Malevolence Conflict-----carry on

~~~

Erai watched as the two human prisoners ran from her demesne. Humans were so deliciously predictable at times! Erai laughed quietly. They’d be back.

Erai crossed to her looking-glass, studying what she knew was a stunningly seductive reflection. She was tall for a woman, but not frightfully so, and her glossy hair fell almost to her hips. It was glistening black, as were the deep pools of her eyes. She was slender, generously curved in all the right places. Her full lips were blood red, her white teeth perfect. The gown she was wearing accentuated her figure perfectly. It was delicately revealing, showing cleavage and white skin.

Erai, the Darke Queen of the Far Reaches, was a black widow spider. Make love, and then kill the man she coupled with.

The Darke Queen glanced over the shoulder of her reflection. One of her minions, a demon General, had entered her chambers, grovelling on the floor. Erai smiled coldly.

“Tr’n? What is it now?” Her voice, like her smile, was icy, but somewhat tempting.

“The prisoners… they have escaped…”

“You assume I am unaware of this development, you worthless piece of shit?” Erai snapped.


“N-no, M-Mistress.”

“You do not even deserve to grovel at my feet, you filthy animal. I should tear your head from your shoulders right now and feed it to the sons of bitches that call me their queen.”

“You wouldn’t dare kill me, mistress, or the demons will turn on you and suck every inch of blood out of your precious body.”

Erai arched a thin eyebrow at Tr’n. “Excuse me?” she whispered dangerously. Tr’n recoiled sharply, stammering a rapid apology. Erai rolled her eyes. With a contemptuous flick of her wrist, Tr’n imploded. His small body crumpled in on itself, and then exploded in a wave a black blood and gore.

She half smiled thoughtfully.

“Scum,” she murmured, re-concentrating on her reflection. She uttered a soft sigh of satisfaction.

PART TWO: DISCOVERY OF POWER

The mountains were bitterly cold. Chirrane and Jorwyn were freezing, struggling onwards out of the Far Reaches. They had been walking for days. They had acquired many cuts and bruises from the sharp ice and brittle rock of the Ice Mountains. And they had almost been killed several times, not as a result of harm but of their own incessant arguing.

And to add insult to injury, Chirrane and Jorwyn were starving.

Erai smiled at the image in the mirror. It was time for the little rats to find out what fear really meant – time for them to go to war. Just like the Icedragons prophesied. It would interesting to see how they coped with war and knowing they were going to die, defeated by Erai’s legions.

~~~

“I’m freezing my arse off here!”

“Shut up, Chirrane,” Jorwyn muttered tonelessly.

“Oh and you’re just so tough, aren’t you, pretty boy? Can’t feel the cold, can you? Well sorry.”

“Chirrane….get over yourself. If you’re really that cold, you can always huddle up with me,” Jorwyn smiled cheekily.

“In your dreams, pretty boy.” Chirrane drew her legs close to her body for warmth - after all, she was only wearing a simple dress and plain leather armour.

“Your loss”

Jorwyn watched as Chirrane turned away. He smiled. Perfect. Jorwyn crept an inch nearer to Chirrane. She didn’t notice. Good; very good. He inched closer again, until he was within a few centimetres of her. Jorwyn could feel Chirrane shivering and suddenly felt sorry for her. She’d endured a lot. Jorwyn shrugged off a moment’s compassion and hesitation and feigned an exaggerated yawn. He pretended to stretch, his arm reaching over Chirrane. Holding back a grin, he draped his arm around her shoulders.

Chirrane’s fist swung out of nowhere, slamming into Jorwyn’s face. He shrunk back, groaning.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Chirrane exclaimed.