The Forsaken Hero

Lieutenant Joel and Orion were waiting for me without the inn. Joel leaned against the worn stone, eyes closed in contemplation while Orion paced, his boots scraping against the cobblestones. He looked up as I slipped through, breaking out into a relieved smile. They both stared at Fable for a moment before shifting their gazes onto me.

”You made it,” Orion cried, but then his face fell as his memory tempered his excitement. ”Oh, damn it, you can’t understand me.”

I reached out and stroked Fable’s head. ”It’s alright now. As long as I’m with him, I can speak any language.”

Joel cleared his throat, his gaze flicking to the inn’s upper windows. ”And the hero?”

A shiver ran down my spine, and my tail twitched in agitation. ”He got what he wanted,” I managed, the words leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

Joel’s shoulders slumped, a visible exhale of relief escaping him. ”Good. Then let us be gone from this place. With that damned wolf around, it won’t be long before people start asking unnecessary questions. Even with my authority, there’s only so much I can do once people learn you’re a demonkin.”

He and Orion turned, taking a few steps before realizing I wasn’t following. Orion half turned, his forehead creasing in confusion.

”I’m... not going,” I whispered. The words were thick and reluctant to be said, barely squeezing past the lump in my throat. The two soldiers glanced at each other, and Orion gave a little shrug. The weight of their stares bore into me, condemning me for the words I had yet to utter. My chest tightened painfully, forcing me to take a shallow breath before I continued and said, ”Lieutenant Joel, I’m going to save Korra. The inquisitors have her.”

Orion sucked a breath in, glancing over my shoulder at the looming towers of the keep. ”Are you sure?”

I nodded and my hand clenched around a handful of Fable’s fur. ”I...can’t promise it will be peaceful. In fact, many people are going to die.”

The two shared another long look before he spoke again. ”My lady, why are you telling us this? Aren’t you afraid we’re going to stop you?”

I shook my head and took a deep breath, mustering my confidence. ”You can’t stop me from saving her. I don’t want to fight you, which is why you have to know. Please, I don’t want to kill anyone, but...I will. This city is dead already. The trade has dried up and the demons are slowly edging toward it.”

Joel frowned. ”How can you be so sure?”

”I can feel it. Yesterday, when I lost control of my aura, I felt their drive, their lust. It’s only a matter of time. That’s why, please, save who you can. I’m going to the fortress. I want to save her with words, but I...I....”

I turned to go, but Orion caught my wrist. His hand tightened painfully, his voice stressed. ”Xiviyah...”

My breath caught in my throat, a tremor running through my tail. He used my name without title or pretense, tugging at my heart with sincerity. My determination wavered, and I looked over my shoulder, tail twitching uncertainly. Orion returned my gaze with steadiness, his eyes smoldering with conviction, soothing my heart. It was the same as back then, when we stood together against the demons in the Ice Gate.

”Go,” he said, softer this time. ”We’ll evacuate the city. Do what needs to be done.”

Joel started to argue, his hand falling to his sword, but Orion released me. Before the lieutenant could take any action, I slid onto Fable’s back. Urging him forward, I lay low over his shoulder and let his massive strides carry me away into the heart of the city. People scattered before us in alarm and confusion, screaming as they made out the infernal attributes of the massive wolf. My cloak flared out in the wind, revealing my own demonic features, but it hardly mattered at this point. The inquisitors would know I was here soon enough anyway.

Fable’s massive paws devoured the cobblestone streets, reducing the people and vacant street stalls to a blur. With every step, the buildings seemed to lean closer, their shadowed windows staring at me like accusing eyes. People wandered the streets, unaware that their lives were about to be changed forever, perhaps even lost in a seemingly futile conflict. Guilt clawed at my insides, growing ever more oppressive as we neared the inward district of the city, I crouched lower over Fable’s circle, unable to bring myself to look above his silver fur at those who would be swept up in the inevitable clash. I wouldn’t hesitate to act, not with Korra’s life in the balance, but watching the children laugh and play made my heart ache.

Long before I was ready, the fortress loomed in the sky above us, close enough that it blotted out the titanic monolith behind it. Carved from the same striking blue earth that gave the canyon its name, it was crude and unadorned, simple compared to the elegant structures of the Divine Throne. There was no doubt that it had been built not for looks or as a display of power, but for the singular purpose of holding whichever invasion threatened Brithlite through the canyon.

We crossed the outer courtyard in a heartbeat, reaching the heavy iron-bound gates. Arrow slits and narrow windows offered glimpses of a sparsely populated courtyard behind the outer walls. As the guards approached, curious about our appearance, my pulse accelerated. Now that I was here, the enormity of what I intended hit me with a startling, sickening force. Just how many innocents were going to die because of me? And what if I failed? Would it all be in vain?

There were five guards, each protected with full plate armor and bearing the colors of the city, not the Last Light Company. Their curiosity waned into wariness as they took in our demonic characteristics, their gauntleted hands tightened around the hafts of their spears.

One stepped forward, but before he could challenge us, a panicked patrol of guards spilled into the street from a nearby alley.

”Sir! A demonkin’s been sighted in the city! She’s headed for–”

The newcomer swallowed his tongue, eyes bulging as he caught sight of me and Fable. The guard who had first stepped forward glanced at him and a grim smile flitted across his face.

”Thank you, corporal, but it seems your warning came a bit too late.” Then, returning his attention to me, shouted, ”Identify yourself and state your business.”

His voice grated on my sensitive ears, but I took a deep breath and steeled myself, meeting his challenge with a steady gaze. ”I am Xiviyah, the Oracle of Eternity. I come to speak with the inquisitors.”

I inwardly cringed at my self-proclaimed title, but I kept my composure and somehow even managed to keep my tail from twitching in embarrassment. It was a necessary sacrifice, even if I’d later die of shame at using such pretentious language. Joel had shown me the soldiers of Brithlite cared for rank and authority, and I would need every edge I could get.

Fortunately, the guards responded well, lowering their weapons and exchanging uncertain glances. The leader among them drummed his fingers on the hilt of his spear before finally nodding at one of his men. They turned and slipped through the entrance, disappearing within the inner courtyard of the keep.

”The ’Oracle of Eternity?’” the guard asked, ”I recognize you, betrayer, yet not that title.”

The direct question overwhelmed my best efforts at composure and my cheeks colored. I stared at him, hoping they wouldn’t notice, too afraid to speak lest my voice trembled and betrayed nervousness. As the silence drew out, growing ever more oppressive, I desperately envisioned Korra, her bravery and confidence. Her memory washed over me like gentle waves, soothing my pounding heart and cooling my nerves.

After a few long, tense seconds, the guards looked away, unnerved by whatever they saw in my eyes. I blinked and looked down at Fable, who was staring at the guards, his ears pricked. Should I get off his back, or remain mounted? I felt far safer with his fur between my fingers, but would it really be appropriate to enter a fortress atop a wolf?

They were idle thoughts, but I allowed myself to ponder them, anything to distract myself from the coming confrontation. It worked, and by the time the guard reappeared, my breathing had returned to normal. I slid off Fable’s back, my mind made up, and landed firmly on the ground. The wolf’s ears flicked once in surprise, and he shifted a tad closer to me, nudging up against my side. I rested a hand on his shoulder, about chest height for me, as the guard whispered something in the leader’s ear. I may not be riding him for now, but his presence gave me comfort. At least I wasn’t going into this alone.

After conferring for a moment longer, the leader of the guards turned to me, one hand tight on the haft of his spear, the other gesturing toward the gate. ”The High Inquisitor will see you. Please, follow me.”