Chapter 10 Fisted

Zed steeled his failing nerves and breathed out a puff of cold air and sprang back to his feet. "There's nothing to be sorry about," he said.

Zed made his way and stood face-to-face with James. He stretched his hand to help James up to his feet. "I will help you master your abilities but first, you need to tell me what you saw in your slumber."

James sneered. "You mean I should tell you now?" he paused and glanced at Lacey. "Before her?" he whispered. He just realized what he saw wasn't real. He was never alone in a room with Lacey. It's just the wolf in him messing up with his mind while he was in slumber.

"Yes because she too needs to be aware of who she must accept to be to you." Zed stretched his hand. His bronze staff which has been suspended in the air since James was in slumber mysteriously appeared in his hand.

"What are you talking about?"

Lacey knew deep down in her heart, something has been drawing her to James but she was trying not to make it look as if she was into him. She has an idea of what the wizard was talking about but chose to act as if she knew nothing. After all, while James was deep in his slumber, she could hear him whisper her name. Not once, not twice.

"Chosen one," Zed said placing his hand on James' shoulder. "Speak what you saw in your deep sleep."

GULUX'S CASTLE

"Lord Xius approaches... let down the bridge and open the gate!" yelled one of the warlocks keeping watch on the tower.

The warlock could see Xius riding fiercely toward the drawbridge. He could tell it was Xius from kilometers away by just observing the rider and how he rides. There has never been a time Xius rides smoothly. He is a fierce warlock and exhibits that even when he rides on his horseback.

Every castle has its weakest point and the entrance of the castle is always seen as the weakest point. However, to make it less weak, the warlock lord Gulux specially designed his castle to have a drawbridge that could be pulled up to prevent access across the moat.

Gulux's castle is one of the most fortified in Northumbria. The walls of his castle were high making it hard for attackers to climb over. Tall thick curtain walls surrounded Gulux's castle building like a strong shield. Only the drawbridge serves as access to the castle to limit access.

"You're welcome lord Xius," one of the warlock's guards said taking a bow in reverence for the commander of warlocks.

"I need an audience with the warlock lord." Xius climbs down from his horse letting a human servant take his horse by its rein.

"He has been expecting you lord, please follow me."

With the warlock guard leading the way into the main castle, Xius followed suit. Getting to the entrance of the throne hall, the warlock guard rapped the iron handle with the shape of a serpent. Xius patiently stood behind him as the warlock guard pushed the wooden door open.

Making his entry, Gulux narrowed his gaze on Xius as he walks in. Before the arrival of Xius, Gulux called the council of warlock nobles for a meeting concerning Lacey's involvement in the warlocks' affairs by rescuing the werewolf sentenced to death. He didn't want any harm to come to Lacey. So he needed to make sure that his subjects have not gone contrary to his decree.

Xius approached the high throne of pure gold with ancient designs of warlock symbols. A throne meant for the warlock lord to sit on. He bends a knee. "Forgive me my lord for being here outside the planned time."

"Rise!"

Gulux's pale red-looking skin is often hidden under his robe within and outside the castle. When he walks into the territory of humans, his red eyes could terrify those who behold him. Just like Xius, the scars on Gulux face were a result of waging war with the werewolves.

The rest of the warlock nobles watch as Xius takes his seat amongst the council.

"What news do you bring to us?" Gulux asked in a deep tone voice that could echo down the throne hall.

"My lord," Xius said rising to his feet. It will be a punishable offense to speak to the warlock lord while seated. He slightly lowered his head to avoid eye contact with the warlock lord. "The Earl failed us. He couldn't stop his daughter and now the werewolf is nowhere to be found."

The warlock lord had his eyes constantly fixed on Xius. He didn't want him to take the blame. The blame should be on Earl Ambrose for not teaching his daughter the ways of life of the vampires. The werewolves are considered an abomination by the vampires and it will be bad for a vampire's daughter to be around an abomination. Gulux adjusted on his throne. "What do you propose?" he asked.

"Lord, our treaty has been defiled. We should take the fight to the vampires for them to feel your fury again."

Xius being the commander of the army of warlocks longs for blood. He's war oriented and all he could think about is war and slaughtering those who crossed the warlocks or those who defile the warlock lord's order.

Gulux leans forward on his throne. "I still maintain what I have said before now."

Xius raised his head. Gulux's gaze on him seared him. "Remind me my lord, what is it you have said?"

"It's unwise to have conflict. It's barely a month since we signed the treaty with the vampires."

"It will also be unwise to let the vampires defile you by crossing into our territory and escaping with a werewolf prisoner," Xius spoke without exhibiting fear.

As he wanted to speak further to convince Gulux to give the order, Gulux angrily rose from his throne. His shadow hovered over Xius. "You will not act now!" he roared.

For the first time in 900 years of Gulux's reign, his warlock nobles began to murmur and grumble. They don't take the issue of vampires, werewolves, or even humans defiling them lightly.

They rose in anger as their murmuring and grumbling continued.

Xius glanced at Gulux with reverence in his eyes, "The council of nobles doesn't like your decision," he said.

"Silence!" Gulux roared drawing out his sword strapped around his waist. "Who wants to have a taste of my sword?" He raised his sword in display and lets them have a good look at his daemon sword.

Gulux sneered as he walks down the straight stairs that led to his throne. He made his way to the center of the throne hall and stood before the warlock nobles. "None of you will have the taste of my sword..." he sheathed his sword and raised his head casting his gaze on Xius, "at least not today."

The warlock lord spares no one not even his own. When he roared in his rage, no one dares to utter a word. Today isn't the day to spill blood of his own. He glanced at them all and opened his mouth to speak in a deep echoing tone of his. "You all know what is written in the treaty so why act like you know nothing? Part of the treaty states that the Earl will hand her daughter to me as my new bride. Waging war with the vampires now is unwise. The Earl has about two months from now to hand her daughter to me as my bride. Failure to do so, we shall match and slaughter all vampires and make their daughters and wives our bride."

Once more the warlock lord puts a smile on his council's face. They all drew out their sword and raised them in excitement as they cheered the warlock lord.

'War' is what Xius wished to hear. This is the beginning of a new dawn for the warlocks. For centuries, their kinds have been exiled by vampires. When Gulux was hundred years, he took the throne and became the new warlock lord after his father was killed by Earl Ambrose's kin.

Gulux has reigned for 900 years and throughout his reign, he has never forgotten how his father was brutally killed. Now he wants to marry Lady Lacey with the aim of finding a way to kill her father to make it look like an inside job.

Too bad that Earl Ambrose accepted the terms of the treaty to hand his daughter to a thousand-year-old warlock in exchange for a truce and more possession of territories that belongs to the warlocks.

Gulux switches his gaze to the commander of his army. "Get our scouts to find my bride-to-be and make sure the filthy wolf didn't bed my bride before I do."

Xius made a low bow with a huge smile on his face. "Your wish is my command, my lord," he said.