Daxton - Episode 43
The 5th Compass | Tales of Stonehaven [980 words]
Daxton is the first book in the 6-book series, The 5th Compass, which takes place in Stonehaven. Released in serial form, two episodes each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The audio version is coming in the future for paid subscribers only. Visit the table of contents for a list of previously published and upcoming episodes.
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General Corwinn looked on as Adelaide embraced her father close to her and cried into his neck. Barton and Daxton, now huddled together, kept their eyes on the Paragon and the men who surrounded them.
“Where’s Nelle?”
“I don’t know; I haven’t seen her since we doubled back.” Both of them looked around but saw no sign of Krieger anywhere. “I cannot believe how easily Wendynn betrayed us?”
“You cannot?” Before Barton could make his case against Wendynn the sky started to grow dark overhead. He looked up just as a large raindrop fell on his face. He looked to Daxton who stared up at the sky, watching as dark, thick, clouds rolled in.
Within minutes a once gloriously sunny morning had become filled with darkness and heavy rainfall. The Paragon was the only one of them all who did not look to the sky, but instead never took his focus away from Adelaide whose wails seemed to coincide with the continuous storm in the sky.
Everyone was soaked and man of the men who once stood tall and menacing now looked terrified and started to run away, assuming the Paragon was responsible for what was happening.
Daxton noticed the Paragon staring at Adelaide and wondered to himself aloud, “You do not suppose she’s doing this?” Barton hid behind his friend when lightning struck in the sky. This got the Paragon’s attention. He finally looked to the sky as the sound of thunder shaking the earth could be heard in the distance, growing closer to where they all stood.
“Remarkable.”
“Are you responsible for all of this? Let us take the compass from the boy and leave!” General Corwinn shouted over the loud storm that was now encircling them. The wind picked up speed and swirled around Adelaide, encasing her and her father in a cocoon of dirt and leaves as her cries became loud wails of sadness.
“Quick, we must leave now,” Nelle said, sneaking up behind Daxton and Barton, scaring them both.
“Leave? We cannot leave her with them. it is her doing this, isn’t it?” Daxton asked.
“I do not know. But if it is, then that means she’s one of The Chosen and I want nothing to do with them.” Nelle brandished her sword and pointed it at Daxton. “We’re leaving, now!”
Out of the corner of his eye General Corwinn saw what looked like Krieger about to attack his son and his best student. He could not let this happen but knew the Paragon would not like seeing a good soldier killed only to protect a weakling. He needed to act fast before he lost his son forever.
While the Paragon seemed to still be mesmerized by what Adelaide was accomplishing through her despair, he spun his sword around using its hilt, knocked him in the head, hard. The Paragon fell to the ground instantly, out cold. General Corwinn then turned towards his son and Krieger who was swinging his sword back and forth between Daxton and Barton.
“Are you going to come with me or not?”
“Nelle, what are you doing? Put that away before you hurt someone.”
Just then, Wendynn came charging back through the forest that he left through earlier. “Holy smokes, what’s going on here? I saw the clouds and thought you might need my help—.”
Nelle turned away from Daxton and Barton to face Wendynn just as a sword plunged through her chest. General Corwinn pulled his sword out and let Krieger’s body fall forwards into Wendynn’s arms.
“NO!” Barton spun his father around and punched him right in the gut. His father doubled over in pain, dropping his sword to the ground as he grabbed for his stomach. “Why did you do that?”
“I was trying to save you, son…” His father dropped to his knees as the sensation from the punch subsided.
“Stop trying to save me! I do not want your kind of saving.”
Daxton and Barton rushed over to Wendynn who was having a hard time holding up Krieger’s soaked body in the rain. He placed him down just as Krieger put his hand over his wound and lifted it to show blood there.
“do not struggle. The pain will be over soon.”
“I am sorry, Wendynn.” Krieger grabbed Wendynn with his clean hand by the collar and pulled him down to his face where he bit his lips, making it look like both men were kissing.
Daxton and Barton both looked at each other with wide and confused eyes.
Before Wendynn could move away from the shooting pain of his lip being bitten so hard it drew blood, Krieger took the bloodied hand and covered it over his mouth. As the blood from both wounds collided Nelle’s spirit jumped from Krieger’s now lifeless body, into Wendynn’s.
He fell back, writhing in pain, before becoming completely motionless. Barton knew what happened, having seen Nelle do this before, only under less life-threatening circumstances. He rushed over and helped Wendynn to his feet.
“Nelle, are you in there?” Barton looked over at Krieger’s body, now lying dead in the dirt, and hoped she was able to escape in time.
“Yes, Barton, I am here. Now, can we leave. I sense the Paragon is waking.” Daxton and Barton nod as they help carry her away from the destruction.
“Wait,” Daxton shouted, then realized he did not need to any longer. Distracted by watching Nelle transfer bodies they did not notice the storm had stopped. The clouds were parting and the cocoon that Adelaide was once in had dissipated. Daxton walked up to her cautiously. “Come with us.” He held his hand out for her to take. She looked down at her father, kissed him one last time on the forehead, and releasing him of the grip he had on her sword, she took it, leaving his body behind.