Thralls of a Dread Lord (1.91T)

Welcome to my weekly serial. This is a rough draft that I am working on, for your reading pleasure. It is a fairly grim tale, so be warned.

Here is the first post from this series.

Here is last week’s entry.

<>

“–No,” the words rasped out of Retaak’s throat as his eyes fell upon the crumpled form behind Ushochhushi.

There lay Albyursia. Her body was not blasted or burnt like those of the unfortunate Spawn too close to the the conflict between the Dread Lord and his former Seneschal, and yet the life had left it. Even at a distance Retaak could see that a spark was missing, that the green maiden who he loved… loved… was gone. Her voice had flashed through his mind a moment before, touching him, an apology for something that should have been but now would never come to pass.

“No,” said Retaak again, a lance of anguish ripping through him. “No.”

Ushochhushi, ignorant of Retaak’s feelings, shook his head as he stood over the form of the dying Dread Lord.

“You will never know how much I regret this, old friend,” said the Seneschal, bending down to pick up the Dread Lord’s blade.

“Spare… me… the theatrics… betray–“

The Dread Lord’s words were lost as the Seneschal rammed the Dread Blade into his mouth. There was another ripple of power and a strange gargled cry and then it was done. The Dread Lord was no more. All was silent across the great gathering as the Fellspawn watched the new Dread Lord take the crown from atop the Heaume of the old Dread Lord.

“All hail the New Dread Lord,” intoned Ushochhushi, his voice heard in every ear. He set the crown atop his head and every spawn felt the weight of it. Kaasukak, the compelling, settled upon them all once more.

All save one…

<>