The Third Red 1: The Enemy Within

Before the cakes were brought from the palace kitchens, the throwing would take place. Usually someone who crossed the noble were on the receiving end of rotten fruit, pies or other things like stones. That or some unlucky Dishonored. But that was the not the case for Eric’s Aging Day. His helpless victim would be Tarair Volk, who had willingly volunteered to be throw at as repentance for lying, harassing Karia and forcing her into servitude. Ritara Greddy as well, Eric had had enough of her attitude toward Karia and felt she needed a lesson.

Tarair was tied up to a wooden pole on the side of the Palace Gardens. He didn’t resist, bravely accepting his punishment. The Volk heir had removed his shirt, enchanted items, and shoes, only clad in a pair of pants. Ritara meanwhile was kicking and yelling as the Scarlet Guards dragged her to a pole next to Tarair.

“Unhand me! Ladies should not be allowed to be thrown at! Your highness, order these oafs to let me go at once! I command it!”

Queen Razana merely smiled and shook her head. “Tis not wise to command a monarch. You may be a noble girl, but you lack any true noble qualities. Begin the throwing.”

“No wait!” Ritara struggled against the pole. “I just brought this dress! I don’t want to get stains all over it!”

“You should have thought of that before you insulted my friends,” Eric told her as he picked up the first piece of throwing fruit. “But don’t worry it should wash out!”

He raised his hand with a smirk, waited as she took in the hopelessness of her situation, and flung. His fruit hit Tarair, others followed suit. Rotten tomatoes, pies, rocks, and a variety of other things flew at the two victims. Eric, Karia, Dargin, and everyone else let. Soon Tarair and Ritara had several mashed fruit stains on their clothes or body and probably a couple bruises from the hard rocks. They were untied after the Queen took the last piece in her sorcery and hit Ritara in the face with it.

“Perhaps this shall teach you to respect others.”

The girl said nothing as she was set free of the pole and walked away in mess and humiliation.

“I can’t help but feel sorry for her and Tarair,” Karia said as she looked over after the noble girl.

Dargin snorted. “You soft.”

“They did those awful things of their own free will,” Myra agreed. “Not like Eric who was possessed.”

“What about people the Demorians possess? Do they deserve to be punished? Cut into pieces?” Karia asked.

Myra hesitated. “I’m not sure.”

Morum however, was not so torn. “They swore an oath to take their own life rather than serve evil!”

“Well I think they shouldn’t have to!” Karia said. “We should be helping them! Let them fight with us once more and redeem themselves.”

The lion boy growled. “Living when-

“Now let us have some mighty good cake!” Chosan shouted, interrupting the argument.

Eric managed to eat only one piece before his stomach was full again.

“I hope this has been a good Aging Day?” Queen Razana asked.

“Yes, thank you your highness!” Eric said. “I just wish my mother were here with us.”

Someone suddenly came down the path towards the palace. It was a man in a commoner’s tunic who held a wooden box. A pair of Scarlet Guards escorted him. The Queen stood up as the man approached, bowing as he did so.

“Sorry for the delay, your highness,” the courier sad. “Here is the item you asked!”

“Well you managed to deliver it before the party ended. For that I’m grateful,” the Queen drew a handful of gold crowns from her pocket and handed them to the courier who gave her the case in return.

“Here is your last gift, Eric Yagaro.”

She passed the box to him. Eric opened it and saw an egg. A large egg like the griffin ones he’d seen at the festival.

“Is this-”

“An opinicus egg,” the Queen said. “It should be hatching soon.”

“Oh!” Eric exclaimed. “Thank you, your highness!”

Soon after the party ended, the guests began to leave. Morum faced Eric before going off to Heroes Home.

“Good-bye Morum! Thank you for coming.” Eric shook the lion man’s hand.

“I shall see you later Morum!” Dargin said. “Hope we fight again soon!”

“It was a glorious battle fighting with you both,” Morum agreed. “I look forward to when we do it again as a team.”

Eric smiled at him. One day, they would all go on a journey together. But for now, the lion man walked after his father Gradon. Eric then turned to Karia.

“Well, I…”

Someone approached before Eric could finish. It was Taro once again, this time with Tarair (who was still covered in stains and a bruise on his forehead where a stone hit).

“Yes?” Eric asked a bit annoyed with how often he was seeing the warlord even if he was changing for the better.

“I… we wanted to apologize for all the trouble we’ve caused you,” Taro said. “Both of you. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you when you told me what really happened, Eric Yagaro.”

“I’m sorry as well,” Tarair said.

Eric felt no strange sensation as either of them spoke their words. They were telling the truth.

