CH 8: TRAITOR OR HERO

"So Elerate, you were the lucky guy that got to go tell the King and queen?" Gallix jokes as they were setting up camp at Inefoe. A bare wasteland within Melderan. Thousands of years ago, a small group tried to live here. The ruins left behind were a reminder of the tragedy that befell them. The worn path connected Zabicoric to the Morvaie territory.

 "It's not funny, Gallix. You know as well as anyone that I have a big mouth. I can reveal almost anything to anyone." Replied Elerate. He was still a little shaken about the threat that Drave gave him.

"What didn't you tell him?" Gallix continues, settling down next to a few junipers that survive the harsh conditions. He placed a dagger on his belt, waiting for an answer.

"What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean. You kept some information from Drave. I'm just curious about what you didn't tell him."

"Why do you want to know?" Elerate snaps.

"Because eventually, he is going to find out that you are hiding something from him. He will not like that, you and I both know." Indeed, they did. Once Drave found out that Elerate was holding back some information, they didn't want to think about the consequences.

"So what is it you held back? And don't lie." Gallix pushed for the info.

"Their Majesties are coming with heavily armed guards. That is all I'm going to say." Elerate huffed. He rolled out his bedroll, but knew it would not deter Gallix.

"So why didn't you say anything?" Gallix asks as he was taking out his sword.

"Because what he is thinking about doing to the Princess is irrational and violent," responded Elerate, as he was getting his sword as well.

While Gallix searched for the spot with the greatest visibility, he spoke. "It's your funeral. Why don't you get to sleep? I'll take the first watch." 

With that conversation at an end, Elerate was asleep within a matter of minutes. Gallix waited a few hours to ensure that Elerate was in a deep sleep before he took the necessary action. He left the lookout point that they had set up and headed north a few miles. But Elerate was following, awakened by the movements. When Gallix reached where he and the Royal Guard captain agreed to meet, he found his old friend. On time, as always. Gallix thought.

"Gallix, how are you faring?" asks someone as he pulled Gallix behind a tree.

"Shadow, good to see you." Gallix whispered.

"Now tell me, what is going on with the Dark One?" Shadow responded in the same hushed tone. He was wearing the Royal colors: gold and red cloth under the chain mail.

"Shadow, he does not know that the Royal Guard is coming. I think he assumes you are, but I'm not sure." Gallix reported.

"Gallix, you know we're in a dire situation now." Shadow replied in a concerned whisper.

"I do." He answers in an equally hushed voice. "Ever since he captured Princess Kestra, he hadn't decided what he is going to do with her."

"What do you mean?" Shadow asks.

"I'm not sure. Drave hasn't really told me about everything. All I know is that he had the thought of changing a bit of his plan. I don't know when or how. You know I would tell you if I did. Before I forget his lair. You need to push the boulder near the top to the right." Gallix says. He needed to hurry back to camp.

"The boulder near the top? Gallix, what do you mean?" Shadow asks, confused.

"That is all I can tell you, Shadow. Trust me, you will know when you see it." Gallix says sorrowfully.

Elerate had heard all that he needed to. Mumbling a few words under his breath, he disappeared.

Shadow lowered his voice. "I know you would tell me if you could, Gallix. You should get back to your camp. I will report to the Majesties."

"I will talk to you later when I get more information. If I can without getting caught by the Dark One." Gallix replies.

"Until then, my friend, don't get caught. We need all the information that we can get, and you're the only one who can get it." Shadow decreed.

Before the two men left, Gallix remembered one last thing. "Shadow, Drave gave Elerate a piece of paper that contains crucial information. From what I saw, it contains the two options the King has to save Kestra. That's all I can say except because the paper is at my camp. Look under the rock under the roots of the Harrowing Tree. I know you don't understand what that means, but trust me, the actual information is in there. Elerate has a blank piece of paper."

Shadow stopped and thought for a moment. "I will take some of my men a different way. What Elerate doesn't know is that it will be us going by your camp. King Keldo and his guards are going around on the east. You best be off."

Then the two friends went their separate ways. As soon as Gallix reached the camp, he could tell something was wrong. Elerate was sitting there with a smirk on his face. They had caught him. He had to get to Elerate before he had the chance to speak to the Dark One about what he saw and heard.

Faster than Elerate could blink, Gallix was on him, pressing him against the ground so he couldn't escape. Before Gallix got his dagger from his belt, he heard a voice.

"I had a feeling that you were working on both sides when we hired you," A deep voice growled. Gallix felt powerful arms pulling him off of Elerate. "What should I do to you, Gallix? We have caught you in the act." Drave continues calmly.

"What act, my lord?" Gallix asks, although he already knew. Elerate spied on him, he listened to the conversation and had reported.

"The act of you talking to the captain of the Royal Guard, too bad he didn't come back with you. I miss talking to Shadow." Drave was clearly enjoying the fact that Gallix was trying to remain calm. "Good work, Elerate."

