CHAPTER 63: THE BONE HYDRA

Later that afternoon, King Rollo finally arrived at the palace of Ivarion, having traveled all the way from his kingdom of Aerthwyn. Now, he stood outside the chambers of King Tharyn Elyndor and after a brief moment, the doors to the royal chambers opened, and King Rollo stepped inside.

"Tharyn, my old friend," he said. "Long time no see."

King Tharyn stood up from behind his desk and gave a wide smile as he crossed the room to greet his old friend. The two kings shook hands firmly. After a brief moment of exchanging pleasantries, Tharyn motioned to the table in the middle of the room, which was laden with a variety of foods.

"Please, sit," King Tharyn said as he gestured to the opposite chair. "You’ve come a long way."

"So, tell me," King Tharyn began. "What has brought you to Ivarion and my palace, unannounced, no less? Was it that urgent?"

King Rollo’s expression changed. "It was indeed that urgent," he replied. "I left on horseback without the royal carriage. Time was of the essence."

Tharyn raised an eyebrow as he sensed the gravity in his friend’s tone. "What could disturb you like this? I assume it’s the threat approaching from the west?" he asked.

Rollo nodded gravely, his eyes narrowing. "Yes, you’ve heard of it then? He asked.

King Tharyn affirmed. "Yes, I’ve heard of it. But I decided not to worry much as your military power is strong, and stronger than most."

"This is not just about military strength, Tharyn. This enemy isn’t like any army we’ve ever faced before." Rollo said.

King Tharyn looked concerned, leaning forward as if trying to understand the severity of the situation. "Is it really that bad? Tell me, Rollo, how bad is this threat? What are we really up against?"

"What we’re up against is something far more terrifying. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, and it’s more dangerous than you could imagine. Something beyond our understanding. I’ve seen firsthand the devastation it has caused to villages and entire kingdoms, and I am afraid to say that we stand little chance against it." Rollo said as if trying to warn.

Tharyn’s eyes widened. "That sounds terrifying. But how exactly do you describe this enemy? What makes them so dangerous?"

Rollo took a deep breath and clenched his fingers tightly together as he spoke. "Death. They are like death itself. Skeletons. Not just of humans, but of animals, of beasts... They are called the Bone Hydra... You strike their arm, and the other arm moves. Cut off their leg, and they still keep coming, crawling with their hands. They don’t die. They just... keep coming."

King Tharyn stared at Rollo. "Bone Hydra," he murmured. "Made of skeletons, you say? I’ve never heard of such a thing in all my years. Where did they come from? How is it possible?"

Rollo shook his head in frustration. "I don’t know. I wish I did. But the truth is, the how and the where aren’t what matters right now. What matters is stopping them before it’s too late. I don’t know where they came from or why they’re attacking. What I need now is your help."

"Help us with resources. Help us with soldiers. Help us with strategies in any way you can," King Rollo said. "It will take more than just a kingdom to defeat this enemy. We need allies. We need everything we can get if we’re going to survive this."

King Tharyn sat back in his chair, looking at his old friend with a furrowed brow. "You really ask for my help, Rollo? You seem to forget that it wasn’t long ago when we were recovering from a brutal war. A war against the Sandborns. And a war that you didn’t even join us in."

"I didn’t join because you never asked me to," Rollo replied. "And back then, we had our own enemies to deal with. But when I heard you had been injured in that battle, I wanted to come to your aid, until I heard about the sudden appearance of a dragon in your kingdom. So, I must ask, is it true?"

Tharyn’s gaze shifted, and he hesitated before answering. "That’s not what I was asking about, Rollo," Tharyn replied. "But if you must know... Yes, there is a dragon in my kingdom. And there is a young boy, who some are now calling the Dragon Lord. But he is not someone I can just summon into battle."

"Thank goodness the rumors are true," Rollo said with a faint smile appearing on his lips. "You have to find a way to bring him into this battle, Tharyn. You have to figure out how to unleash the dragon. Only then do we have a chance of surviving this. Only then can we even begin to think about winning."

Tharyn’s brow furrowed again. "Are you really the one saying this?" he asked. "The Rollo I know never feared any threat or danger. You never asked for alliances or begged for help against an enemy. So, what’s going on now?"

"If you had seen the things I’ve seen, Tharyn," Rollo said quietly, "if you had heard the things I’ve heard, you would understand. The Bone Hydra is like nothing we’ve faced before. It is the kind of enemy that doesn’t stop. It doesn’t retreat. And our armies, no matter how strong, can’t defeat it. We have no hope of survival unless we join hands. Not just you and me, but with every kingdom that can stand with us. If we want to stand a chance, we need all the help we can get."

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Both kings looked toward the entrance. "Who’s that?" Tharyn asked.

A guard rushed in, trembling, his hands shaking as he tried to speak. "Your Majesty... The... the Queen... she’s dying," the guard stammered.

Tharyn jumped to his feet. "The Queen is what?" he asked with a loud voice.