Loyal Dogs

The Traitor

By Evan Drake

Chapter 1: Jailbreak

Thern lay on his back in his dusty cell, staring at the high ceiling, and humming to himself in time with the dripping coming from one of the corners. The cell was large enough to accommodate at least a half-dozen prisoners, yet he had it all to himself. Nothing worth bragging about, but it made him feel important.

He would often pass the time by running laps around it to keep fit. Despite the cell's exaggerated size, there were no windows, plunging the cell into a constant state semi-darkness. The only light came from the small grate on his cell door where the light of a nearby wall sconce shone through. It made little difference, he had no need for the light, and he doubted he wanted to see what the walls and the floor looked like.

The cell reeked of death and urine. A smell that clogged his nose and made it difficult to breathe. He was never let out to relieve himself; he had to use a small hole dug into the corner of the cell. The stench killed his appetite which was probably for the best since all they fed him was a piece of stale bread and a chunk of rotted mystery meat. The bed, if he could call it one, was in terrible shape. He was certain it hadn't been changed since the cell was built. It was little more than a flat stone slab with no pillow and only one thin, tattered piece of cloth which served no purpose. It was torn ragged to serve as a blanket and too thin to lay on.

Even when weather was fair, the conditions were beyond unfavorable, but Thern had learned to make peace with it. Wasn't much he could do about it anyway. The cold stone walls and floor didn't hold the heat for long. The moment the sun dipped below the horizon, its warmth went with it. It was worse during the winter months where there was no reprieve from the biting cold. Thern spent most of his time huddled in the corner or under the bed, trying to keep warm. During the summer, it was the complete opposite, the cell became an oven, and his thick black coat of fur didn't help matters. He was forced to ration what little water they did give him--which wasn't much. It was then he stayed close to the floor where it was slightly cooler, trying to move as little as possible.

It was a shame how accustomed he was to the horrid conditions. Growing up in the slums, he spent many nights in places just like his cell. The only difference was he got to go outside and feel the sun on his face or could steal some halfway decent food.

He almost wished he were imprisoned in Vulpran where the weather was much nicer. Instead he was locked up in a prison tucked in the ass of Canius where even the weather tried to kill him.

Then again, in Canius, only talent mattered while Vulpran was more focused on bloodlines. He had experienced Vulpran's "hospitality" first-hand during many of his travels there as a mercenary. Those stuck-up, mage-humping magic lovers never gave him the time of day because he couldn't use magic. That didn't include the sideways looks he got if anyone learned he was the abandoned son of a whore.

Canius didn't care if he was a mage or not. It didn't matter that he was a wolf, that his mother sold herself for a living, or that he sold his loyalty for coin. All that mattered was his skill with a blade.

Of course, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. In "dog country" the weak were exploited and the talentless were ignored. Many died trying to stand out from the masses. Fame was as fleeting as daylight and the nights were cold and unforgiving.

In a way he was lucky. As a pup, he was fast, forgettable, and had a charm that allowed many to ignore he was a street urchin. Those traits earned some attention from many thieves, mercs, and assassins who called on him to spy or steal for them. In return they protected him from those who preyed on abandoned pups. Not an ideal life, but it could've been so much worse.

Thern's thoughts were interrupted by a low clanging sound in the distance. His ear twitched. Sounded like a guard had opened a door somewhere. He sighed and rolled onto his side, facing the wall. He thought after so many... days? Years? He had no idea how long he was in that cell, but he was surprised he hadn't lost his sanity even with all the time for self-reflection. His life hadn't exactly been a happy one. Orphaned at a young age, his childhood was far from ideal. He preferred not to think about it. Even his days in the mercenary group were unhappy memories. What was the point in reminiscing about the friends he would never see again? Or think about the many places he had visited but could never go back to? At first it was all he could think about; the memories distracted him from the filthy, poorly insulated nightmare he lived in. After a while, dreaming of all the places he'd been only to wake up to the same disgusting shithole became maddening.

Such was his punishment. He was doomed to live in that cell until his body ceased to function and cold, mold-encrusted walls crumbled around his corpse. Technically, he should be dead for what he did. Murdering the family that was one of the biggest supporters of the king was an act of treason if there ever was one. He didn't want to do it--not that it made a difference. He had learned a long time ago there were necessary evils, but it didn't spare him the consequences of his actions. Necessary or not, he needed to carry out his sentence.

