“We can watch the taming process from the mountain range,” Orgev explains, stroking his beard again as if he’s pondering something.
It looks like we’re not the only ones who think Odin and Neve are shifty characters.
“It will give you a greater insight into how we use curses to test each Domitus,” Orgev continues.
“So, the curses don’t affect the creatures at all?” Lucy queries.
“Only to contain, leading to a slow submission. Remember, dark magic has a hypnotic effect on underworld creatures.”
“And these vantage points help you to monitor how the curses are applied,” Conrad adds, looking out over the mountain range framing the taming space, beginning to understand the intricacies of the process. As we join the crowds lining the mountain side, I keep my eyes on Odin and Neve who hover in the sky close by.
“Much will be revealed with your arrival,” Orgev adds, “including the extent of their grudge.”
I feel Laieya fluttering by my shoulder, struggling to maintain her minuscule form at the sight of the Riadek nearby: an old enemy from times gone by. It won’t be long before the taming display begins … the unchained Silverback below stretching its vast, armoured wings, attempting to regain enough strength to rise into the skies.
Conrad keeps the two emotionless Domitus in his sights. With our knowledge of Drandok improved, we now know where suspicion lies so wait for the right time to strike. As the weakened Silverback rises into the air, crashing into the mountain walls before regaining its sense of flight, the first wisp of black smoke appears from the hands of Odin and Neve: a Niavak curse creeping towards the ascending Silverback.
The cursed smoke circles around them, reminding me of matadors taming bulls. According to Orgev, the Niavak curse is only used to bring about submission. The question now is how much Odin and Neve enjoy the dark power at their disposal — the very reason curses are part of the taming ritual: to reveal soldiers whose scars have tipped them over the edge.
The two Domitus continue to circle on their armoured creatures, controlling the flight path of the weakened Silverback who falters at the sight of the black smoke. With the crowds looking on, monitoring every move, I step closer to Conrad who has edged away from the group, his turquoise Williynx shape-shifting into a slightly bigger form.
Aa Odin and Neve close in on the Silverback closer to us, they veer towards the mountain side, their Riadek’s wings spiking as they fly past us: as clear sign they have an axe to grind. Conrad doesn’t need any more encouragement, whistling for Erivan to reform in all his majesty. I do the same, calling Laieya into action. Less than a minute later all four Williynx are circling in the sky, ready for us to free fall into action.
There’s no other way of attaching ourselves to our feathered companions so we jump off the mountainside … the gasp from the crowds reaching us as we do. Free falling is one of the first tricks you learn as a Night Ranger, allowing for a dramatic introduction to battle.
We spin through the air on the back of our Williynx, avoiding the cursed smoke as we reach a higher vantage point, ready for the duel I knew was coming.
“Stay close together,” Conrad says, “and keep an eye on the trail of smoke.”
Odin and Neve rise higher in the sky, riding on either side of the weakened Riadek, a string of smoke running from their hands towards the creature’s body.
“Once we close in, we’ll know what their problem is,” I add, readying my hand to release a defensive charm.
The S.P.M.A. hasn’t exactly authorised this duel but, at the same time, it fits into their assessment of soldiers arousing suspicion. Like the use of the curses, the duel will draw out buried resentments, putting Odin and Neve on a path to redemption or punishment.
“Looks fairly harmless so far,” Noah states as we rise higher, moments before the weakened Silverback’s wings close and it falls from the sky.
“Normal formation!” Conrad shouts over the stricken Silverback’s roar, and we form a circle to prepare for the colossal, armoured beast falling at speed.
It only takes a glance in the direction of Odin and Neve to know this is no accident, but we can take care of them later. Right now, there’s a massive creature about to crash down on us so the force field charm is enacted … a collective shout of ‘FORA’ generating an invisible blanket of protection, powerful enough to halt the Silverback’s fall.
With the Fora charm doing its job, the Weveris charm is generated to add protective cover for our faces … black webs over our noses and mouths as the wisps of cursed smoke stretch through the air, still under the command of the two Domitus who look on.
It’s obvious what happens next … the Niavak curse will close in, causing the Silverback to jolt into action, fear igniting into flight … which is when we’ll be faced with huge, armoured wings spiking into action. One strike of those wings is enough to sever a human body so I watch as the smoke closes in, remembering Orgev’s comment that curses aren’t used against creatures, but to reveal the dark intentions of the damaged and deranged.
Odin and Neve haven’t revealed enough yet, making sure their ‘mistake’ happened at a distance, so it’s time for a little surprise of our own: my favourite fire charm igniting the stricken Silverback into action. The fire lights up the Fora charm which continues to offer a protective blanket for us. I don’t need to look at Conrad, Lucy and Noah to establish the plan because whenever there’s fire, there’s fury.
With the fire covering the Fora charm, the Riadek roars to life, bursting upwards once more … only this time we use ice to freeze the cursed smoke … leaving
