The Greyman Saga

Author's Note: Meant to get this up like a week ago but better late than never!

I've appreciated the feeback alot lately, so please keep it up and remember to favorite and rate! Im going to continue to post term indexes at the beginning of the chapter, and though I want to remain true to my story i'm going to consolidate some terms and attempt to declutter a bit for simpler reading. It's good to be reminded that some times world and language 'realism' can break immersion if over expanded. I'm a bit of a nerd, so i get a little gungho with over creating things at times. Ah well, more hidden lore for me! Thanks again for all the love:)

P.S As for the confusion about Dreads and their abitlies I will say that it is a bit...purposeful. That may not be your desired response, but its the best I can give at the moment. However, if our duo manages to make it Damoria, you'll likely learn much there;)

*

*

*

*

Term Index

Inthys: A type of Dread without eyes, who feed on terror inflicited by their hallucinations.

Drut: Several inch-long spikes created by Inthys to iniect their Ennem into their prey to induce hallucinations.

Gylga: A low standing person or dread. Someone without family or value.

Zephyr: A type of Dread born of ice and wind.

Kaidis: The Zephyr term for their sovereign King.

The Ba'rau: A breach in spacetime that connects earth to Edinmoor.

Ennem: A mysterious energy of Dredincross, which progenies and empowers Dreads.

Izanmoor: The 'Top' of Edinmoor, where the humans of that dimension live.

Dredincross: The 'bottom' of Edinmoor, where Dreads dwell.

*

*

*

*

Chapter 11:

The Dreaded Knight.

"You're getting ahead of yourself, Gilaed." Hissing the words, Tath forced a surge of ice to his palm, pointing it towards the approaching Inthys.

Gilaed seemed unbothered by his threatening pose, the Dread's thin frame shrouded in shifting black cloth that looked like it could be shadow, or leather, or both. The gaunt Dread flipped his dull grey hair with a wiry hand, his eyeless face showing an impressive amount of amusement. Tath resisted the urge to grit his teeth, turning his attention back towards more important matters.

At his feet, the Vermyr swayed back and forth. She was as stiff as a board, her knees on the frosted cement and her eyes glazed and distant. Tath hadn't noticed Gilaed's attack during his battle with the Siphon, but he could see one of the Inthys's black 'Drut' spikes protruding from her shoulder now that he was paying attention.

She wasn't convulsing, or screaming in fear as a mortal would, but the hallucinations created by the Inthys's black spikes were difficult to negate, even for a Dread. They could make you see nearly anything they wanted; ecstasy, or suffering.

They never chose the former.

The thought made Tath shoot the thin Inthys a curious look. The blizzard around him was still raging, a byproduct of his own machinations, but he could feel his cold, hunt-driven lust settling. The parking lot was littered in winter's wake, but the warm sun overhead was already grating on his being in the aftermath of the fight. It was time to leave.

Their task was over, and the Vermyr was in their hands. It had been a surprisingly short lived thing, though it hadn't gone exactly as he has planned it would. He couldn't say he was happy about Gilaed's involvement but, it may have been necessary all the same.

Tath lifted his hand to his jaw, caressing it softly. The gylga hit hard.

Very hard.

A brief image of the Siphon's glowing white eyes flashed like a burst of light in his mind and he felt a strange termor of discomfort pass through his neck. She had tossed him around like a doll, but that's not what bothered him. It was the way she had looked at him. Like he was some sort of lesser being,

Like he was her prey.

"It's time to leave. Shall we go together, or are we fighting for her possession? I'm honestly fine with either." Gilaed's voice was startling as he settled next to Tath.

The tall Dread's pale lips were pulled into a languishing smirk. Tath raised an eyebrow at him, a wave of frozen irritation seeping off of him at the Inthys's demeanor.

"Weren't you just grandstanding me a moment ago. Where'd that posturing flee to, Eyeless?" Tath crouched as he spoke, feigning disinterest in the man next to him as he turned back towards the Vermyr.

"Oh come now, Tathy. You know I just like riling you up. You Zephyr are so easily stirred." Gilaed giggled, running his fingers through Tath's hair.

Tath hissed angrily, frost blasting from his nose as he slapped away the hand of his unwanted savior.

"Do not touch me, Gilaed Ockrias. Your hands are stain on skin that's been touched by the Kaidis." Tath could feel his body shaking, the gale around him beginning to stir again as he looked at the eyeless Dread.

Gilaed grinned.

"My bad. Would it be okay if I told you your precious Lord had licked my hands prior--unngh?" Gilaed's mocking was cut short as Tath's frozen hand clenched his throat.

The air ripped into a flurry, matching the fury that had instantly welled inside of the young Zephyr. Pulling the Inthys close, he clenched his hand mercilessly around the Dread's throat scathingly. Gilaed's smile flickered for a moment, and Tath felt a subtle gathering of Ennem in the Dread's concealed hand.