It wouldn't be so unbearable if there were more ways to pass the time. No one ever visited a traitor like him. Even the guards had gotten sick of chastising him and threw him the occasional meal and water then went back to forgetting about him. Thinking on it, he wasn't sure there was anyone else in the prison, or at least not on this level. He never heard the guards talk to anyone else. The guards never talked to him either except to tell him how they wished they could kill him. Sometimes he wondered why they didn't. He had committed treason, a capital offense; he should already be dead. What made him so special?

He heard another sound, this one fainter, but it made Thern sit up in his bed. It almost sounded like a scream. He sat there in the darkness, straining his ears for any other sounds but only silence answered. He eventually gave up and returned to his dark thoughts. It wouldn't be the first time a guard chose to take out their frustration on a prisoner. So long as he wasn't the stress reliever of choice, he was happy. "Accidents" happened at the prisons all the time; he even caused some of those "accidents" in the past.

He gave up on thinking about his living conditions and went back to humming. It was a song he heard a mother sing to her pups in order to soothe them to sleep. He used to sing the song to himself and pretend the mother was singing it to him.

He gaze turned upward. Thern had been in the cell long enough to know when the sun was setting. Soon the freezing air would penetrate the walls, and slice through his body. A small breeze blew, in preparation for what was to come, finding its way through the stonework as easily as flowing through an open door. He shivered.

It's going to be another cold one, he thought. Maybe I should crawl under the bed tonight.

He heard the clanging sound again, only much louder. It sounded as if someone had forced a door open rather than unlock it. He sat up and faced the cell door.

The unmistakable sound of a scream made Thern's fur stand on end. There was no getting used to that sound. A prisoner had been chosen for the guards' night of fun or if the poor bastard was lucky, he was going to be hanged. Either way, it was none of his business, and he wasn't going to draw attention to himself.

He didn't get a chance to lay down before the sound of clanging metal filled the cell and the cell door opened, bringing with it a dull light that still hurt Thern's eyes. He covered his eyes and didn't move; he knew better not to. The guards kept him underfed, so he was too weak to overpower anyone. Even if he wasn't, he was unarmed; going against trained soldiers would be suicide. The Lunar Sanctum was built like a maze, and in the middle of nowhere. There was nowhere to go even if he made it outside.

He heard the guard hurry inside and slam the door shut. "Gods, please save me from this darkness," the guard mumbled deliriously.

Someone or something slammed against the cell door. The guard shrieked like a frightened pup.

Thern's stomach knotted. "W-What's going on?"

"Bring me into the light and deliver me from the evil born of the chaos--"

"Hey! What's happening?"

"Send this foul creature back to the depths of the underworld--"

Thern slowly approached the guard. If this was their idea of a prank, it was working. His tail was tucked firmly between his legs, his heart smashing relentlessly against his ribs.

Another heavy blow landed on the door. The guard stumbled backward almost losing his balance but quickly recovered and braced the door again. "Please! Take whatever you want! You can have my coin, my wife, my first born, my soul! Just please save me!"

Thern hurried over to help. He had no idea what was going on, but he knew he didn't want to let whatever was outside in. He tried to peek through the grate but saw nothing.

Whatever was on the other side of the door growled and slammed into the door again. The blow reverberated through Thern's shoulder. He clenched his teeth and ignored the pain. The guard continued to pray to whatever deity would listen, his words incoherent. The creature slammed into the door again and again.

With each blow, Thern felt the door slid open just a little bit further before they slammed it shut again. He knew they couldn't keep it up forever. He tried to think of a plan but nothing came to mind. Locking the door from the inside was impossible and there was nothing to barricade it with. The guard clearly didn't have the experience, the courage, or both to face the creature. Their only hope was if it tired out first.

Eventually, the creature stopped the assault. They continued to hold the door shut just in case it were a set up. Thern peeking through the grate again. He saw nothing but still refused to lower his guard.

Thern's fur stood on end as a tingling feeling washed over him. He knew that feeling. Someone was about to cast a magic spell.

"Get away from the door!" Thern shouted. He dove into the corner for cover.

A deafening boom filled the room. Thern curled into a ball, shielding his face and organs from any shrapnel. His vision was clouded by smoke. He couldn't what happened to the guard, but he could hear him screaming as something ate him alive.

