Wysper - The Shadow Knight

As the grey faced warrior stalked towards Greywolf, I put myself in front of him and yelled, "No!"

The others seemed frozen in shock as she stopped a few paces away and pointed her two-handed sword at my face. "Princess of the bloody crown," she snarled, "move aside. The Shadow-walker you protect is a monster, and all monsters must die."

In response, I dropped to the floor in front of Greywolf to shield him with my body. He grasped my shoulders and feebly tried to push me away. "Wysper, don't do this. Save yourself."

The warrior, whose face was grey skin over the bones of her skull, raised her sword as I grabbed Greywolf's hands and pulled him tight against my body. He yelped in pain as I looked up at her. "I am not... afraid to die... with him." She cocked her sword back to strike.

"Amazonia, hold." The warrior kept her two-handed sword where it was and turned her head as the Shadow Fae Lys leapt off the German's shoulder and stared up at her. "Lower your sword."

The warrior's savage expression became uncertain. "But the Shadow-walker-"

"Is a friend to both of us. Lower your sword." She reversed the sword so it was pointed down and lowered it until the tip rested on the wooden floor. "Now," the Shadow Fae continued, "kneel down so I do not have to strain my neck looking up at you." The warrior's expression slid into confusion, but she let go of the sword with one hand before dropping down to one knee.

The Ogri and the craggy faced warrior Kula burst into the room, but the German waved them off from coming any closer as Amazonia shook her head. "I know Greywolf, and I know I have no reason to kill him, yet at the same time I see him as a man-like white wolf that must be destroyed. Lys," a note of desperation entering Amazonia's voice, "everything has gotten strange. I'm not myself anymore."

"No shite," Greywolf said in my ear. For some reason Amazonia found this humorous, and started laughing in a high pitched cackle that sent a shiver running up my spine. "Wotan's blood," he breathed, "she sounds like a Night Hag."

I had no idea what that was and did not wish to find out as Lys reached up and placed the palm of one hand on Amazonia's forehead. "This is new for all of us, but I feel like this is the right thing to do. Relax, and see if this helps."

"It does," Amazonia replied, her grey face growing calm. "I feel more myself now, more in control." Her expression turned sharp as her grip tightened on the hilt of her sword. "But I warn you, I won't become your slave."

Lys removed her hand from Amazonia's forehead. "After what I suffered at the hands of the Etruscans, I hate slavery just as much as you do. So, not only do you have my word that I will never make you suffer that fate, but I will never ask you to become a Shadow Knight again, unless the Khan I serve commands it. Then neither one of us will have a choice."

"I understand." Amazonia took a deep breath. "When I've returned to normal, I'll speak to Greywolf, but right now I need to return to my Necromantic legion and prepare them."

"Go ahead, and remember to follow whatever orders Prince Timur gives you."

"Yes, Lys." Amazonia rose to her feet, her strange grey body under her armor moving with inhuman grace as she rested her grey blade on her shoulder and turned towards the doorway.

"Az," the German said, and she stopped to look a him as he pointed back at me. "Why did you call Wysper the 'Princess of the bloody crown'?"

Amazonia gave him a puzzled look. "Because the crown of blood red leaves she wears at her brow, makes her look like a princess. Why else?" Without waiting for an answer, she resumed striding for the doorway, the Ogri and the craggy faced warrior moving to let her go past. She headed for the stairs and the Ogri followed.

Kula remained where he stood. "Lys, now that we have all three priestesses, and the two dragon scales used in the ritual, can we recreate it to make more blood corn?"

"Why not ask the expert?" The Shadow Fae looked at me. "Do you know the secret?"

I shook my head. "Only the High-" No, not the High Priest. Never again will I call him that. "Only Muzen knows."

Kula frowned. "I can't risk him sending another Shadow-walker after you and the dragon scales, so I'll give you an easy death and be done with it."

"No!" Greywolf pulled me close, his lean body pressing against mine and his face twisted in pain as he snarled, "I'm not letting you, or anyone else, hurt her."

"You do not have to." Zanzabel moved beside us as she motioned down with her hand. "Muzen told me Wysper's fertility magic will end if she ever loses her virginity, and can never be restored."

"Is this true?" I nodded at Kula, who shrugged. "Alright then, instead of taking your life, you will taken as a bed-slave and given to whoever the Great Khan decides should have you."

"I have a better idea," a boy's voice called out. The boy standing beside the German took off the full faced Greek helm he wore, and held it in his arms as he turned towards Kula.

Everyone else in the room, except for myself and Zanzabel, let out a gasp. "Prince Avitohol," Kula said, "what are you doing here? Where's your blood brother Tamachi?"

Prince Avitohol had the face of someone from the Tartaros steppes, with black hair and broad shoulders. "We switched places at the last moment. War-leader Kula, Yasataar told me that, according to tradition, once I've gone on my first raid and proven myself, I'm allowed to set up my own household and adopt those I want into my family."

"That's true, my prince, but-"

"Then as soon as we get back, I will do so, and adopt-" He stopped and looked back at me. "Your name's Wysper, right?" I nodded, and he looked forward again. "I will adopt Wysper as my daughter." He looked back at me once more. "Is that acceptable to you? Or would you rather be a bed-slave?"

You are gaping at him. Close your mouth. "I... no, my prince... not a bed-slave. But, I am older... how..."