“I believe in forgiveness,” Karia spoke first. “And I’m grateful to you for helping save my life, Tarair. But both of you have done terrible things… you touched me when I didn’t want it!” She pointed to Tarair. “Accused me of unprovoked attack and sentenced me to slave labor! It will take a lot for me to forgive that!”

Eric nodded in agreement.

“Well, I suppose I will have to do something then,” Taro said. “If there is anything I can do, name it.”

Karia smirked, “Well, my family always struggles to get by with paying for my time in school. I would greatly appreciate something to help them get by.”

She pulled her hair back and blinked her eyes in a seductive manner.

Eric chucked at her. Taro frowned but sighed and reached into his pocket, pulling out a gold sack

“Fine, I suppose this is the least I can do to compensate you,” Taro said. “Fifteen gold crowns. I hope that will appease you.”

Karia nodded. “It’s enough I suppose. Will be enough for several months. Thank you.”

Eric smiled. The Calamens wouldn’t be struggling as much now.

Taro turned to him now. “Is there anything I can do to make up for my mistakes in your eyes, Eric Yagaro?”

“Hmm,” Eric hummed in thought. “I would appreciate it if you removed my mother’s name from the Traitors Tome.”

Taro hesitated, then shrugged. “I suppose I could do that. But only if you can summon her spirit and prove she didn’t go to Panarus.”

Eric could tell Taro didn’t expect him to succeed. He’d never managed to perform Spirit Sorcery because of his depression.

Then he felt Karia take his hand. His heart seemed to brighten as she did so.

“Try it,” she said. “Say bifo mi partaka fa Spirakas.”

The words bring forth my parents from Spirakus had no effect for her since both her parents were still living.

Eric took a breath, knowing that his mother’s name depended on this. “Bifo mi partaka fa Spirakus.”

He glowed with a color he’d never had before… white. Everyone shielded their eyes from the blinding light. When it faded there were two transparent figures standing next to Eric whose mouth fell open.

“Mother!” he leapt towards the white form, only to pass through it.

Margery laughed as she turned around toward her son.

“I’m happy to see as well, Eric!”

Eric’s face lit up with a smile. Tears escaped his eyes at seeing her. Tears of joy. Her spirit was clean. He could summon her and see her again. Still, it wasn’t the same since he couldn’t touch her. He’d never feel his mothers loving touch again.

“Margery!” Rubara said.

Margery smiled at them, “Oh Eric, Rubara! I wish I could hug you right now! And Chosan as well.”

Chosan, however, was focused on the other white figure Eric had summoned. A man who looked a good deal like him, but fitter and muscular.

“Hello, Chosan,” Derair Yagaro turned to his brother first. “You’ve gotten fatter.”

“Hello you selfless fanatic!” Chosan said with a teary grin.

“Why didn’t you ever summon me, little brother?” Derair asked.

Chosan’s grin faded. “I didn’t know what you might say. I was afraid you’d be mad.”

“Mad, for what? Telling my wife to live even if it means the death of hundreds? Yes, I would be mad!” Derair roared before grinning. “But madder than if you’d let her go through with it!”

He then turned to Eric who stiffened.

“My son. We meet at last.”

“Father,” Eric approached Derair.

There was silence. His father circled him.

“I’ve watched you since the beginning. You’ve had to face the ills within yourself. A beast, a demon, and you’ve done well. Protected those around you as well those you love.”

He looked over to something off to Eric’s side. Eric had a feeling he was looking at Karia and trembled. Was his father suggesting that he loved Karia? No… Eric didn’t. Did he? No, they’d only known each less then two weeks. It couldn’t be love… at least not yet. But… she certainly… warmed his heart.

“I’m proud of you, son. You’ve grown to be a strong warrior and sorcerer who has risen above the dark things in his heart.”

Eric stood there in silent pride at his father’s words. Then he heard someone draw a breath. Taro Volk looked at Margery’s white figure dumbfounded.

“This is not possible. You served evil by staying alive! Corgo returned because of you! You should be a demon like he is!”

Margery raised her hand. “Allow me to show you something. Viset memor!”

See memories.

The palace vanished as Margery cast her spell. Eric was back in the cave he’d spent his entire life in until a fortnight ago.

He saw what had occurred while he’d unconscious through Margery’s memories. He saw himself being put to sleep by Corgo, the demon possessing his body and attacking Margery. Eric watched himself taunting his own mother, saw himself take his own dragontooth dagger and (Eric gasped) stab himself with it. The fang melted on contact with his skin and did no harm. Corgo then taunted Margery with Eric’s tongue.

“You see? Had you tried to take your own life while I was inside you it would have done naught to me or you.”

Margery’s illusion ended and they were back in the palace. Taro breathed hard.

