Blood for Blood

An elven warrior fights to free his brother and defy a cruel king. Hoping for feedback.

Chapter One

Ventos

The hound’s barks cut through the forest like war drums. Ventos’s calves burned with each footfall, but stopping now was certain death. He vaulted fallen logs, slipped past trees, and ducked as an arrow zipped past his ear with a dull thrum. It thudded into a tree ahead and quivered there. More arrows skittered along the ground as the soldiers fired, oblivious to his whereabouts. Ventos skidded to a halt and scanned the area. The hounds were gaining on him, yet he could no longer run. They would catch him sooner or later.
He gazed up at the pines, his mind racing. I’ll be hidden. Ventos grasped the lowest branch and began to climb. His muscles screamed in protest, but he merely gritted his teeth. Just a few more feet. He rarely felt drained, yet this was different. Below, the soldiers spoke to one another, and their torches swayed in the wind to resemble fiery people.
“Where the hell is he,” one said. “He was just here!”
“Don’t forget what we’re dealing with, Raymund. These half-breeds are more trouble than they’re worth.”
“What if he sneaks up on us, Osbert? What if he kills us all?”
“You fret too much, Raymund.” This came from a larger man, his hair braided. “Besides, the hounds would sniff the filthy half-breed out.”
The soldiers were long gone by now, and the only sign of them was their torches, which had long faded to small blots. Ventos descended the tree as an icy breeze issued through the forest.
They were not far and seemed to be making a detour to the castle. He hastened after them, footfalls hushed upon the dried leaves and twigs. The voices grew clearer, and he slowed his pace to listen.
“…And we can tell the king we killed the elf,” Osbert said. “That’ll brighten his mood. What say you, Raymund?” He nudged the other soldier.
“But what if the elf shows up to kill the king again? What are we ought to say then?”
“We’ll tell the king it was another. Besides, they all look the bloody same. Remember the elf in the keep? They look identical. Ain’t that right, Artilius?”
The big man with the braided hair merely grunted.
Ventos drew his dagger, and his eyes rested upon the large man. He’d been raised to eliminate the strongest, and this Artilius seemed to be that man.
“You go ahead,” Artilius said. “I’ll catch up in a minute.”
Raymund trudged away, whilst Artilius approached the bracken, unaware. Ventos leapt forward and buried the dagger in the soft flesh of his throat. The soldier issued a low gurgle as blood rose to his mouth, then Ventos pulled the dagger free. Blood spattered the trees and bushes where Artilius had relieved himself. He crashed into the ferns, whilst a thick stream of blood pumped from his neck.
Ventos wiped the blade clean and approached the other soldiers. They were stooped about a fire, and the one known as Osbert hauled wood into the flames. It crackled and popped as smoke rose into the air. There were three of them. Raymund sat at the back of the camp, just on the firelight’s edge. He was facing away. The hounds were nowhere to be seen. Better make this quick. Ventos stepped into the firelight and the soldiers turned to regard him. Curiosity turned to fear within seconds and Osbert stood, a naked blade in his hand.
“Bloody half-breed.”
He surged forward and swung at Ventos. The elf slipped past the sword, a hair’s breadth away. Ventos’s curved blade parted the metal links of Osbert’s armour, and the man fell, dead before he hit the ground. The others came at him, but Ventos dodged and parried. His next swing took a soldier’s sword arm, and he issued a scream. The curved blade cut the cry short.
The last soldier stumbled over a root, and Ventos slipped his blade into the man’s throat. He too fell still. Ventos turned to where Raymund stood, and approached. A dark stain spread over the young man’s breeches as he fumbled for his sword. He gasped as the cold steel pressed against his throat. His fingers slowly reached for his sword’s hilt.
“Move, and I’ll spill your blood.”
Raymund’s hand fell to his side. Just then, the hounds stalked out of the darkness, and issued low snarls at Ventos, who gazed back, unphased. He withdrew Raymund’s short sword as the tallest beast crept closer, lips curled back into a snarl.
“Call them off, or they’ll die same as everyone else.”
“They won’t take orders from me, half-breed,” he replied, a hint of panic in his voice. “They only take orders from Osbert, who you killed.”
The large hound pounced at Ventos. He slashed at it with the short sword, and it fell lifeless. The other two hounds glanced from the motionless body to Ventos and snarled at him. Ventos crouched as the first of the beasts lunged. His blade bit deep into its skull, and he buried it to the hilt. No howl escaped the hound as it crumpled to the floor. Sensing defeat, the other hound bolted into the darkness.
Stars lit up his vision as a mailed fist collided with his face. Ventos stumbled, and groped about. His hand closed over Raymund’s wrist and he twisted. The soldier issued a cry.
“I warned you,” Ventos said as his vision returned. “I’ll not warn you again.”
They set off through the forest, and Raymund cursed the elf along the way. Through the trees, he caught the outline of the castle. Torches shone upon the walls, and the stone glistened. Soldiers patrolled in the towers, and Raymund sighed, relieved. Ventos sheathed the sword and dagger.
“You’ll speak for me, and don’t do anything foolish. You’ll be dead before you can blink.”
Raymund gave a curt nod as they left the cover of the forest and approached the castle gates.