He waved his hand as if throwing something away. "Yasataar told me age doesn't matter, only your status among the People. So, once you're my daughter, Greywolf will betroth you and become the first of my Bloodguard, which will bind him to me as Yasataar told me needs to happen." He frowned and placed his hands on his hips. "Greywolf, if you don't agree to this, I'm not adopting her."

The German said, "If you do, Asena's likely to dump you into the river."

Greywolf sighed. "After she's bounced me off the walls a few times. But I don't care." He rested his chin on my shoulder. "Prince Avitohol, I give you my word of honor that, if you adopt Wysper, I'll bind myself to both of you."

"There's only one slight problem," Kula growled. "I'm not risking the life of the heir to the Great Khan without a good reason, and this girl's fate isn't one of them."

"What if the young prince was not risking his life," Lys said, "because if he were to be injured, it would not be fatal?"

"Speak plainly, witch."

Lys gave Kula a cool look, which I remembered well from Yrg, who was watching us impassively to one side. “Prince Avitohol, everyone knows my ability to brew potions, correct?" He nodded, and she said, "There is one I keep with me whenever I have to travel through the Shadowlands. It speeds up my natural regeneration and keeps me from dying, should a Shadow creature injure me badly, as well as boosting my strength and stamina. In me, the effects are temporary, but in the humans I have made it for in the past, the effects are permanent. Since it seems we shall not be traveling through the Shadowlands going back, I would be willing to give it to you."

Prince Avitohol perked up. "Would it have the same effects?"

Lys nods. "The regeneration would take effect immediately, giving your body the ability to heal wounds almost as soon as you get them, though true healing still takes time. Later effects would be an increase in strength and stamina beyond that of a normal human's. However, I must warn you," Lys raising her hand, palm out, "there is also a negative effect. Your growth will be stunted, leaving you forever short."

Prince Avitohol shrugged his broad shoulders. "I'm already short."

"My prince," Kula said, "I don't think this is a wise idea."

"I don't care if you think it's a wise idea or not," Prince Avitohol retorted, folding his arms across his armored chest. "If Lys is offering this potion, I'm going to take it. Kula, if the Great Khan dies tomorrow, do you really think my older brother's going to allow me to take father's place?" Kula opened his mouth as if to argue.

But then closed it once more as Lys said, "Your father will live to a ripe old age if I have anything to do about it. However, drinking this potion will make it seem as if you are growing up fast, and the older and more powerful you seem, the more likely the warriors are to accept you as the Khan of khans." She turned towards Kula. "Am I wrong?"

The craggy faced warrior grimaced. "I still think it's a bad idea."

"If father asks," the prince said, "I'll tell him you did your best to warn me. But if I do drink it, you won't have any good reason to stop me from participating, will you?" Kula's scowl deepened, and Prince Avitohol turned toward Lys with a smirk on his face. "I will gladly take your potion."

"As you wish, my prince." Lys' face remained neutral, but I could hear the same smirk in her voice Yrg used to have when she had done something clever that no one else realized. Should I tell someone? And if I did, would anyone believe me? Lys reached into a hidden pocket underneath her armor, and pulled out a small metal vial with a stopper in its neck, which she removed and handed to the prince.

He drank the potion down in one gulp. "Ack," he said as he made a face. "That tastes terrible."

"Apologies," she replied as he handed her the vial back. She stoppered it up and put it back in its hidden pocket. "The taste will go away soon, and after that will come a feeling of power and strength. Do not do anything rash, but stay close to the War-leader and follow his orders."

Prince Avitohol puffed out his chest. "I am the heir of the Great Khan."

"You're also a boy," Kula growled, "and you'll remain next to me the entire time we're attacking or I'll keep you here with Greywolf. Am I making myself clear?" The prince's expression remained defiant, and he added, "You'll get more than your share of fighting once we've found you a weapon."

"Oh, that's easy." Prince Avitohol raced over to Redhunter's body with the Artifact battle-axe sticking out, put one foot on his torso, both hands on the shaft, and pulled. The weapon made a sucking sound coming out. "This is perfect."

The ghost of a smile touched the craggy warrior's lips. "Of course it is. Alright, I'll assign guards to protect the two women and Greywolf; the rest of you are with me."

"Put us in Muzen's bedroom," Zanzabel said quickly. "There is no bolt on the door and no windows for us to escape out of, plus there is a bed we can put Greywolf on to rest."

Kula nodded. "We can put the servants we spared there as well." My heart leapt inside me, hoping that Pigeon was one of them, as he said, "You three remain here, and I will have your guards carry Greywolf to this room."

"I can walk there," Greywolf said. I turned my head to look at him, raising my eyebrows, and he muttered, "Well, crawl anyway."

Being careful not to jostle his arm, I shifted myself around so his back rested against my front. "Lean against me," I told him as the others moved towards the open door. "I have you."

Greywolf rested his head against my shoulder. "I love your eyes," he said in a quiet voice. "They remind me of the forests I grew up around, when papa was still with us. I could curl up and go to sleep inside those eyes."

He closed his own eyes as Prince Avitohol reached the doorway. "Kula, I know what my warrior name's going to be, since I will become Wysper's parent and will never grow tall. I want to be known as Little Father."

Kula nodded. "A good choice. Once the Great Khan recognizes that you've proven yourself as a warrior, from then on, you will be known as Attila."