Chapter 48: The Crystal Within the Beast

[Afternoon — Northern Territory — Deep Snow Forest]

CRUNCH...

CRUNCH...

The sound of boots pressing into the frozen snow echoed through the ancient forest.

Kael walked at the front of the expedition, his crimson cloak pulled tightly around his shoulders against the bitter northern wind. His sword hung at his waist, its hilt occasionally brushing against his hip as he moved.

Behind him came Captain Cedric, Duke Lucein, and Grand Duke Lior, followed by a carefully selected group of Imperial Knights, and no one spoke for several moments.

The forest itself seemed to be listening; tall, ancient trees rose on either side of them, their branches buried beneath thick layers of snow. The farther they traveled, the less sunlight reached the ground.

The northern wilderness was becoming darker, colder, and strangely silent. Cedric finally broke the silence. "So...the Shadow King truly swallowed every Grimfang into his shadows?"

Kael did not answer immediately; his eyes remained fixed upon the path ahead. Duke Lucein answered instead.

"We witnessed it ourselves; the Grimfangs were dragged into the Shadow King’s darkness. Not one remained on the battlefield."

Cedric glanced toward the surrounding trees. "Then all we need to do is find their king and queen."

Lucein’s expression hardened. "That is precisely the problem."

Cedric frowned.

"What?"

"We don’t know where they are."

The group continued forward.

CRUNCH...

CRUNCH...

Lucein looked toward the enormous cliffs rising beyond the forest.

"The records say the Grimfangs have never built settlements like ordinary clans. They dwell beneath the mountains, inside caverns where sunlight never reaches."

Cedric looked toward Kael. "And the Shadow King?"

Grand Duke Lior’s enormous wolf ears shifted beneath his hood. Kael finally glanced back. "He said he would not interfere."

Lior studied his son’s expression. "He will not accompany us?"

Kael shook his head as his fingers tightened around the reins of his cloak. "No, he made it clear that this is a mortal matter."

Lior remained silent. Kael continued. "He said he would appear only if I were in danger."

There was a brief pause.

Then Kael looked ahead again as his voice became firmer. "But killing the Grimfang King and Queen is my responsibility. I cannot allow him to solve every danger that approaches me."

Lior’s expression softened slightly. "That is a wise decision, my son."

Kael gave a faint nod. "I know he wants to protect me, but if I am to rule Qashmar, I cannot spend my life hiding behind the power of a deity."

Cedric exchanged a brief glance with Lucein; neither spoke because they both understood what Kael meant. The Emperor wasn’t merely hunting the Grimfangs; he was proving something.

To himself and to the empire. Perhaps even to Lytharion. That he could stand upon his own feet. Lior finally spoke.

"Then we shall ensure you do not have to stand alone."

Kael glanced toward him; his father’s voice was calm. "As your father...and as the Grand Duke of House Vaelric, I will stand beside you."

Kael’s expression softened. "I know you will, Father."

They continued deeper into the forest; the trees grew thicker, the wind became colder and then—Lucein stopped.

"Wait."

Everyone froze. Cedric’s hand immediately moved toward his sword. "What is it?"

Lucein pointed ahead; beyond the trees stood an enormous mountain wall, and carved into its frozen surface...were several enormous openings.

Caves.

Many of them, some barely large enough for a wolf, were enormous. Large enough for something far greater to emerge.

Kael slowly approached, his amber eyes narrowed.

"The caves..."

Lior nodded as he pulled a weathered parchment from beneath his cloak and unfolded it carefully. "The records were correct; the Grimfangs have always lived beneath the northern mountains."

Cedric drew his sword.

SHING!

"We search them one by one."

Kael raised his hand.

"No."

Everyone looked toward him. Kael stared at the caves; something felt wrong. There were no footprints, no animal tracks, no growls, and no movement.

Nothing.

Too quiet.

"This place should not be this silent."

Lucein’s expression darkened as he slowly drew his own sword. "Your Majesty..."

Kael stepped closer to the cave entrance; cold air drifted from within, not ordinary wind. It carried a faint scent.

Something ancient, and something metallic. Kael’s eyes narrowed. Cedric’s expression changed.

The knights immediately tightened their formation. Lior shifted into his wolf form, enormous claws sinking into the snow.

"Everyone stay alert."

Kael stared into the darkness; the cave seemed to stretch endlessly into the mountain.

Then—

Drip.

A single drop of dark liquid fell from somewhere inside.

Drip.

Another.

Kael’s hand slowly moved toward his sword. Lucein whispered, "Your Majesty..."

Kael didn’t answer because from deep within the cave...something moved, not toward them but away from them.

SCRAAAAAPE...

A long, heavy sound echoed through the darkness and then silence.

The Imperial Knights drew their swords.

SHING!

One after another, steel emerged from its sheath. Kael stepped toward the cave as his fingers tightened around his sword.

