whole story, but for now it’s enough to know they feast until they are strong enough to make their cocoon. This one will hatch, and it will be a more powerful version.”
“Then we have to kill it before we leave,” I decide.
Corrik’s eyes worry. “I’m not strong enough, Tristan. The best we can hope for is to get away before it hatches. I was meant to be its food when it did. Perhaps without its post-cocoon meal, it won’t make it.”
“Not good enough,” I say. This thing, it killed children. I’m going to make sure it never kills again. The ring of steel announces my sword’s arrival.
“You can’t kill that thing, Tristan. Put your sword awaynow. I’m still your husband and you will obey me.”
I can’t help it, his words run through me like icy nectar and I shiver. It’s been a while since I’ve heard him speak like that. I won’t disrespect him by questioning his word in front of anyone. There are many reasons to keep appearances, but he’s crazy if he thinks I’m walking out of here without making sure that thing’s dead. “Corrik, may I have a word with you in private?”
We proceed to have a five-minute stare down in which we blaze fire at each other, but he refuses to move.
Jagar quickly devises what’s going on. “Your highnesses, if I may? Perhaps my son and I can be of assistance?”
Corrik, who can barely stand, who’s leaning against me, is now leading this charge. I can’t help the unfairness I feel. It’s especially jarring to have command ripped from me so unceremoniously. I’m used to deferring to my superiors, but there was still a modicum of consideration over my opinion. I’m being left out of this entirely. “Doyou think you two can kill the witch wyrm?” Corrik says, his voice weak.
“I do, but I think it wouldn’t go amiss to have Prince Kathir ready with his bow.” Corrik twists his lips. He doesn’t like it. “As you know, Your Highness, witch wyrms continue to feed on Elven children and when they reach their last phase of development, they can take on a full Elven adult easily. They need to be slaughtered now when they’re most vulnerable.”
Corrik huffs. He knows Jagar is right, that doesn’t mean he wants to let me do it. “All right, but you’re only back up, Tristan.” He grips my face with his hand. The usual strength isn’t there, he isn’t well and now he’s using whatever energy he has left to worry about me.
“Just back up, my love. They probably won’t even need me. They are both fine fighters.” I press a kiss on his cracked lips.
“Hopefully they won’t have to fight at all. Please, allow me to continue to keep your boy warm,” Corrik says.
“You’re going to fall over, Highness,” Jagar says. Aldagir’s quietly sizing up the massive cocoon.
“I can do that much. Tristan, help me sit against the wall and I will take him.”
There’s no convincing him otherwise, so I help him sit and Jagar settles Salamir with Corrik.
“Father, one of us is going to have to climb up there and slice it down.”
“Do you think you can do it, Aldagir?”