“It would not have worked!” he exclaimed.

Taro fell to his knees before Margery. “I was wrong! I never should have called you a traitor! You… you are a true hero! Thanks to you, Corgo did not get his hands on our last hope! Thanks to you, we still have a chance.”

Eric suddenly hated him a lot less.

“I’ll have the word spread and a statue erected in your honor!” Taro promised. “You shall be known as Margery the Maintainer! For you maintained our chance of victory!”

Margery smiled. Eric cheered and put his hands in the air.

“Yes!” Eric leapt for joy. “You finally got your wish mother! To be recorded in history for a great deed!”

“Yes,” Margery said. “I’ve maintained the hope of the Sorcerer Kingdom, and I will continue to fight for it and you. Whenever you summon your father and I, we shall fight by your side.”

Eric looked at Karia.

“Thank you, Karia.”

“You’re welcome, Eric. See you at school tomorrow?” she asked.

Eric nodded. “Aye.”

The girl hugged him. Eric felt his cheeks go red as her hair.

“I’ll be proud to support you anyway I can until there is peace. Also, I could use the wages of a House Sorceress to provide for my family.”

Chosan smiled. “Well, once you become a recognized sorceress, then I’m sure we can help you with that.”

She walked off with her parents and sisters.

“Let’s go home,” Eric said as he watched her leave.

The entire Yagaro family, Eric, Chosan, Lilar, two ghosts, and a dragon made their way west. Their cousins the Presteegs, Dargin and his goblin kin, as well as the servants followed behind them. Eric carried the opinicus egg while the servants brought his other gifts.

Then Eric felt something move in the egg. He nearly dropped it.

“I think it’s going to hatch!” he said.

“Oh, we best get it home quick then!” Derair exclaimed.

Eric ran the rest of the way to Soyagone into the Great Hall. He set the egg on one of the tables just in time. It cracked open, the head of a baby opinicus broke through of the eggshell, stretching out its long neck.

“Well, well, a physical opinicus.” Clauwing said in Eric’s head.

“How cute,” Margery’s spirit said. “Though he needs a bath.”

Eric’s cheeks inflated as he suppressed a laugh, recalling how he’d hated baths. Finally, he could speak to her again.

“Probably won’t like it,” he told his mother with a grin.

“If he’s anything like you my son,” she said with a chuckle.

Chosan and everyone else (except Rubara) soon entered. They all smiled at the opinicus, which was now getting its legs through the egg.

“He’s so small!” Rikal said as he got closer.

“Or she,” Myra looked at it but stayed a good distance away, likely to avoid getting scratched. “We don’t know which it is. I just hope it doesn’t attack me like the one inside Eric’s head did.”

The opinicus freed itself from the egg the rest of the way. Eric moved to pick it up.

“No need for you to get your hands dirty, Lord Eric,” Gilber said.

The steward walked forward and took hold of the yolk covered hatchling. He held it up and looked between its legs.

“It’s a boy!”

“Yay!” Clauwing thought to Eric. “I got a little brother!”

“Well Eric, what will you call him?” Derair asked.

Eric put a hand to his chin. “What are some good names for opinicuses?”

“Well, one of our beast sorcerers had a griffin named Glygon. But I think that’s more of a griffin name. I had a Pegasus myself that I called Snow-Wing. Let me see, opinicus. How about Opaw?” Derair suggested.

Eric nodded. “Sounds good to me.”

They gave Opaw a bath, cleaning the egg yolk off of him, revealing a golden body with a brown head and wings. Eric then took the opinicus in his arms.

“Well, Opaw looks like you’ll be my partner!”

“Don’t forget about me,” Clauwing said.

“Yes, you’re my partner too, Clauwing,” Eric said, tapping his head. “Just don’t cause any more trouble.”

The beast was no longer his enemy but his ally. Today had seen Eric lose many enemies, Clauwing, Taro, Tarair. He had his parents back (sort of) and he had made good friends. Friends that he knew he could count on when the war came. But until then he could enjoy time with them.

Eric looked at Myra. The girl was now his Lend Hand. He would be training her to be a Maiden of Mayhem, like his mother. Then something occurred to him.

“Myra, could you come with me up to my tower for a moment?”

The girl looked at him, then nodded. Eric led Myra up the stairs of his tower, the spirits of his parents as well as the servants bringing in the gifts followed him. They set them down by Eric’s door and left. Eric walked over to the painting he’d made of Corgo where he’d stuck his mother’s daggers. Removing them, Eric put them both in their sheaths.

“These were my mother’s,” Eric told her before holding up the steel one. “This one can turn into a sword or spear, and the other is made of sorsteel so it can slay demons. I want you to have them.”