"If the king and queen are here...we find them before whatever is controlling them finds us."

SHING!

One after another, the Imperial Knights drew their swords.

For several heartbeats, there was only the sound of their breathing.

Then—

GRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOWWWWWLLLLLLL—!!!

The growl came from behind them, and every knight froze. Kael’s eyes widened. Cedric spun around.

"Behind us!"

THUD.

Snow collapsed from the trees as something enormous stepped out from between the ancient trunks. One massive paw sank into the snow, then another.

The creature emerged completely, and the Imperial Knights stared. Even Grand Duke Lior’s expression changed.

It was a Grimfang but not an ordinary one.

The beast stood several heads taller than the largest wolf in the Imperial army. Its body was covered in thick, pale fur that almost disappeared against the snow, while enormous black claws dug into the frozen earth.

Its eyes burned with an unnatural crimson glow, but what truly caught Kael’s attention was its chest. Near the center of its heart a jagged crystal had been embedded beneath its flesh.

Attached.

Thin black veins spread outward from the crystal, disappearing beneath the creature’s pale fur. Kael’s expression hardened.

"Is that the King?"

Grand Duke Lior’s enormous wolf ears rose sharply, then his voice thundered across the forest.

"EVERYONE, ALERT!"

The knights immediately raised their weapons. Lior’s gaze remained fixed upon the enormous beast.

"IT’S A GRIMFANG KING!"

The words struck the soldiers like thunder; several knights instinctively stepped backward. Cedric immediately raised his sword.

"Do not break formation!"

The Grimfang King lowered its head.

GRRRRRRRRRR...

Its breath emerged as white mist; the crystal embedded near its heart pulsed once.

THUM.

Kael felt something in the air shift as the temperature suddenly dropped. His fingers tightened around his sword. Lucein noticed it as well; his expression darkened.

"Your Majesty..."

Kael didn’t look away from the beast.

"I know."

Lucein turned toward the knights. "Only those carrying blades forged with Mana Stones step forward!"

Several knights immediately advanced.

"Everyone else, protect yourselves and maintain the rear formation!"

The soldiers obeyed.

CLANG!

CLANG!

Mana-infused swords were raised, and the Grimfang King snarled.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR...

Its eyes remained fixed upon Kael again, and Kale could feel it, that gaze and that unnatural focus as his eyes narrowed.

"It is looking at me, again."

Cedric moved instantly. "Your Majesty, stay behind us."

Kael shook his head.

"No."

"Your Majesty—"

"If it truly wants me, hiding behind the knights will accomplish nothing."

Cedric clenched his jaw. Lior stepped closer to Kael. "Then we shall stand beside you; I will not watch another beast tear into you."

Kael’s expression softened for a moment, then—

THUM.

As the crystal pulsed again, the Grimfang King’s muscles tightened. Kael immediately raised his sword.

"Prepare!"

The beast’s claws scraped across the frozen earth.

SKRRRRRRAAAAAAPE...

Every knight braced themselves, but Kael suddenly noticed something as his gaze shifted toward the surrounding forest.

The trees, the snow, and the caves. Everything was still...too still, and his heart tightened. He slowly looked toward the darkness behind the beast.

"If the King is here...then the Queen must be nearby."

Lucein’s eyes widened as his voice thundered through the formation. "Everyone! Do not focus solely on the king!"

The knights immediately began scanning the trees.

"Watch your surroundings!" Cedric turned toward the soldiers. "Formation in every direction! No blind spots!"

Kael’s voice followed, sharper now.

"She’s here...I can sense it."

A strange pressure seemed to settle over the snow. Somewhere beyond the trees...something breathed.

Hhhh...

Kael’s expression hardened.

"Stay alert."

The Grimfang King suddenly raised its head.

GRRRRRRRRRR...

Its gaze remained fixed upon Kael, but then from somewhere deep within the forest came another sound, not a growl, not a roar but a soft, low—

CRACK.

A branch breaking beneath something heavy as every knight turned but nothing. Only snow-covered trees.

Cedric’s grip tightened around his sword. "Your Majesty..."

Kael didn’t answer; his eyes remained fixed upon the darkness, and then the crystal inside the Grimfang King’s chest pulsed again.

THUM.

And this time...something answered from the forest.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR...

Not one voice...several.

Kael’s face went cold. "There are more."

Grand Duke Lior’s claws dug into the snow. Kael slowly raised his sword as his eyes narrowed.

"They’re surrounding the king," and then his eyes widened with realization. "Does the king have more than one queen?"

Silence.

The Grimfang King suddenly lifted its head toward the mountains, and for the first time...its crimson eyes held something that looked almost like pain.

Kael stared at the crystal embedded in its chest, and then...TWO GRIMFANG QUEENS...WALKED OUT OF THE WHITE SNOW.

GRRRROOOOWWWWWWWWLLLLLL!!!!!!