25. Colt

Colt

"Owen…" Colt groaned as he struggled to move. Pain radiated through his body as he shifted to the side. Something had wedged into his leg. He could feel it, and he was sure his head was bleeding.

"Keep going," someone said.

Colt looked up to see a piece of the fort wall slanting over him, only inches away. The way it was angled, it had barely missed crushing him. With the help of several sturdy hands, the debris was pushed away, and Colt was lifted from the wreckage with the help of a few men.

Brom was among them, and when Colt got to his feet, Brom placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "You alright?"

"Where's Owen?" Colt's voice was rough, and he winced as he felt at the sore spot on his forehead. He glanced around, dazed by the destruction before him. Everything had happened so quickly, Colt couldn't fathom what had transpired.

"Colt, come sit," Brom urged him.

But Colt wouldn't sit. He couldn't. The vivid memory of the dark god brutally crushing Owen's arm beneath his boot flashed through his mind, and he let out a frantic breath. He needed to find Owen.

He limped forward, scanning the area. Several men moved about, some of them injured, others dragging dead bodies out from the debris. Colt's heart sped up as he searched, hoping he wasn't among the dead. When something crunched beneath his boot, he glanced down and narrowed his eyes to find the emberstone knife lying in shattered pieces. His body trembled as he bent down to pick up a piece of it. He looked up at where the gate had been blown off the fort. The entire place had been decimated, leaving them vulnerable.

"Where is he?" Colt asked Brom, panicking.

"He left with him," sputtered a voice, shaky and weak. Colt turned to one of the soldiers sitting nearby. The man pressed a bloody cloth to his side.

"Who left?" Brom asked.

"Owen…" the man got out. "I saw him. He got right up and took that man's hand and walked out of here… as if nothing had happened."

Colt's blood boiled at the man's words, and he stepped forward. "It's not true," he seethed between clenched teeth, disbelief twisting his features.

"It is true…" The man trembled. "The lad is Shadowborn… he will destroy us…"

"Owen wouldn't do that…" Brom said, but the worried glance he cast at Colt was full of uncertainty.

"A few of us saw Owen leave with him," Harlan said, coming forward. "The man cut himself, and made Owen drink his blood. Then Owen willingly walked out with him. I'm not sure what manner of darkness this is, but it's something to tread cautiously."

Owen… being forced to drink Mordren's blood? Was the god's blood somehow tainted, and now Owen was poisoned? And if Owen went with Mordren, then it meant …

Colt turned sharply and limped towards the shattered remains of the gate, but before he could get far, Brom's grip stopped him.

"You can't go," Brom insisted, his voice firm.

"You gonna stop me?" Colt whirled around, anger blazing in his eyes.

"Owen's still alive. Use your mind, not your heart, as Gilda once said. It's raining, it's freezing. If you're going after him, you'll need to think of these things. Your leg is also bleeding. You'll die out there before you ever reach him. And if this…" He gestured around at the destroyed fort. "If this isn't enough to make you understand you have no chance against this god, then you need a good slap to the face, Colt O'Malley."

Colt's fury deflated, and he took a ragged breath and looked away. Brom was right, rushing into chaos wouldn't bring Owen back.

"We'll gather who's left and head to one of the guard lookouts not far outside Luthien," Harlan said from nearby. "There are four around the perimeter. We'll figure out what to do there."

It was what Colt needed to hear. He'd waste no time in leaving with these men. As he moved away, his eyes caught something on the ground. He bent down to pick it up, and when he brought up a shark tooth tied to a leather cord, his jaw clenched. He tightened his hand around it and brought his fist to his mouth.

He stalked away to help the others with the injured and dead. There were already four men lying on the ground, Uriah among them. Colt's heart ached, and he winced. The man deserved better than this, all of them did.

So does Owen .

Their plan had failed. It had never had a chance. Mordren had cut through the fort's walls as if they were linen, destroyed the emberstone knife, and walked out with Owen.

But he wouldn't give up on getting Owen back. He could make no other choice. It didn't matter if the whole world burned. Colt would trudge through hell to get to him.

Their trek towards Luthien was agonizingly long. Mordren had slaughtered nearly every horse at the fort. There were only fifteen men still alive, and the injured men rode the five remaining horses they had.

By nightfall, they made a fire long enough to ward off any beasts in the area. Sitting beside Brom and staring at their campfire had never felt so solemn before. If Colt had it his way, he'd walk all night. He took a heavy breath and settled himself, as he couldn't leave Harlan alone with those who'd been injured. He'd accompany them to Luthien and then figure out what to do.

