Secrets of a Hybrid

Elias POV

“It’s been a month and a half, Elias!” Kaya shouted as she paced the floor of my room at the guild. “When will those damn council members start the trial?”

Athyra’s trial was scheduled to be held over a month ago, but there were complications in getting the council members and everyone important to the case. First, the council members demanded Katar attend the trial to tell his side of the story, so Kaya sent for the boneheaded a month ago. He arrived, and he’s taking up residence at a local inn. Then, Athyra demanded to have a dragon representative to ensure the council didn’t infringe on her rights. Kryzhany (kre-zaan-ey) Eshwyn, Athyra’s older brother was called in to oversee the proceedings. He arrived last week, but Athyra doesn’t know he’s here. Lastly, the council has been trying to track down her employer, Talan, for the last month. Talan was forced to come here by a group of wizards from the Wizard Guild found him snooping around the Evergreen Forest near the border of Desfyra of all places. The dark elf I had been chasing was to arrive this morning.

“Kaya, I think we have more pressing matters than when the council members start the trial. For one thing, you are marking up my floors with your ludicrous pacing.” She paused to glare at me. “Second, the guy who has been hunting our girls is about to fall into our laps.”

Kaya stayed in one place watching me. Her finger frantically tapped away on her arm like a tic sound of a clock. “You say it’s more important, Elias, but there’s no way to get the guy when he will be under scrutiny by everyone in this damn town.”

“Then what do you propose, Kay? Because Leah told me to eliminate the gu, so our girls could come home.” I grunted.

Kaya sighed and walked over to me with a face of pity. “Elias, this man’s death will not solve the problem anymore. The council knows there’s a hybrid out there. Ro’s magic has thrust her on the grand stage of Gleaca, and Em was all too happy to join her.”

A knock on the door cut the conversation short. I opened the door to find Buster Knalls, Myrra’s event coordinator. He looked exhausted and sweaty like he had run a marathon. “Governor Kaya Valaris and Sir Elias Wulfric, you are both needed at the courthouse. The trial is set to begin within the hour, and don’t forget to bring your son, Katar Valaris, Madam Kaya.” Buster Knalls nodded his head to us, dismissing himself. He headed out in a hurry.

Kaya made her way about the room in a hurry, concealing small weapons in hidden places beneath her pink gown. She wanted this trial over and justice for her disabled son. The stress had weighed on her since Leah had sent notice for Katar to return to the Savage Valley. Katar had proven that he was unfit to continue as an agent outside of the valley. He angered a dragon and caused an unnecessary rampage. The irony was that Katar had far bigger problems than losing his arm. When Athyra ripped his arm from his body, Katar should have transformed back into a beast person. Instead, his body has refused to release his elf form entirely. Alpha Hunter Axel’s theory was that the dragon’s magic interfered with the magic of the ring, leaving Katar in his elf form permanently. The ring that could have fixed Katar was lost in Athyra’s rampage.

Myrra greeted us at the courthouse. Katar followed us into the courthouse. The room was lavishly set up with eight seats set up high to oversee the room. Each seat had a plate with the name of a council member with the eighth seat named for Mr. Eshwyn, the dragon representative. There was a stand raised slightly above the audience benches where Athyra and anyone else being questioned would stand. The curtains were a rich purple color, and the symbols of each race decorated the walls. There were smaller desks on each side of the center stand where important players like Athyra, Myrra, and Katar would sit. People were filing into the courtroom from several different guilds. Many groups tried to hunt down Athyra and failed, and all those guilds were here for justice for those who died.

Buster Knalls called Myrra and Katar to be seated before calling the whole room to settle. We all sat quietly awaiting the trial to begin. “May I present Carter Wells of the Kingdom of Solis (Human), Farah Galin of the Kingdom of Galin (Dwarf), Marta Black of Black Rock Hills (Orc), Jonah Gigas of Jontunuvar (Giants), Mylor Anifya of the Kingdom of Desfyra (Elf), Grand Fairy Flora of Mauve’s Forest (Fairy), Titan Mordue of the Northern Mountains (Beast Folk), and Kryzhany (kre-zaan-ey) Eshwyn of the Dragon Nation.” All seven council members and the dragon representative walked in as Buster Knalls announced their names. The end piece to the trial introductions was Waller Basik, the wizard responsible for keeping the dragon in her humanoid form, escorting Athyra Eshwyn into the room.

