Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
TYNAN
Iclenched my fists watching part of the wall cave in on the city’s side. Then a herd of crawlers managed to slip into the opening like a bunch of poisonous spiders. One of them knocked over a lantern, and a fire had broken out. The warriors worked to extinguish it while fighting the undead.
Every person would be in danger if the wall was not quickly secured. Alsaard was not prepared to stand on its own. It was only a matter of time before the monster dragons would be flying over the city. They had no adequate defense against an attack from the sky.
A shadow streaked into the street and I took off after it.
Any of the undead, even a single crawler could bring the entire city to its knees.
Just one of them would be enough to kill everybody here.
I ran faster, exhausting my last reserves.
Then I shifted and soared up in the sky.
If it was a crawler, I had to kill it before it reached some innocent bystander.
Just then my eyes focused on the darting shadow and I dived in between the buildings. The crawler moved faster than humanly possible. It would be difficult even for me to keep up in my human form, but my dragon was faster.
I dropped on top of it, and lifted it up into the sky. The undead screeched and fought me in the air. I ascended higher, my wings slashing the thick, night air. When I was far enough from the city lines, I released the helpless body and it fell somewhere in the woods, then everything went quiet.
It was still surreal to see another free city, untouched by the corruption of the wastelands. These people deserved true leadership, not an old man who shut himself up in shame, abandoning his duties. I took a wide turn, returning to the breached wall.
“All the crawlers have been dealt with,” Mayer reported as I landed.
“These fools had left their posts.” Sage appeared out of nowhere.
I frowned, scrutinizing the wall. The soldiers needed discipline, without a leader present, things were going to fall apart quickly.
Was it a deliberate plan on Hubert’s part? Was his first knight involved in this? Were they willing to risk their own city to sabotage us?
“Find me the ones who are responsible,” I said.
“Yes, sir.” Mayer hurried toward the wall.
“You need to fix this.” Sage dropped.
“Where’s Steiner?”
“How would I know?” He shrugged his shoulders.
“Find out, will you?” I said, gritting my teeth.
The sun was beating against the charred black, wooden beams, when the soldiers and officers lined up in front of me. Distrust, insubordination, and poorly hidden malice was written on every face.
“These are almost all of them, sir. Some were left to guard the walls, sir.” Mayer reported.
I nodded, returning my gaze to the rows of knights.
“My name is Tynan Darragh. I’m your new king.”
“But not our clan leader!” someone shouted.
I searched for the face in the crowd, but could not find who spoke out. A ripple went through the rows of men, and I knew I had to address it right there and then.
“Your old leader is unfit to take charge of the clan, and until I find someone who can take his position, you all are reporting to me.” I raised my voice. “Now, I need to know who was assigned to guard the post that was breached.”
Silence was my only response. I walked along the lines, looking into their eyes.
They failed to understand that the world around them had changed.
The clan wars had to end. Our only chance against the crawlers, especially the crawler dragons, was to fight together. Those who resisted would not survive.
My eyes lingered on one of the knights. His eyes were shifting around, trying his hardest not to meet my gaze. I stopped in front of him, tilting my head to the side.
“Talk,” I said.
“Sir? I don’t know . . . anything.” He swallowed.
I sighed, unsheathing my sword.
“I . . . don’t . . . didn’t see,” he mumbled.
“I’m going to slice one part of your body for every lie you tell me,” I moved the blade closer to his face.
The man’s eyes were locked on the darkened steel. He was visibly shaking.
“Demon! You’re a demon!” someone yelled from the back.
I moved my eyes, finally spotting the person who was shouting.
It was getting hot on the clearing and the smell of sweat and burned flesh hit my face when I walked through the crowd.
The knights made way for me, letting me cut through the rows.
When I stopped next to a young man with bright, unwavering eyes and a stubbornly raised chin, I smirked.
“Do you have something to say?”
“You killed our clan leader.”
“And?”
“You’re the one who destroyed this city.”
“Is that so? Am I the reason none of you are willing to defend your own city?”
“No one wants you here. No one’s going to respect you.”
My hand wrapped around the back of his neck and I lowered my mouth to his ear.
“I don’t give a fuck about your respect.” I let go of his head. I faced forward and shouted, “I don’t give a fuck about your approval. I killed Rutherford, because he challenged me and lost. He gambled with all of your lives because he wanted more.”
Silence was my only answer. I walked through the rows of soldiers.
“Last night only three crawlers got in and were quickly detained. But this negligence could lead to the loss of the city. I need to know who’s responsible, and I am not going to repeat myself.”
“Sir, sir!” one of the men spoke in a hurried voice. “We only followed orders.”
“What are you talking about?” I turned.
“Steiner and Hof updated the orders. Telling us to move from the eleventh post to enforce posts ten and four.”
“What’s your name, soldier?”
“Vogler, sir.”
I nodded, walking to Sage.
“I need you to find Steiner and Hof.”
“They may not want to cooperate.”
“Take as many men as you need,” I said.
“From now on, leaving your post will be punishable by death. Did I make myself clear?”
“Yes, sir,” the crowd mumbled.
“Return to your duties,” I commanded.
The line dispersed as guardsmen hurried back to their stations.
“What are you planning to do?” Sage asked.
I drew my sword, looking at the hardened steel as black as my thoughts.