Chapter 6

"FASTER!" Ergus hounded the caravan.

Seeing little response, he pulled one of his remaining men close.

"Tell them to go FASTER!"

The usual obedience was replaced with scorn.

"What happened down there, sir? The men want to know. The few that made it won't talk, and you—"

"I WHAT!?"

He threw the soldier to the ground, picking up the pace himself.

"Sir!"

Ergus ignored the labored shouts of one of his men. As long as he was in the lead he'd have enough time to escape if that thing was gutsy enough to pursue them.

"Sir, please! You need to see this!"

Angry, Ergus complied.

"What is it? Make it quick."

The soldier checked his surroundings before opening up his coat to reveal the purple glowing object.

Ergus's eyes lit up before quickly pulling the soldier's coat shut again.

"Where did you find this?"

"One of our Queens seemed to have followed us. She penetrated deep into the kingdom, and one of the royal retainers was holding onto it. I snatched it in the commotion."

"A Queen, you say? And she made it all the way to their kingdom's heart?"

"Throne room," the soldier corrected. "I saw theirs with my own eyes."

Ergus relaxed at the news.

Taking the Princess from his subordinate, he ordered him away, promising a reward and allowing him to feast until they made it back home.

Moving fast, not out of fear anymore but excitement, Ergus peeked at the shining sphere over and over.

"I'll be a hero," he whispered to himself. "With at least one, no, probably two promotions waiting for me."

His dreams of grandeur came to a sudden stop when he crashed into a wall in his distraction.

"Ew. What?"

A cold slimy substance was clinging to him, rubbing it off quickly in disgust.

Then the smell hit him.

Two distinct scents mingled into one.

One was iron.

And one was...

"Mother?"

Ergus looked at the wall in confusion. Dusk prevented a clear visual, but as he made out the silhouette, a cold sweat broke out.

"Where is the princess?" Bigs asked in a low, serious tone.

"What princess?" Ergus tried stalling.

A choice he regretted as he was lifted high above the ground.

"Where?"

Ergus could tell Bigs was done joking.

"We need her," he cracked. "You think your Kingdom is the only one in decline? Look around you. The surface is dead. Even after centuries it hasn't recovered, and once day breaks, you know the things that roam these ghastly lands."

Bigs's grip tightened, choking Ergus with his own uniform.

"What gives your kingdom more right to live than ours does?" Ergus continued. "We are just as dependent on this princess as you are, so why the hell would I surrender her to you, freak? Kill me if you must. But once the next guy comes up here, she'll disappear in the turmoil and you will be swarmed and devoured without achieving shit!"

Ergus noticed a glint of hesitation in Bigs, reestablishing his lost composure.

"This is my last offer, brute. Release me and I'll let you return to your kingdom. Defeated but alive."

Bigs shuddered at that word.

"Alive?"

Trembling, today's atrocities flooded his mind.

"You've terrorized our people, pillaged our nursery, killed my Queen and... Chip"

Bigs clenched his fist slowly.

"And you want to grant mercy upon me?"

Ergus dropped. The Princess rolling out of his jacket.

Picking her up carefully, Bigs looked at the frenzied movement in the savages' ranks as Ergus began shouting commands.

Bigs placed his free hand over Ergus's head, muting his authority.

"You're mistaken savage," Bigs finally admitted to himself. "This was never about me making it back anymore. I'm here to become the nightmare your kind will never forget."