Thern struggled to his feet. His ears rang and he couldn't see, but he made his way to the door and into the hall. He moved as fast as he could, never looking back. The prison was designed like a maze. Thern hadn't walked through the halls since he was brought down there and then a hood had been placed over his head. He let his instinct guide him to what he hoped was the exit.

The halls were quiet. It was comforting but disturbing as well. _Where did the guards go? And the other prisoners? Am I the only one down here? There's no blood or signs of battle. How long has that thing been down here with me? How did it even get in?_Thern didn't bother to search the other cells. All he wanted to do was find the stairs. He jumped at every shadow and strained his ears to catch even the slightest sound.

The low growl of the creature filled the hall. Thern froze, his heart leaping into his throat.

Thern broke into a run. If he had a weapon, he would consider facing the creature. The growls became louder and were accompanied by the clicking of claws on the stone floor.

Thern's panic worsened as the creatures footsteps became louder. Hide. I need somewhere to hide. Even as the thought crossed his mind, he knew there was nowhere to go. If he hid in one of the cells, it would break down the door like last time. Some of the cells had been forced open already. He didn't dare look inside. His only hope was finding the stairs or somehow getting a weapon before it caught up to him.

Finally, he came across an open door. He rushed inside the room only to learn it was his cell. What remained of the guard lay in the middle of the dingy cell. Thern ignored his revulsion as he searched the corpse for a weapon. The guard had a short sword still tucked into its sheath. Thern drew the weapon and spun around.

The creature filled the doorway, its black fur blocking the light from the hall. Thern's eyes were used to the darkness so he could see it clearly though he wished he couldn't. It looked like a rat or what Thern hoped was a rat. He had never seen or even heard of a rat this large. Patches of its fur were missing, replaced with crusty black sores. Its limbs were much longer than normal as if someone stretched it out of shape. It waddled forward on its hind legs, massive fangs dripping with saliva. A strange guttural sound emanated from the creature as if it were laughing at its prey.

Thern gripped the short sword and held it in front of him threateningly. I just hope I remember how to use this thing.

The rat lunged. Thern sidestepped the bite and swung his sword. It cut through the rat's hide easily, but not as deeply as Thern had hoped. The rat spun, aiming its tail at Thern's head. He ducked under the blow then brought the sword upward, taking the rat's tail off. The rat howled in pain and rage.

Thern aimed his next strike for the creature's neck, but the creature moved and took the blow in the shoulder. The blade sank in and was stuck.

The creature thrashed about, trying to shake Thern loose. He held on for dear life, ignoring the pain in his shoulders. The rat rolled over. Thern was forced to let go or risk being crushed under its bulk.

The rat swiped at Thern with its claws. Thern screamed as burning pain radiated through his arm. His shout was cut short as the rat held tackled him to the ground, forcing the air out of his lungs. A stench several times worse than that of the cell burned his nose, making his eyes water. The creature tried to bite his neck. He held his wounded arm in the way. He screamed again as the rat bit down and shook its head savagely, tearing the flesh.

Thern thrust his other fist into what he hoped was the rat's eye. Whatever he hit, made a sickening squelch as his fist sunk deeper. The rat roared but held on.

Damn, I can't get free! Am I going to die here?

Suddenly a bright flash filled the cell. The rat released Thern. He quickly crawled from beneath its hulking body.

"It appears I made it just in time," came a voice. Thern and the rat faced the door. Standing in the doorway was fox with well-groomed copper fur. He had proud brown eyes that didn't carry a hint of fear despite the monstrous rat snarling at him. He wore traveler's clothes, so he wasn't a guard.

Thern didn't care who the fox was or why he was there. Someone was here to help him.

The fox raised an arm and sparks of energy flew from his paw. Several tendrils of light shot of the floor, piercing the rat's body and pinning it to the floor. "This spell won't hold it for long. Hurry!" the fox cried.

Thern rushed over to the incapacitated creature and wrenched the blade from its shoulder. His arm burned something fierce and he felt a little lightheaded, but he couldn't leave the fox to face this thing alone.

"Are you sure you're up for this?" the fox asked.

Thern nodded in response. The rat forced itself to its feet, the spell the fox cast tearing through its flesh. Thern watched fascinated and horrified. What is wrong with this thing?