"Drave, Elerate has been hiding something from you." Gallix shouts.

"What? That members of the Royal Army are coming with their majesties?" Drave answers, grinning. "I don't want to hear anymore. Elerate, keep watch. I'll deal with our traitor."

"Yes, sir." Elerate smirked. Elerate never liked Gallix, and now he had gotten him into something that Gallix would never get out of.

 ***

Drave was wondering if he should let someone else put Gallix in a cell. His thoughts turned to Kestra. He liked her spirit. He wanted to see her reaction when he told her that the Royal Guard was coming. Drave grinned at the thought of it.

He followed Gallix as he was being forced down the stairs by the guard. To show the cracked stone stairs, torchlight leads the way. The Dark One liked to make his prisoners feel that there was no light at the end of the tunnel, no hope of escape.

Drave watched Gallix being forced into the cell across from Kestra's. His prison was a dark place, with only one dim light at the far end of the dungeon. They made the cells of thick concrete walls with black steel bars. Once the bars were locked, he dismissed the guard.

 "I'll deal with you later, Gallix. I just need to make the final arrangements for our royal guests. Then, you will be executed. I would do it now, but a proper execution takes time to plan, and I don't have that right now." He turned towards the cell across the way.

"What do you think I should do with him, Princess?" Drave continues. He loved hearing the anger in her voice, the fear in her look.

"What if you allow him to leave and live his life as he chooses?" Kestra snaps. She was lying on the cot, her arms under her head. Ever since Drave had captured her, she wasn't afraid to be in the same room as him, like she was before.

"I'm afraid I can't just let him go like that. He is a friend of the Royal Guard. If I let him go, then he can tell Shadow exactly where you are." Drave replies.

"But if Shadow and the Royal Guard are coming here, then that means…" Kestra whispers, sitting up, not realizing that Drave had heard.

"That your parents are not far behind?" Drave finished with a smirk on his face. "Yes. That is exactly what I mean by final arrangements. Princess, I can easily bend your parents to my will as long as I have you here." Kestra got up and stomped towards the door, fuming with anger.

"You're despicable. Do you understand that?" Kestra spat through the bars.

"I'll take that as a compliment. Now, if you will excuse me, I have unfinished business to attend to." He left the dungeon chuckling.

Kestra took a few deep breaths as the anger dispelled. She still had many questions and seemed to get nowhere with answers.

Focusing her attention, she whispered. "Gallix, you really were working against Drave?"

"Yes. I thought that by getting inside information to Shadow, and he could stop the Dark One before he kidnapped you. But it didn't help. I'm sorry Princess." Gallix sounded ashamed of what he did.

 "Please, Gallix, call me Kestra. I've been trying to get away from the whole princess thing. It's far too formal for me. Don't look so ashamed. You did the right thing by telling Shadow what you knew." Kestra attempted to reassure him. Kestra knew that if he wanted to talk, he would. She wouldn't bother him. Sylvaria sat there in the cell next to Kestra.

 "So, he was working for your parents this whole time?" Sylvaria asks when she saw Gallix retreat to the far corner of his cell.

"I guess so. I don't think we should talk about it. Gallix looks like he needs some rest." Kestra replies. In all actuality, she didn't want to talk about it. She started wondering how hard it must have been for Gallix working on both sides. He had probably seen things and heard things from everyone that would be horrendous and nearly impossible to bear with, not to mention keeping it secret. 

 ***

After Shadow left Gallix, he took three of his men to Elerate's camp. They hid behind the few ruins and waited. When Shadow heard voices from up ahead, he turned to see what it was. In the shadows, he spotted three figures. He knew all three and was aware that they had caught his friend. Despite his willingness to help, he was aware it would pose a greater danger to others. Only when Elerate was asleep could they retrieve the information. And now, the waiting starts.

 ***

Elerate knew he would have to keep his eyes peeled for anything unusual. I know Drave is a little too violent about this whole taking over Melderan thing. But after this is over, I can get on with my life. He thought. Unknown to him, Shadow was waiting near the camp. Elerate wouldn't be able to see their majesties coming in a different direction.

After Elerate fell asleep, Shadow and his men could sneak into his camp. They found the rock that Gallix had referred to, and indeed, the information was there. Shadow knew they had to take the information and leave. They needed to regroup with the rest.

When morning came, Elerate awoke. He glanced around, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. When he looked for the information that Drave wrote, he couldn't find it. He knew that if he lost it and Shadow got it, Elerate shuddered at the thought. All that he had in his pack was his supplies.

Then it hit him that maybe he should have heard all the conversation before reporting back to Drave. What if Gallix took the information containing the options and the other information to Shadow? Elerate didn't want to think about that. If Drave found that out, Elerate can kiss himself farewell. He looked up and saw figures stopping for a rest. Without that information, he couldn't finish his mission. Oh no, not now. It can't. Drave is going to destroy me piece by piece before he hands me over to the Dark One.