Step Five: Vengence

He dove into the water, immersing himself in the dark pool of the dream. Swimming down, and swimming down he forced himself into the depths and when he felt the algae of the lakebed, He smashed his fist into its heart, and kicked like a horse, thrashing the floor until the foundation cracked like glass.

He drew back his fist and with a mighty bubbling roar he planted his fist through the fissure and air flooded his lungs.

Aetri flew up from the ground, knocking a few people over as He gripped Grimstorms still loyal in his hand.

Swinging around The Uld backed away holding out calming hands as He naturally stanced for defence.

"Master." Aetri's eyes flew to Black-Crow, he was shaking...

"Why am I wet?" He muttered "From the lake? from the dream?"

Lee pushed in from the crowd, frowning knowingly "From the Rain Boy."

Aetri looked up, the storm continued and He shook the confusion from his mind "How long was I out?"

"Five minutes, 42 seconds." Kara came out of nowhere, she had smeared blood across the bridge of her nose, an omen of death.

Aetri remembered... Time is slow in the dream... Did he remember the dream? How many times had this happened, the change in him was growing stronger.

"Can you fight, brother?" Red-knot Lok slapped Aetri's arm, and He smiled wide.

"Always." He chuckled, rubbing his temples and regaining his focus. "Tyrg, Lok, Uld, time to go."

"You are well?" Tyrg growled.

"The Skjal, the Birton enemy. They end here." Aetri took up his sword and marched onward. Crow, Lee and Kara stood by his side, moving like ghosts under the never-ending rain.

He spotted them at the shore and his eyes widened. The Ignix had been pushed to the edge of the river, and it wriggled and writhed in panic, the Oxen butted and pushed, they looked exhausted, even Alfred was tiring.

And as the Ignix let out a wrathful shriek, its body erupted with flame, and swallowing air, it belted out a blanket of hellish fire all over the Oxen.

Lee burst forward, gripping her weapon tightly as the Beasts began to scream. Aunt Lee pulled off her helmet and glowered, a look of mourning on her face as she watched her Oxen burn... nothing could put out dragon-fire.

Crow came to her sister's side and touched her arm, Lee sniffed quietly and raised her club and her sword "STEP FIVE!?"

The Uld rallied fiercely "VENGENCE!!"

Aetri and his allies marched forward ominously, clanging blades on shields, smashing their fists on their chests.

The Briton elites looked exhausted and confused, Aetri analysed their number. He spotted the knights in their black armour, rusting in the rain and covered in the mud of the slope, many pulled away their helmets and gasped for air, as the Ignix finished off many of the Oxen with its gnashing beak.

Aetri saw Baldwin, stressed and shouting at his men, still on the Ignix's saddle, whipping the beast into action as it tried to devour Alfred's corpse.

But it was not just The Britons... Eric, Hjal and Bjorn looking awfully vexed as they moved towards the Ignix, deep irritation on their faces "Curse you, Briton, You said this would be quick and painless!"

Baldwin grunted as the Ignix cawed demonically, making the Skjal raiders jolt. Aetri would not have it, He marched faster and the Enemy stiffened at the sight of them.

The Uld now outnumbered them, 300 raiders against 50 armed men, 3 Skjal and a fully grown flaming Ignix.

They didn't stand a chance. Aetri stepped towards the field, where Baldwin beckoned the Ignix to face him. Eric spat and growled as Kara came into view "I'm going to tare your skin off, woman!" He roared, scarred Bjorn struggled to hold him back.

Kara merely raised her spear "I've waited a long, long time to kill you, Skjal-Pig." She spat back.

"You think this is a time for words?" Hjal stepped forward, he wielded a heavy Warhammer "You're all dead."

"This has nothing to do with you, pathetic worms, scuttle back to your shit-hole or your corpse will drift out to the White sea, unburied and forgotten." Lee's wrath made the Skjal step back.

Baldwin raised his weapon, a repeating crossbow far newer and more advanced than he had recognized from his days in Britannia. He grinned like a knife, showing his rotting teeth. Aetri's eyes, gold and bright gazed into the Scummy captain of these ridiculous knights.

"really? the strong silent type? Nameless pillock." Baldwin spat "I had heard that Your cowardice was bottomless, that you flew away like a knave, unworthy of your name..." His face warped into a twisted smile "...How would you like me to tell your fellows, your true name?"

Aetri was silent, there was nothing to say, this would either be the beginning or the end.

The Ignix peered deep into Aetri, it struck at his soul, resonated deeply: PENDRAL TRAITOR!!

Grimstorms ivory blade flashed to life, the Young Warrior dashed towards the beast, death in his eyes.

With incredible speed, He unleashed a deadly slash. The Battle began and screaming warriors slammed into hard steel, within less than a second, metal tore flesh and the Uld showed no mercy.

Aetri brought down a hammering blow, straight for the neck, wasting no time in slaying this giant monstrosity. With deadly reflexed, the fiery beast mashed the sharp blade, sending Aetri staggering back into the sand.

The Ignix eyed him fiercely, Cawing lowly as flames emerged from its feathers, scales glowing red. Baldwin Guffawed wildly, lifting his crossbow and drawing back its string.

Fighting raged around him, but Aetri felt one purpose, one rage. He had to kill this Ignix, then He had to slaughter Baldwin.

Grimstorm cut through the rain, slashing across the air as Aetri leapt forward. The Ignix jolted back in surprise, Baldwin growling as He aimed his crossbow. The Young Warrior smiled under his scarf and hood, and like the wind moved with incredible speed, flashing like a lightning bolt beneath the Ignix's fiery neck.

