Craigory's Arc

Chapter 1 of 2

Craigory knelt at the forest's edge, his axe planted in the dirt. His hand shook on the handle. He had sworn to stop the man in red robes from finishing the crown. He had sworn to keep Kortana safe. But something was wrong with him now. He pulled the pocket watch from his coat. The crystal face glowed pale blue, then dimmed, then glowed again. Each pulse matched the tremor in his arm. Somewhere far off, he knew, Kortana's blood was pulsing the same way. A tree nearby burst into quiet flame. The fire did not burn the leaves. It only marked them. Craigory stared at the dancing light and understood. The drain had found him too. Kortana stepped from the brush, flowers at her dress, eyes steady behind her glasses. "It is reaching you," she said. "I felt it before you did." Craigory tried to stand. His knees gave. On the trunk beside him, the bark split open and showed a glowing dial. Numbers fell. Colors faded. His strength, made plain for them both to see. "Then we have less time than I thought," he said. He gripped the axe with his good hand. The tremor stayed. The watch kept pulsing. The bond was real, and it was pulling them both toward the same dark end.