Drew Este

My best friend.. Alaric. My mouth fell open in shock.

‘Alaric?’ I said trembling, ‘You can come out now. This isn’t funny.’

I stood up shakily. 

‘What’s wrong Alaric? Are you upset I figured out your joke?’

‘Drew,’ Lucian put a hand on my shoulder. His eyes were damp. They hadn’t been this way since we arrived at the lord's house. I laughed hysterically.

‘Lucian, why so scared?’ I looked back at him, my eyes wide and milky. 

‘Drew,’ He said again.

Salty drops were now dripping from my face. Tears. But why? Why was I crying? Nothing was wrong. My knees gave out and everything went black.

Lucian Cooper

The world felt like it shattered. The situation was grave. What had been thought impossible had happened. One of us had fallen and another unconscious. The remaining three of us weren’t in a good state. We could only do one thing. 

‘William grab Drew we need to vacate the area, Raven let’s go,’

Raven turned to look at me. He opened his mouth but no sound came out. Stumbling to his feet he took a few shaky steps. I grabbed his shoulder, I could barely hear his breath, it was so shallow. 

‘Let’s go!’

-

Raven had slumped into his chair and was no doubt blaming himself for what happened, Drew was incapacitated, William exhausted from carrying Drew and I was shaken. In short the mission was a complete failure and Alaric… We didn’t even have time to collect his remains. I sighed and rubbed my temples. If we were shaken I couldn’t even wonder what Drew was going through. Those two had always been together, like they were brothers.

‘Lucian,’ Raven tapped my shoulder.

‘Yes?’

He pushed a stack of papers towards me. 

‘Burn these,’ there was a determined glint in his eyes, ‘And tell Iva not to send me requests until we have dealt with the giants,’

‘Iva?’ I chuckled, ‘Since when have you called the lord “Iva”?’

Raven didn’t reply. Instead he gestured towards the papers.

‘Burn them.’

Raven disregarding the lord’s orders? He must have taken it really hard. I pet his shoulder and grabbed the papers. 

William Grimwood

I was tired, so tired. My legs felt like giving out. My lungs had abandoned me and my head was swimming. Still my mind failed to see my organs failing. I could only think of his death. Over and over and over. I could still see the giant's foot falling and the spray of blood. I gasped and fell to the ground. Next to me, on his bed, Drew stirred. I quickly stood up and composed myself. 

‘William?’ Drew sat up groggy.

‘Ah Drew you are awake,’

He looked around, confused.

‘I am, in bed?’

I nodded, having no words to offer. He looked me up and down.

‘Blood, cuts?’

I looked at myself. He was right. My clothes were stained a deep red and cuts ran around my arms and legs. I sat down next to him and sighed.

‘Drew do you remember anything?’

‘Remember what?’

‘Drew… Alaric. He is…’