Baldwin gasped as He fired by accident, the bolts streaking directly into the Dragon's flesh. Flames erupted in its roaring madness, screeching in pain. Aetri was exactly where he wanted to be, ripping Kara's knife from his belt and aiming for the three smoking vents just under the Ignix's neck, leading straight to its fiery heart.

He plunged for the vents, but they filled with fire and his skin crawled and his stomach soured, his vision doubled and all became twisted, the Fire disturbed him and he could smell burning corpses, hear the screams and the tearing of flesh.

But he shook out of it, he focused on the now and proceeded with the plan, He'd have his vengeance, he'd kill the flame.

The Skys screamed with fury and the rains picked up, making Baldwin stir as its mount bucked. Arthur saw his opportunity and in a quick blow, He cut at the Ignix's side, sending it reeling back over the edge... and into the lake.

The Water flashed boiled and exploded with froth, the heat rising as the birds yelping scream was quenched by the flooding water, as was its flames. Baldwin was bucked from his saddle, Crossbow flying as He disapered into the waters.

Aetri sneered, but had no time to tarry. The Battle was ferocious, Black-crow strangled a man with the chain of her hook, pulling him in close to close in for the kill.

Lee was a monster on the field, fighting both Bjorn and Hjal who could barely keep up with her terrifying might, swinging club and sword, crushing sheild and bone in her black and red metal armour.

Kara came head to head with Erik and beat the man senseless, smashing his collar with her bow, then shooting two arrows, barley missing the Skjal warrior as He charged into her.

The Uld were executing the Briton forces, they were slower, colder, weaker, Aetri had handed these people a victory, but there was still work to be done.

The Ignix was soaked and it's flames snuffed out, the horrid, boney creature snarlled in desperation, unable to flap free from the water, Aetri quivered as it looked at him, and the shadows rumbled, the rain pattered on his skin, and filled his mind with memory.

---

The Runaway Prince

The Voice whispered in his ear "You were just a boy then."

The walls shook violently and the Boy rustled in panic, as several people adorned him in his small cloak and stuffed items into his package.

"1657 SA, 26th of June, the Year of the Grim, on the day of Attrocity when the Great Dragon fell upon Camelot."

Aetri could feel the Boy's fear, watching the tears streak down the hard face of his mother, a bow in her hand and panic on her face. Servants prepared him, all were frantic, save for one... The Spymaster, fastening her travel clothes stood in the corner, peering at him with her cold silver eyes.

"Listen to me son..." Mother crouched beside him and spoke through weeps, He had been seperated from his sisters, taken to the hidden balcony above the Throne-hall, where all fussed over him.

"Where is Uncle Oz, and Uncle Falstaff? W-What.... What was that thing, Mother?" He asked in a shaky voice.

Queen Guinevere shook her head and sniffed back her fear, she had to be strong for her son "My beautiful boy, You... won't see them... not for a long time. Things have transpired that... You have to run my little dragon, Edwyn cannot catch you."

"But what about Maggie? what about Angie I can't just leave them behind, Mother, please... I can't leave my family behind, it's not what Pater would have wanted!" He protested as the Castle shook and the smell of smoke and burnign grew louder.

Mother cast her eyes down and saw the city inhabbitants flooding through the great antechamber's doors, filling the Throneroom, spilling into the grand hall... they'd have to escape, time was running out.

"I know this is sudden, and scary and confusing, but I need you to be strong, little newt. Fate will stir your sails, but only you can keep the course."

Newt was afraid, the city was being destroyed, uncle Oz was gone... and Mother was speaking on a dark omen. But he'd obey his mothers word, as was a princes duty "I.... Can I at least say goodbye? Sir Randall? Cousin Percy?"

The Queen held back her hysterics with greta effort "...The Spymaster, Lady Black-Crow, will take you to saftey."

The Castle rumbled and the two staggered as people screamed in the distance, the boy clutched his ears, the sound disturbed him.

Voices cried below, great booming voices commanding to make way, as Ozwuld the Iron Dragon marched, battered and smeered with blood, with several of golden garrison, with horror in their eyes, covered in soot, shambled alongside him.

The Boy opened his eyes wide, it was hot as the Red Dessert in the castle, the stone of the castle walls burned hot, but a chill swept down his spine, like he could sense comething coming... the destinct taste of death on the air. He had to save his family.

Newt slammed into the balcony, overlooking the throne room, he wanted to call down to his sisters, He wanted to order his mother to take him to his uncle, but with a kiss on the cheek and a paralyzingly tight hug, Her Majesty Queen Guinevere held back sobs as she wished her son: "The World... and every fortune you can find, I pray to God, the goddess and the saints that I will see you again, little Newt."

He had forgotten what she had looked like, how staggeringly beautiful his mother was, and just as quickly as he was basked in that motherly warmth, protected by his name and his Parents effforts, it vanished into nothing. Her majesty tangled fingers with him, painfully grasping not to be torn away, but her servant tugged at her arms and dress, dragging her away from her child and away into the shadows.

It was just him and Black-Crow now, in her feather cloak and mask. She said nothing at first as He stared at her awkwardly, but eventually she walked up cautiously and knelt at his side. Black-crow drew away her mask and showed him a peak at her pale face, and black eyes "You must know my face if you need to locate me. You must not get lost." She spoke with an icy voice.

The Boy sneered and drew away in greif, peering down as the Queen, his sisters the princesses, and Uncle Ozwuld came together, rushing into each others arms.

He longed to join them, but Crow took a tight hold of his arm "We cannot interfere, it is Lord Ozwulds wish that we move ahead."

"I cannot leave them!" He complained, although the golden guards cracked open the space behind the throne, the wide escape route that slid open into a long set of caves, leading north to safety.... His family went through to it first, rushing towards those shadowy caves, but their salvation turned out to be darker than they at first expected.