He didn't have time to think about it. His fur stood on end as a familiar tingling feeling washed over him.

"Watch out! The creature knows how to use magic!" Thern cried.

"Quick, get behind me!"

Thern did as he was told. The fox raised his paws and a blue wall of light formed in front of them. Thern couldn't see what spell the rat used, but it struck the barrier and exploded. The floor trembled. Thern shielded his eyes before he was struck blind by the dazzling lights of the clashing spells.

He lowered his arm in time to see the rat charging at them. They dove in separate directions. The rat went after the fox. Thern jumped onto the creature's back and plunged the blade as deep as he could into the rat's neck. It thrashed about, throwing Thern to the floor. He landed on his wounded arm, a pain worse than anything he had ever experienced shooting through him.

The rat stood over him, claws raised, a grisly look on its face almost like a smile.

Thern was out of options. His vision swam, the pain in his arm paralyzed him. Even if he could get up, he wouldn't be able to move fast enough to counter the creature.

A blade of light pierced the rat's throat. It tottered in place for a moment, a strangled cry escaping its muzzle before it slumped against the wall.

The fox approached Thern, brushing the dust from his cloak as he did so. "Well, that was unpleasant. If I had known it had learned to use magic, I would've brought reinforcements. No matter, the creature is dead, and I was taught to always express my thanks." The fox knelt next to Thern and took his injured arm.

"You'll have to bear with me; I'm afraid I lack proficiency with healing spells," the fox said. He held his paw over the wound and a warm light enveloped Thern's arm. A comforting heat spread through Thern's limbs.

"Who are you?" Thern asked.

"Oh! Where are my manners? The name is Gaius Felldren. And you are?"

"Just call me Thern."

"Well, Thern, you did remarkably well against that afflicted. By the way, have you seen a young guard? He's a coyote, gray fur, large floppy ears?"

Thern remembered the guard who rushed into his cell and looked away. "I'm sorry. He didn't make it."

"Damn. So much wasted potential. I told him it was too dangerous, but he refused to listen. He was very opposed to the idea of using prisoners as bait, so I shouldn't be surprised."

"Wait, what?!" Thern shifted and pain shot through his wounded arm. He winced and became still again.

"Hold still," Gaius warned. "If you move around while I'm attempting to heal you, you risk doing more damage to yourself."

Thern held still, a low growl emanating from his throat. Prisoners or not, leaving them down here to become bait for that thing was beyond cruel.

Gaius removed his paw and the warmth left Thern's body as quickly as it appeared. The pain had been reduced to a low throb and his arm felt a little stiff, but it was still an improvement.

"I'm sorry I can't do a better job. But that will keep you from bleeding to death at least. When we get outside Cecili can do a better job."

"I'm sorry? Um, I can't leave."

Gaius stopped and looked back curiously. "If you're with me you can. I can explain later why that is the case. I would rather not remain here longer than I have to. There are sewers that smell better than this place."

Thern quickly stood and followed. His mind swarmed with questions. The articulation of the fox's speech said he was a noble, or at least taught to talk like one, and he had a Vulprani accent. Why would some high-born from Vulpran bother coming to a prison lost in the wilderness of Canius? And why was he even allowed in? So far as he knew Canius and Vulpran were not at war, but that didn't mean the tension between the two countries had changed. Then there was that creature. What was it, and where did it come from?

He held off on asking any of his questions. If Gaius was really going to spring him from this place, he didn't want to give the fox any reason to change his mind.

Gaius easily found the stairs. Thern couldn't hide his apprehension as they ascended. Did the guards know Gaius was returning with a prisoner? And if not, how where they going to react?

They were greeted by more than three dozen crossbows aimed at them from behind a makeshift barricade of overturned tables and spears.

Thern froze, but Gaius remained perfectly calm. "I assure you we're not one of the afflicted," Gaius said with a low growl. "You can put those away."

The guards slowly lowered their weapons. The guard-captain, a large and angry looking hound with rough, brown and black spotted fur, weaved through the barricades and approached them. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked.

Gaius tilted his head. "I believe I'm leaving. The afflicted is dead. I'm certain you can dispose of the corpse yourselves; just be sure to burn it."