Rather than talk with Brom, Colt laid down to sleep while a couple of the other soldiers took watch. But Colt's mind ran in circles, thinking about what had happened, trying to piece together how it had gone so wrong, pondering where Owen may be.

Colt had retrieved his and Owen's bags from the rubble at the fort, but he hadn't been able to take it all. Instead, he packed his one bag with Owen's folklore book, two journals, and his father's journal, and then a set of clothes for each of them. The only other things Colt had were his bow and quiver, a knife, and his waterskin .

He was glad when Harlan insisted they continue moving well before the sun was up. Every time Colt got too far ahead of the group, Brom caught up to him and told him to wait. Then Colt would look back and see how far he'd left the others behind.

"You need to keep your wits about you," Brom told him. "You leaving them and stalking off alone won't help you… or them."

"I don't care." Colt's voice was harsh as he growled in agitation.

"I know you better than that, O'Malley." Brom grabbed Colt's arm, which made Colt shove him back.

"Fuck off!" he shouted.

A flash of anger sparked in Brom's eyes. "You're exhausted, hurt, distraught. I get it, but you're not the only one who lost someone back there."

Colt narrowed his eyes, then he let out a heavy sigh and hung his head. He glanced back at the group of men moving slowly along. If it had been him injured, he'd be in that group instead of going ahead. And Owen… if he was here, he'd waste every ounce of his strength to heal those men. Colt knew it.

Just as Colt was about to head back with Brom, a screech tore through the air. They looked up to see Shirkh. Colt's fists curled, and his blood heated.

"I'm getting sick of this fucking guy."

Brom cocked his head as he watched the giant bird circle them from above. Then, growls sounded from every direction as Arroki soldiers made their way to them, running out from the trees. Colt swiftly pulled an arrow from his quiver and aimed at one as it drew near. He shot it down as Brom readied his stance to take down another .

As Brom slashed and hacked from behind, Colt took down the others with his arrows until the group of Arroki were no more. Above them, the crow cried out and swooped down at Harlan and his soldiers. The giant bird snatched two men up in its talons, squeezing them until they screamed before letting them fall to their deaths.

"Get down!" Harlan cried. "When it flies back up, ready your bows!"

Seven of them drew up their bows, all aiming arrows at the crow.

"Now!" When Harlan gave the command, they all shot at the bird, and it screeched as several arrows found their mark. The bird wavered, struggling to steady its flight to circle back around. Colt nocked another arrow against his bowstring and aimed for its neck, but he had a feeling it would take much more to kill this thing.

"Now!" Harlan called again. Colt's arrow flew out and shot the crow again, along with the others' arrows. This time, the crow faltered in its flight, forced to land.

"Prepare to attack it head-on!" Harlan shouted.

While a few soldiers swapped out their bows for swords, Colt aimed yet another arrow. Even after practicing with the sword with Brom and Uriah, he felt much better using his bow. He was used to it. It felt natural. And if there was one thing he was good at, it was hunting animals.

Ones this big, however, would prove a challenge.

The crow landed in the grass and flapped its wings, sending a gust of air their way. Brom brandished his sword and maneuvered out of the way of the animal, while the soldiers circled around. Those who were injured remained by their horses, out of the way of the fight .

"Distract it, Brom," Colt said.

"Using me as bait?" Brom asked, then laughed. "Alright, I'll bite, O'Malley."

As Brom came close to the crow, it stretched out its neck and snapped its enormous beak at him, making Brom slash his sword out as he staggered back. More arrows punctured the beast, jolting it.

Colt aimed, squaring his eyes on the place between the bird's eyes. He inhaled slowly, pulled his string back, and let the arrow fly. It ripped through the air and pierced the crow. It gave a painful screech before finally falling to the ground with a thud . Colt and the other soldiers walked slowly around it, watching as its body twitched.

The crow slowly withered, its feathers dispersing into a thick cloud until it finally transformed into Shirkh. The frail man glared up at them from the dirt, his white eyes narrowing. The arrow was struck between his forehead, and black blood oozed down from the wound.

Colt gritted his teeth. "Where is Owen?" he shouted. Shirkh had to know. He'd been following them since the Unseen Vale. He'd tracked Owen down and tried to bring him to Mordren. But now that Owen was gone, there had to be a reason why he was out here trying to kill their group.

"If I tell you, what will you do?" Shirkh rasped. "Go after him? Mordren has achieved his goal. He has captured the Shadowborn. I did as he commanded… I tried to kill the rest of you… but I have failed."