“Really?” Myra asked.

Eric nodded before looking at his mother’s ghost, “If you don’t mind?”

Margery shook her head. “I’ve been watching you train her, and I like her spirit. I would be proud if she would wield those weapons in my name. They suit her well.”

Seeing as Myra’s sorcery was blue just like Margery’s, Eric had to agree. It was as though they were meant to belong to Myra. Eric handed them to her. Myra drew the steel dagger with her right hand.

“Now say lo baki graka hal!” Eric instructed

“Lo baki graka… what?” She asked.

“Hal.”

“Hal.”

It didn’t work since she’d paused in the incantation. They had to start over. Eric ran her through the words another two times.

“Lo baki graka hal!” Short blade grow long.

She channeled sorcery up into the blade in her right hand but nothing happened. Eric’s face twisted in confusion.

“You have to have to nature or shapeshifting sorcery to make it grow,” Margery said.

Eric slapped himself on the forehead. Myra had neither of those naturally! But she had the nature bracelet! She should have been able to. Eric then suddenly noticed that Myra’s bracelet was on her left hand!

“Try it with the other hand!” he told her.

Myra switched the dagger to her left hand.

“Lo baki… graka hal!” Short blade … grown long!

It worked! The short blade of the dagger in Myra’s left hand grew. It became larger, its handle growing as well. It went from a dagger to a short sword, an arming sword, until Myra held a big greatsword! She yelped as it became too heavy for her, and Eric also yelped as it came down at him, narrowly missing.

“Ah! Sorry, Eric!” she said.

“Got to work on stopping it when it grows!” Eric told her.

“Sorry! But I promise I won’t let you down!” Myra said.

Eric took the greatsword from her and “Just don’t do that again.”

“Rond circo!” Turn back.

It turned back to its dagger form and Eric handed it to her.

“Good night.”

“Good night,” she replied.

His cousin and new Lend Hand walked back down the tower to her own room on the floor below. That left Eric with the spirits of his parents.

Margery looked at her son proudly. “I’m glad you’re teaching her. But you better take care of her. She still has a lot to learn before she has enough skill to overcome a man’s strength. There will also be those that might try to stand in her way or even harm her.”

Eric nodded. Sir Manoc had demonstrated intense opposition to Myra becoming his Lend Hand. He’d also glared at Myra with threatening eyes. Eric would have to be on the look out for that man. The Dominas family could be a threat to them.

“I will. I’ll protect her and all my friends as well as anyone who needs it. My shield will always be there.”

Derair looked at his son. “The whole world will be counting on it, son. But don’t forget to enjoy life while you can. I spent so much time denying myself pleasure before I met your mother. Don’t make that same mistake I did.”

“I won’t,” Eric promised. “I’ve got good friends with me. Karia, Dargin, Myra, it’s because of them I was able to win against my inner demon. They’ve given me something else to live for.”

“Good,” Derair said. “Sleep well, my son.”

His parents vanished. Eric changed into his night tunic and fell into bed. For the first time since arriving in Soyagone, Eric felt truly happy. His parents might have been physically gone, but they were still with him, and he’d made new friends just like he’d always wanted. Margery’s name was cleared. She would be recognized as a hero. The war with Corgo and the Demorians would come someday, and Eric would prepare for that, but he would also take time to enjoy life with his friends and family till then. He felt himself drift off into a nice peaceful sleep. Everything was well in his life… at least for the moment.

Interlude:

Corgo gazed at the stone through which his king could see him as well. His top lieutenants, Gowe and Noculus stood by his side.

“Your child has failed,” the voice of Zaro said. “The boy has triumphed against his inner darkness.”

“Then I suppose I must attack the capital of the Sorcerer Kingdom?” Corgo asked, grinning eagerly at the thought of hearing people screaming.

“No. You said yourself, our army is not large enough. We go to Sortar they could gather all their troops from other parts. We need more numbers if we are to take the boy.”

Corgo nodded. “We will sacrifice any newborns here to summon Great demons from Panarus as well. Noculus?”

The dark robed sorcerer bowed. “Three of the woman carrying my children will give birth soon, I shall gladly sacrifice them!”

“Good. Do that for the next few months then begin raiding villages. Draw out warriors and sorcerers to capture so they can fight for us,” Zaro said.

“I long to spill some blood!” Gowe said, touching one of the blades he carried.

“Perhaps the boy will come as well,” Corgo wondered. “Then we shan’t have to wait.”

“No. The Queen will not be so foolish to risk him,” Zaro said. “But I have an idea. Even though he may not have succumbed to the darkness in his heart, he will serve us in another way. By eliminating the traitors on the southern island.”