"I meant, what are you doing with him?" the guard-captain pointed at Thern who was doing his best to hide his fear. If things went wrong, he would be turned into a pincushion before he even had time to blink.

"He's coming with me," Gaius replied matter-of-factly. He turned back to Thern. "Although the final say is his. What say you? I can take you away from this place and you will be pardoned of all crimes. However, you must devote yourself fully. You will not be allowed to marry, own land or titles, and forfeit any claims you may have."

Thern couldn't deny that the offer was appealing. He had resided himself to his fate because he knew there was no chance of changing it. Now this stranger was here, offering him hope. Hope to breathe fresh air again. Part of him knew he would be a fool to turn the offer down.

But he also was no fool. Gaius came to the prison to recruit the desperate and unlucky. Preying on the misfortunate was low, yet Thern could sense the fox came there out of desperation. No self-respecting soldier with a family or fortune to inherit would so willingly give it up. Even members of the king's guard were allowed to marry. Thern wasn't sold on the idea of becoming so noble's pet, but at least pets were better fed. "Fine. I'll join you," he said.

"Hold on just a minute," the guard-captain interjected angrily. "That wolf is in here for treason. You know what that means? And what makes you think I'm going to let you take him?"

The fox chuckled. The guard-captain was a full head taller and almost twice as wide, but there was no doubt who held the advantage in a fight. "I know exactly what treason is, and I know traitors are executed. And yet, here he is. Also, I have a writ from the king stating that I am free to conscript whomever I please. If you have a problem with my choice, you're free to take it up with him."

The guard-captain's ears fell. Thern was impressed, but it was worrying just how much Gaius knew about the circumstances of the "betrayal."

Gaius smiled. "I didn't think so. Now let's get started on those release forms, shall we?"

Thern followed. Everything felt unreal. Was he truly getting out of there? He was going to breathe clean air again, feel the sun on his face and wind on his fur, taste food that wasn't moldy or rotten, sleep in a soft bed covered in warm blankets.

It took everything Thern had not to break down into tears on the spot.

Drafting and signing the release forms didn't take nearly as long as Thern thought it would. The guard-captain wore a look of defeat, embarrassment, and rage on his face the entire time. Thern couldn't wipe the smile off his face.

With the papers of Thern's release safely tucked away in Gaius' pocket, the pair exited the prison. Thern stared up at the night sky for the longest time. It had been so long since he saw the moon, the stars. The wind blew, and he closed his eyes. The wind felt so different than in the cell. It was gentle, comforting not like the harsh biting of the cold breezes that penetrated his cell. The air was no longer smelled of death and shit; it was clean and crisp. He took a deep breath and coughed from the burning in his lungs. Never in his life did he imagine it would feel so good to take a deep breath. It reminded him when he was a pup and he would watch the skies at night, imagining the life he could have lived.

A paw fell on Thern's shoulder snapping him out of his thoughts. "I'm afraid we're a bit behind schedule, so we'll have to make up for lost time," Gaius said. He reached into his shirt and pulled out a large blue crystal on a chain around his neck. "Hold on tight and you may want to close your eyes or you may vomit."

Thern never got a chance what Gaius meant. The crystal glowed and the world around them devolved into a violent blur of bright colors. Thern closed his eyes as tightly as he could. His stomach dropped and his body felt weightless. He dared not open eyes. Everything spun and flipped at the same time, making it impossible to get his bearings. He closed his eyes tighter and wished for it all to be over.

The spinning abruptly stopped, and Thern felt solid ground beneath his footpaws. His legs gave out and he fell forward, snapping his eyes open just in time to see the cobblestone ground rushing up to greet him. He landed on all fours, pain shooting through his limbs and dispelling any notions that it was all a dream.

Thern slowly lifted his head. Instead of molded stone walls in a dark cell, he saw the walls of various buildings. Gaius had taken them to the small town Morken in western Canius, almost on the other side of the country. Thern had visited this place many times on missions during his mercenary days. The windows of nearby homes glowed with the soft light of oil lamps and fireplaces. A large smile spread on his face just thinking about the warmth those lights would bring.

Gaius tapped Thern on the shoulder, once again pulling him away from his felicity. "I understand it has been a while since you last came outside, but there is a local inn nearby where you can have a bath, a fresh change of clothes, a warm meal, and a female to spend the night with if you wish it," Gaius said.

Thern started crying.