Chapter Two

Malvin

A sharp pain seared across his arm, and Malvin turned to see one of the soldiers grinning his blade tinged with blood. The other guards jeered at him, but the king watched, eyes blank. Emotion was one thing Malvin rarely saw in him.
“You’ll break soon enough, elf. If you won’t, the other surely will. My guards search for him as we speak.” He chuckled and settled back in his throne.
“As if you’ll let me walk out alive,” Malvin replied. “I know how you humans think. You have no honour. I hate to see your kind rule these lands.”
“How… how dare you,” he spluttered. “I rule in these lands!” His face turned a deep shade of purple. “Therefore, you will not mock me!”
“I do as I please. I don’t take orders from my lesser.”
A sharp pain erupted in his back, and he fell to his knees as blood dripped onto the marble floor. He fought to control the anger that bubbled within, threatening to release at any moment. Then he stood and glared at the human. The smile upon the king’s face faded as he gazed at Malvin, appalled. Then he chuckled.
“You’re made of tougher steel than I thought,” he murmured. “Very well. Take him back to his cell. Ensure he cannot escape.”
One of the soldier’s bent down, and removed the shackle about his foot. Malvin lashed out with the speed of an elf, and the guard stumbled. Then he wrapped the shackles about the soldier’s throat and pulled. The man’s veins bulged and his skin purpled until a sword hilt struck Malvin’s head. He reeled, and hands lifted him.
“Keep a good eye on him. He’s more than he’s worth.”
It was a long walk, and all the while, Malvin brewed up a plan. They reached the last step, and strolled past cells, filled with goblins, Wargs, witches, and other creatures of dark demeanour. Further up were a group of pale white dire wolves. Their cage was unlocked, and they gazed at Malvin with pleading eyes.
Malvin thought for a while then slipped free of the soldier’s grip and opened the cage. The guards hardly had time to act as the four wolves leapt at them. The men fell beneath their weight, and fought them off, but to no avail. Blood spattered the walls and the beast’s fur, and Malvin took his chance to slip past, unnoticed.
“I wonder if that entrance is being guarded at all,” a soldier said as two of them entered the dungeons.
“There’ll be others waiting for us. The king assured us of that much.”
They rounded the corner and froze. Malvin picked up a fallen dagger and slashed at the nearest guard. He crashed to the ground, blood spurting from his chest, and Malvin turned to face the other guard, a fiery look in his eyes. He leapt forward and sank his blade into the soldier’s stomach. He gaped at Malvin, then crumpled to the ground.

Malvin turned to run, but a heavy weight fell upon his back, and he fell. A paw hooked into his torn and bloodied shirt, and rolled him over to gaze at a pair of cold, blue eyes.

Chapter Three

Ventos

“Open the gates,” Raymund called up. “It’s me and Osbert!”
“Where are the other? And what about the elf?”
“He killed them. I took it upon myself, and alas, he is dead!”
“The king will be pleased! He’s got the other elf in the castle!”
The gates creaked open, and Raymund entered, Ventos close behind. Off to their left were the barracks, but further up, he glimpsed various alleyways.
“Over here,” Ventos said, and shoved Raymund behind a wall.
“Please Ser. I… I have a family.”
Ventos chuckled. “I won’t kill you. I’m not as cruel as your king makes out.”
He took the rope from Raymund’s sword belt, then tied him up, and inserted a piece of cloth into his mouth.
“By the time I’m done, you’ll be needing a new king”
Ventos exited the alleyway and strode up the path toward the castle. Two guards gazed at him, warily, and refused him entry. Ventos drew his dagger and lashed out. Both men fell against the wall as blood gushed down their front. He pushed the gate open and entered. There were no guards in sight, and the king gave a wan smile, unaware of the danger. Ventos stopped a few feet from the throne and removed the helmet. The king almost fell from his seat as he gaped at the elf.
“It cannot be!” His voice was hoarse, and weak. “I was told you’d been killed!”
“Your guards were foolish enough to think so. Now where’s my brother?”
The king grinned. “He’s in a cell awaiting his death. You’ll be joining him soon enough.”
Ventos leapt at him and pressed the dagger to his throat. The king issued a low whimper and quivered as the blade bit into his skin. “Where are the cells?”
“They’re down those steps. Now release me!”
Ventos dragged the dagger across his throat, the blade grating bone. The king fell to his knees, blood spewing from his throat. He twitched upon the marble floor as blood rose to his mouth and dribbled down his chin. Then the twitching subsided, and he lay still as stone. Ventos stepped over him and cleaned the dagger off on the hem of the king’s cloak. He set off down the hall and froze. A howl echoed up from the dungeon and Ventos clutched the dagger hilt with such force his knuckles turned white.
Th hall became ice cold as multiple creatures padded up the steps. Ventos’s breath frosted in the air, and he waited for whatever they were. Frost rose, and spread across the floor, concealing it. Then a snarl issued from near the stairs, and a pale white wolf appeared, its cold blue eyes boring into Ventos. Two more of the beasts appeared, and he braced himself for the attack. Then another wolf appeared, yet this one had a rider. Ventos gasped, speechless.
“Hello brother,” Malvin said. “Did the king put up a fight?” he gestured to the corpse on the ground.
“Went as easily as anything.” The wolves glared at him, their eyes wary. “Where did you get these?”
“I set them free.”
One of the wolves padded over to Ventos, sniffed him, then knelt. He hesitated a moment, before climbing onto its back. It raised itself to full height, and Ventos sighed.
“Come on. There’s a way out through the dungeons. One of the guards said so.”
“If the guards know about this, there will be some there.”
“Well, it’s always best to take the risk. Besides, we can deal with a few soldiers.”
Ventos willed the wolf around and followed Malvin down the steps.