Colt stomped up to Shirkh and kicked him down. He crouched over him and aimed another arrow right at his throat. "Tell me where he is, or I'll keep you alive and pull your insides from your body until you spill it!"

Shirkh cackled. "We… who were created by Mordren… enjoy pain. You do us… a great service… by torturing us."

"You're a liar."

"Colt!" Brom came forward and clasped his shoulder, but all Colt could focus on was the inhuman creature before him. He imagined stringing him along behind a horse by a rope until he was half dead. He would get him to talk.

"Go ahead." Shirkh's voice was gravelly, sinister, speaking to Colt as if no one else were around, and Colt felt a deep hatred coiling around him. "Give in. Make me bleed… You want to hurt me. I will allow you to release your anger on me."

He stared at this man's white eyes, and all the sound around him muffled. Colt was in a strange trance, one he couldn't easily break free from. But someone's voice echoed behind him. Brom's.

Colt closed his eyes. He pulled back his bowstring and opened them just as the tears collected on his lashes. He released the arrow, and this time, when it pierced Shirkh's throat, the man choked for a moment before going still.

Heaving a breath, Colt turned around. As much as he'd wanted to torture that vile creature, he knew nothing would have come of it, and he inwardly beat himself for nearly giving in.

Harlan's men regrouped, helping the injured back to their horses, then he came up to Colt. "Thank you for your help. We will find Owen, I promise."

Colt nodded before taking one last look at Shirkh and walking along with the soldiers.

After two more days of traveling, Colt and Brom came to Luthien. The city was set within the valley, surrounded by green hills and rocky plateaus. It would be difficult for any army to come storming into it without having trouble pulling along their wagons full of supplies. Then again, if Mordren had an entire army of undead soldiers, Colt supposed they didn't need anything but the armor on their backs and the weapons in their hands.

While Harlan and his men made their way to one of the guard posts, Colt and Brom stood outside an inn that overlooked the valley from a low foothill. There were several inns, homes, farms, and shops around the wide perimeter that made up the outskirts of the city. Colt never thought he'd be back here, but here he was, staring at his childhood home from afar.

When a few people came out of the inn, Colt and Brom made their way inside. They were surprised to see it filled to the brim with people. Men, women, and children lined the floors, some of them injured. There were pallets everywhere, and women rushed back and forth with trays of food and water.

Colt found the front desk, only to see people sitting there as well. He exchanged a glance with Brom, catching his concerned expression, before Brom stopped one of the young boys rushing to the kitchen.

"Excuse me, lad, can you tell me what's going on?" Brom asked.

The boy shook his head. "The city's under siege. Folks are stuck out here." He left in a hurry, and Brom turned back to Colt.

"Mordren," Colt said.

Does that mean Owen is here too ?

They left the busy inn and sat outside to wait for Harlan. After a while, their stomachs rumbled, and Brom went to find them food, coming back with bowls of bland oatmeal. It would do. Colt was starving, and he lapped up the mushy oats quickly.

"How's your leg?" Brom asked, as they both sat against the side of the inn.

Colt shifted his injured leg. He'd cleaned and bandaged it at the fort before they left days ago. "It's fine. I don't dwell on it." He shoveled a spoonful of oats into his mouth.

"Still need to have someone look at it."

"Who's gonna look at it?" Colt looked around. "No, I'm fine."

By evening, Harlan arrived, looking worn and defeated. Colt and Brom got to their feet as the man trudged their way.

"Any news?" Colt asked him.

A few other people loitered outside the inn, so Harlan waved them both along to step out of earshot. "The city is under siege. The Legion surrendered not long after it was attacked three days ago. No one has been able to leave."

"Mordren?" Brom asked.

"Yes, and no. The Arroki attacked Luthien the same night Mordren came to the fort."

Colt narrowed his eyes. "Who was leading them?"

"Rem." Harlan's brow lowered. "He led the attack all the way to the citadel. When Mordren made his way through yesterday, the councilmen surrendered. People tried to flee the city, but many were killed."

"Is Owen with Mordren?" Colt asked.

Harlan took a deep breath and said, "Mordren and a young man with purple fire were seen two nights ago. There are beasts surrounding the perimeter of the castle. No one has been in or out since then."

"How do you know all this?" Brom kept his voice low.

"Elian is in the city. He sent a messenger dove. Mordren's goons don't seem to notice them. He will keep us informed."

Colt turned and looked back at Luthien. His cloak blew around his legs, and he raised the hood over his head.

Finally, he faced Harlan and said, "I need a way into the city."