"I don't think so, Inthys." Tath said with a whisper, his hand darting down towards Gilaed's wrist as a Drut formed there.

Ennem surged again, and Tath released his grip on the Inthys's throat. He barely intercepted the Dread's free hand, stopping yet another jagged, black, spike from finding purchase in his body.

"You eyeless aren't made for this sort of fighting. You can't win." Tath said vehemently, feeling the thin Dread failingly attempt to break free of his grasp.

He wondered if this was how the Vermyr had felt while she had restrained him.

A feeling utter revulsion roiled through his stomach at the thought. It was a pale consolation to see that Gilaed's smile was completely gone. Though, even without it, he still exuded a prideful and mocking disposition.

"True. But the Vermyr seemed quite capable. Perhaps I'll release her and let the abomination have her way with you." The Inthys said the words with a callousness that made Tath curl his lip.

"You'd risk failing our charge?" Tath asked with digust.

The barest of smirks graced Gilaed's lips in response. Incredulous, Tath released the Dread's wrists, shoving the despicable creature away from him.

"Of course not." Gilaed said with a slyness that oozed impossible sincerty, patting his robes as he returned to his poised stance.

His insufferable smile had returned, but his Drut had sunk back into his palms.

Tath felt his lip twitch in horror, but he made no move to further antagonize him. The Inthys were slimy, detestable fiends of mischief. Comparing their desires to that of Zephyr was a foolish and pointless exercise.

"Fine. We take her together then." Tath slid his hands to his coat pockets as he spoke, but he did nothing to hide the contempt in his voice.

He had no wish to share his prize, nor did he truly intend to, if possible. However, this was hardly the place to settle such things. Gilaed would live to regret his actions, but the eyeless Dread would have to wait for his lesson in humility until they were back through the Ba'rau.

"Fine by me." Gilaed responded coolly, and the two of them turned their gaze towards the Vermyr.

Stepping forward, Tath gave the hallucinating Siphon a speculative glare. She looked as vacant as she had before his and Gilaed's scuffle. That much was good at least.

"Shall I carry her?" Gilaed asked dryly.

Tath snorted.

"Not a chance, Eyeless." He sneered, stepping forward to grab a thick section of the Vermyr's pure black hair. "Can't risk you sneaking away with her."

Gilaed sighed.

"I am the one who caught the gylga, no?" He muttered.

Tath laughed.

"Take her from me then."

Gilaed pursed his lips and made no reply. Tath cackled again before glancing down at the Vermyr. He tugged sharpy on her scalp, yanking her head backwards.

"Time to go home, Siphon." He said with a malcious cackle.

As if in response, the Vermyr's body shook violently. Her hair swirled, then whipped angrily at his fingers, the ends digging sharply into his skin. Tath grunted in annoyance, then gave Gilaed a curious glance.

The Inthys wore an odd expression, but Tath couldnt quite discern it.

"Mmmm." A deep moan escaped the Vermyr's lips, echoing from her chest guturally.

Gilaed's expression deepened to one of clear confusion.

"Is this your doing, Eyeless?" Tath asked, keeping his eyes fixed on the Vermyr.

Gilaed didn't respond, but the Vermyr seemed to be growing more restless. The pale woman's nose twitched, and a surge of light began to well in her previously cloudy irises. Small tendrils of white energy began to appear in her cheeks, crawling beneath the Siphon's skin like some foreign parasite.

"I'm losing her." Gilaed said with a strained voice.

"Losing her? What does th--" Tath gasped, his words trailing, as a nauseating force swept through his body.

It was a perverse, heavy, energy. Crippling and tainted. It rung through his skull, and his chest, leaving the Ennem in his body roiling with discomfort. It was a feeling unlike any he'd ever felt, but he'd heard it described.

He had heard it described in depth in fact, and with utter contempt.

"They can't be..." Gilaed's voice echoed his own thoughts as the two of them turned their attention towards the source of the ominous feeling.

Tath felt his body shiver, his eyes falling on a dark blur in this mass of snow that still swirled around the parking lot. Lifting his hand, he forced the howling winds to a standstill. It wasn't a necessary action, in fact, he typically preferred the chaos of the storm. It was a reflexive response, born of his own disbelief.

"There's no way they could have found us already. Were they tracking the damned gylga?" Gilaed yelped, his typically haughty voice shaky and dry.

Tath didn't respond, simply staring at the figure. His eyes narrowed, focusing on the outline of a black helmet on the entity's shoulders. It was a solid, harsh, helm. There was no visible eyeholes, nor any sign of embellished design. The only adornment was a dull bronze coin set in the forehead. A coin bearing the symbol of a long triangle, crested by a small circle.

The symbol of the long fallen capital of Izanmoor.

Tath felt his lip twitch again, his eyes shifting to the dark blade in the figure's hand. A blade of lightless steel. The last blade forged in that same, ancient city.

It was them. Somehow, beyond reason, they were here. The last Knight of Lor had found them.

Illeya'Ithelayis was here.