Athyra gazed up at the council members when her face turned white as snow, looking up at her brother. “Kryzhany? Why are you here?”

The dark blue dragon male looked down at his younger sister. “Someone had to come see what trouble you had gotten yourself into.”

Athyra opened her mouth to speak, but no words left her mouth. It took a dragon to quiet a dragon. This was the first time Athyra had had been quiet since I have known her. I spent a great deal of time with Myrra going over everything that might be asked of Athyra because the girls and Myrra are at risk of exposure and accusations. Kaya grumbled about how I was helping the dragon.

Jonah Gigas stood tall reading the accusations against Athyra. “Ms. Eshwyn, you are being accused of breaking Article 29 of the Gleacan Treaty with the Dragon Nation, which states that all adult dragons will keep from rampaging and causing unjust destruction across the land of Gleaca. Should such an act be committed, the dragon in question will face a fair trial with the Gleaca Council. If found guilty, the dragon will submit to any punishment willingly other than death.”

The whole audience stirred in utter shock. Many had died when the adventurers tried to stop her, but the council couldn’t sentence her to death. I know many of the folks were hoping for the death penalty. With everything this girl has done, I can’t say her death would suffice. She should pay in service to the people she wronged or be locked away with constant reminders of those who lost their lives at her hers hands. My hands are far from clean, but no adventurer can keep his hands clean for long. Not when there are abusers, bandits, and kidnappers out there.

When the introduction bit had finished, Grand Fairy Flora spoke. “Ms. Athyra Eshwyn, please tell us your account of ttheevents in Tteyeas’sspunk rreturnin a urry as she recounted her arrival here in Gleaca. Lord Ulrich sounded like a greasy man, but he offered her work the moment she stepped off the boat. She took the opportunity to meet the dark elf known as Talan. He tasked her with finding a group of adventurers that he had come across because they had a rare magical item he was interested in acquiring. Eriz, Talan’s slave, was tasked with helping Athyra find the adventurers. Athyra came to White Rapids afadventurers why that t was our aadventurers whohad answered the job advertisement for Old River Woods. She began looking for those specific adventurerswhot had gone to Old River Woods. Athyra learned that I had gone to Pine Row after joining the White Rapids Guild. She followed me in hopes of finding me, but I had left before she could find me. It was there that she tried to ask Katar where I might have gone, but everything fell apart for her.

Katar had been rude and questioned Athyra’s motives on a date. Athyra had been put up with stress and unwanted attention by many people when she exploded on Katar for insulting her character. She had come to Gleaca because she bet her brother she could earn herself an honest hoard of money. Athyra gave into emotion and hurt Katar, but she stopped him from dying. She grabbed Eriz and left town after nearly destroying where she had been dining with Katar. For hours, she flew west while many tried to stop her at the request of the council. Eriz confirms that Athyra only defended herself against those adventurers until someone shot Eriz with an arrow by mistake. The misunderstanding caused a wolf familiar to battle with the dragon in the Evergreen Forest. In the aftermath of the battle the wolf disappeared, and Myrra was able to apprehend the dragon. Several wizards died while trying to deal with the fight between the wolf familiar and the dragon, but Athyra fell victim to the dragon’s curse. It consumed her while she battled the wolf until she saw Eriz alive in the end.

“Quite a journey you had, Ms. Eshwyn. Thank you for giving us your account, so vividly.” Grand Fairy Flora commented. Athyra wasn’t permitted to speak any further after her crude language during her testimony. She was glaring at the council, but her brother kept a neutral expression throughout her explanation.

“Let us hear from the supposed employer first before the questions begin.”Carterr Wells suggested. The others agreed without argument.

