THE WITCHER AND THE WOLF

CHAPTER TEN: THE LYCAN WAR: PART THREE

Skassgard, Rivia

Snow, the Witcher's wolf scurried towards Amadeus after days of search in the dark forest. He had gone to mate as it was his season every full moon. But this time he came with scars and bruises, limping towards him. A wolf's brawl over a mate though Amadeus. His snow white fur was covered in blood turning it into a dark silhouette of grey and black. Blood trickling from one of his limbs. 

Amadeus felt pity and knelt while tending to his wounds. Snow howled in pain as Amadeus patched him up using healing potions and bandages for his bruises. "You have much to learn" said the Witcher in a low tone. Snow growled quietly as Amadeus finished tending to his wounds. "We have a long journey ahead of us..." said Amadeus. 

The air was cold and chilly, tiny flakes of snow came falling down from the heavens resting on the Witcher's head like a crown of thorns. He grunted at the sight of the villagers who gave him unwelcoming looks on their facades. The Witcher did not mind the mundane. His duty was to protect them from the vile creatures of Midgard, whether they loved his kind or not.

The Kingdom of the Lycan Empire was far in the East where no man sought to wander or live, for they would be taken as prisoner and sacrifice to Lord Demetrius: The King of the Lycan Empire. Every full moon his pack of werewolves would steal innocent babies from their mundane and give them to Lord Demetrius as a blood sacrifice. 

Of which their innocent blood spilled would make him stronger day by day.

The King of the Lycan Empire was a monolith of a creature being as tall as six feet tall and his body big and muscular like that of a minotaur. He had jagged teeth that were sharp and could tear flesh like butter. He ruled an army of Lycans with a iron fist as his father and his father's father before him.

Amadeus of Rivia scouted the vicinity with much thought and precision he stood over a cliff surreptitiously to scout the area beside him his black horse Knight grunting while eating grass. He slowly approached his horse picked his reins and tied him onto a tree, then he reached for his saddle and got out his crossbow a gift from Sir Gallant a Knight of the Midgard given to him as a token of appreciation after defeating a Griffin that terrorized the small town of Fornburg.

The black castle loomed over the distance. A tall and dominant structure that seemed to pierce over the clouds leaving a dark silhouette that sent Amadeus skin crawl. Over the top of the castle was a dark cloud that hovered over the strong hold like a bad omen. Lycan guards in their human form were present on their posts watching for any suspicious activity.

Amadeus pored a vile potion over the arrows: sulphur and Holy water with a dash of garlic to burn their leathery hides of thick skin. Above, the moon hung low with a radiant glow, that radiated the Witcher's path.

Distraction...I need a distraction

He looked up at the castle, a cart of hay was adjacent to the main entrance. If I could used one of my flaming arrows, the guards would make haste for the flames, leaving the sides unattended where I could find my way in to the castle grounds without causing attention to myself.

With that he lit the tip of his arrow slinged it on the cross bow and shot at the bay of hay. Flames erupted slowly then fiercely, the guards manning the gate rushed to see what was the commotion leaving the side gate vulnerable. 

The Witcher moved like a predator.

He got in to the castle grounds. The place was deserted just as he planned. A mist hovered over the castle ground like a low hanging cloud. The smell of Sulphur rent the air as a slight drizzle from the heavens poured from above. Caged beasts from every corner of Midgard sat in the rain from minotaurs to a chained griffin in the center of the courtyard, the King must have been doing his experiments again...thought the Witcher.

He got out his sword StormBringer and killed two guards with ease without him losing breath. He stormed into the castle. I am sure they have wind of my trickery by now and are looking frantically for suspects thought Amadeus. He breached down into the lower levels where Lord Demetrius was rumored. Hacking and slashing at any guards who came by his way as he made his way down the belfry.

Finally, Lord Demetrius sitting on his iron throne made of hide and leather with a crown atop his head. He was in a full Lycan transfiguration. Amadeus gripped his sword Stormbringer tightly as he sized the monolith of a monster that was before him.

I am here for the girl...

The wolf king stood up revealing war scars that etched his body like a tailored tunic. He gave the Witcher an evil smile that made even Amadeus slightly tremble in fear brandishing his white jagged teeth that were white as snow. The contrast of the throne room was despicable, burned candle sticks illuminated the hall lightly, the Wolf King's silhouette stretched as far as the eyes can see.

His arched back covered with dark fur.

You mean the girl with the gift?

The one who posses the power to be both a vampire and Lycan alike?

The one rumored to end the war?

The one so powerful that has the power to break the immortality of the Vampires and make us too Lycans immortal...

You see Witcher I and you are alike we both take vile potions to enhance our strength speed and agility and prolong our life span

She is but child!

A means to an end! Nonetheless!

My father and my father's father have fought this war tooth and nail, only for those nightwalkers to trample us over a millenia due to their immortality. Leaving my brethren dead upon graves of disgrace and futility.

Bring the the child!

His loyal acolytes brought a young female child dressed in white. She was unconscious but still breathing his Witcher senses came to life. He could hear her heart beat. With a quick motion the Witcher removed his cross bow and shot at the chandelier that hung above the courtyard.

A distraction good...

The Wolf King howled at the  full moon and instantly his fellow Lycans turned into their true form. He used a spell to cast a tranfixation spell on the Wolf King. He was immobilized for a few minutes clutching the girl child across his chest. Using his spell-cast special arrows he shot like a madman his aim precise and his ammunition insidious that torched the Lycans skins like butter.

Bodies were pilled up, the stench of blood and gore filled the great hall. The Lycan ruler now freed from the spell sought to devour the young child as it would give him the power of immortality as that of their rivals and become even stronger. No sooner had the Lord himself clutched the young babe than the Wither's sword Stormbringer pierced the back of his hide wounding the mad Wolf King as he moaned in pain and agony.

Only for Amelia the immortal princess to be caught in mid air by the Witcher.