Buster Knalls summoned Moseley Hammond, an older dwarf warrior, and a fellow from the Wizard’s Guild dragged in the bastard of a dark elf behind. Flashes of him burned through my mind from the day we faced him in battle. He struck me with lightning over and over as he harassed Leah. It’s burned into my memory. I wanted toembodimentrt, but he was already bound in anti-magic cuffs. Athyra left the stand to allow the dark elf to walk up on the stand. The elf spat at Athyra as she passed him.

“Earl Talan Urdoy, you stand before the Gleaca Council to testify about your working relationship and business with Ms. Eshwyn.” Jonah Gigas’ voice boomed through the court. “How did you meet Ms. Eshwyn?”

The atmosphere of the courtroom shifted like everything had become uneasy looking at Talan. He was visibly upset and disheveled. It was clear he did not want to be here. Talan wasn't going to talk to the council. It was clear from his silence that he had no intention of answering anything. Different councilmen called on Talan to speak, but he remained quiet.

“Why will this man not speak?” Marta Black huffed, looking at the other councilmen. “If he refuses to answer, he will lose his whole earldom from the title to any property.”

“Ms. Eshwyn and Talan’s slave, Eriz, cautioned the guild master that this man would not speak if it didn't benefit him.” Farah Galin reminded the court. “Which is why the slave suggested bringing Earl Urdoy’s slave and housekeeper, Nefrisse.”

Talan's expression changed from obstinate to concerned Did he cared for his housekeeper? Now, that was a surprise. It wasn't long before Buster Knalls brought in a round, older woman at the request of the council. Talan's eyes landed on the woman. His stance softened at the sight of her.

The woman named Nefrisse was nervous. She had become sweaty in a hurry under the gaze of the councilmen. She stuttered as she spoke to them, but everything she said confirmed Athyra’s story. From the ‘pig’ of a Lord, Ulrich to what Talan had asked of Ms. Eshwyn. The thing that bothered me was none of this was incriminating for Talan. All he had done was hire Athyra to find someone, and there was no law against that. I could incriminate the man by testifying about the Old River Woods. If I did that, he could end up in Isai Compound, the council’s prison. Yet, I can't say a word without risking Myrra and the girls.

“So, Earl Talan Urdoy hired Ms. Eshwyn to find a group of adventurers that he came across in Old River Woods at the same time that a group of bandits were slaughtered there. Is that correct, Guild Master Myrra?” Mylor Anifya asked.

Myrra stood from the desk next to the stand. Her body became tense as she answered. “The timeline matches with the discovery of the bodies in Old River Woods.”

“Didn't Earl Talan file a notice about a mysterious wolf creature in the woods that day?” Mylor Anifya studied Talan as he spoke. Myrra concurred that Talan did file such a notice. “So, Earl Talan Urdoy was in Old River Woods at the same time an adventuring party was there, and a group of bandits ended up dead by a mysterious wolf creature?”

“Yes, Sir Anifya. It seems that way.” Myrra’s mouth seemed to go dry.

“Well, that leaves many questions unanswered. What happened to the adventurers, and what did Earl Talan see there, or was he involved?” Mylor Anifya questioned.

“Mylor, what does this have to do with Athyra?” Kryzhany stopped Mylor’s line of questioning. “This is about what happened to Athyra and how she responded, not something that happened in a forest somewhere.”

The room was silent as everyone waited to see how Mylor might respond. Mylor just smiled. “Well, if Kryzhany doesn't care about why his sister was chasing these adventurers for Earl Tal, and what caused her employment to be needed, then I have no further questions.”

Kryzhany smirked. “Thank you for understanding, Mylor. The short of itis s, Athyra came here because she made a bet with me. She was impatient and took the first offer made to her. She screwed up and got tired of everyone's bullshit. I think we need to move along to the first victim of her rampage, Katar Valaris. He sparked her tantrum after, which killed how many people?”

“113 people,” Buster Knalls answered.

“Not bad, dragonette,” Talan creepily grinned at Athyra Nefrisse clicked her tongue at Talan's behavior. This dark elf was the embodiment uncouth.

All of a sudden a heavy bang rang out in the courtroom when blood came spilling out of Talan's ugly head. A giant smile settled on my face while the courtroom descended into anarchy. Talan fell over causing blood to pool on the floor in front of the stand. Someone has shot Talan dead.