Survive As The Brute's Wife

Maximus didn't think that Alexandra would run away from him. He ran behind her for some time, but he sensed dark and strong magic around.

He tried to call for her but she didn't listen to him and ran away from him. As she distanced herself from him, he felt the dark magic getting more stronger and powerful.

Even the beasts didn't like that dark magic and since it drained them, they returned to their plane. He has powerful mana but that didn't compare to the strength of that dark magic.

«Why does this seem familiar?»

He remembered most of his past except for the incidents around his death and how he died. He could only do guesswork on how he died. And so it cannot be entirely dismissed or entirely accepted as the whole truth.

But he had a feeling that he encountered this particular dark magic before. Or at least Alexandra did as he could guess from his memory. None of his memory is without her, after all.

He followed along the trail and after a while, there was no sign of her as if she had vanished. But he had a feeling she is just there and so he stopped at a clearing that lacked trees and looked around.

He cried out her name but there was no reply. He figured she is in danger.

Closing his eyes, he tried to sense if he could figure out her feelings. They have connected after all. But he couldn't even sense her even a bit as if someone had entirely taken her off of him. Like she was carved out of existence.

He tried to contact her summoned beasts but even they didn't answer him. They usually do but this time even they stayed away from him. 

And that could only mean...

His heart skipped a beat.

«Could she be taken to the Brume Thicket?»

As he wondered how he should figure it out, he saw something fluttering in the sky above. In that dark sky, that piece of white cloth was contrasting and raring to be found by him. For Maximus, that cloth looked familiar.

Because it was heavy, it started to fall down and in the blowing breeze, the piece of cloth fluttered its way down.

He caught the piece of cloth and on his palm, in that dim moonlight, that distinct golden embroidery on that piece of the finest silk indeed was familiar. 

And on that cloth, he saw black goo that was said to be familiar to that place where nothing good lives. 

He fisted his hands tightly with the piece of his wife's cloth and his eyes squinted dangerously.

«She is in Brume Thicket!»

The Brume Thicket is said to be a dense forest that contained magical qualities. No one knows that place's location and some even say that the location of the forest is unknown because it is in another realm.

She couldn't have lost her way and ended up there. Someone must have opened a portal to that place and led her there. 

«Who would have brought her there?»

«You finicky Coxcomb... Why did you run away from me?»

Maximus knelt on the ground holding his head.

«You're not as strong as you were before...Don't worry... I will find you!»

He needs to find her. He has to enter the Brume Thicket. That place is dangerous for her since that is the place she once sent the souls of the deserters of the army. She even put a curse on them to not rest until she permits them.

In their previous life, the King sent the army to conquer all lands. He was not initially very greedy. But since the Drovarys were in their side, the King gave his power as the commander to Adonis Lukyan and they left their country and fought many wars under the command of Lukyan.

But as years passed the spirit of the soldiers broke and they wanted to return home. But Adonis Lukyan had major ambitions. He was not planning on returning soon. 

No willing to follow Lukyan, a couple of legions of soldiers decided to leave. But Lukyan was not pleased by it and he sent his lapdog - The Rose Knight, to stop them. 

Blinded by her love for Adonis, she ordered them to join back in the fight. But they refused. 

To teach a lesson to them and to scare the others from deserting the army, she put a curse on them.

A curse for them to live inside the soil of the Brume Thicket and to never die until she permits them to.

And if she is there now, they would try to get back at her. He doubted if they could hurt her but still...

«I will come for you...»

He checked his pocket and took out a piece of paper that contained a spell. Concentrating on his mind, he whispered a spell looking in the direction of the moon.

"By Falandil's Hair!"

With a shout, Theodus stopped himself from slashing Maximus' throat by just an inch.

"I was fighting and you summoned me?" Theodus got close to Maximus's face and stared at him.

Maximus didn't flinch and in a moment Theodus turned to the side and retched. 

"Weak stomach?" Maximus asked.

Theodus didn't accept Maximus' concern as he recognized it as mockery. 

"I told you not to use the spell unless you are in dire need! I felt like I was yanked with an iron chain in a twelve horse-ridden chariot!" Theodus said and pressed his lips. 

"I am in dire need. I need you to open the portal to the Brume Thicket." Maximus wanted to tease him but held back.

He needs to find her as soon as possible.

"Brume Thicket?" Theodus squinted his eyes. 

He, as the next in line to the throne of the Uilaeg Elves, does have the key to the Brume thicket. 

But he doesn't use the spell, ever. He doesn't have the authority to do so. 

The Brume Thicket was once occupied by the elves of a higher class that were friends with the Uilaeg elves. But they broke their friendship as those elves gave themselves to the darkness and chose a leader whose ambition is to bring darkness to the world. 

They were raised with the advice of not involving themselves with the issues of the Brume Thicket. And it was once he broke that rule and that thicket was inhabited by humans; cursed humans.

He got banished from his home for opening the Brume Thicket for the stupid ambitions of the love-struck child of the dragon king. 

And he will not get involved with it again. He needs to go back to his family.

"She's taken there, Theodus..." Maximus looked at him in a pleading way. 

"No!" Theodus refused instantly. "There is no way I am involving myself with her again!"

"Theo, please..." Maximus held his hand. "She's not like before. She's-"

"No," he walked away. "Don't summon me like this again. Consider this time a one-time thing. I already paid back what I owe you."

Theodus walked away.

"You haven't!" 

Maximus stared at the back of Theodus. He knew if he lets go of Theodus now he would not have a chance to rescue Alexandra.

"She talked about some elvish spells... She said she didn't understand them. It might be your way back home," Maximus said fisting his hands.

Home... he knew the weight of those words. And he knows what it truly means to miss one's home. 

And yet he lied.

"Don't you dare lie to me, Max!"

Theodus who almost left turned and almost grabbed his collar. 

"She forgot a lot but then she still remembers the past, Theo. Why would I lie? You sensed her cleaning up the farm; her home, right? And you know your father would never refuse her if she talks for you... Think of this as doing her a favor... Or consider it as she owes you one..." Maximus tried to convince Theodus.

Speaking with conviction, he could convince Theodus. 

But when they entered the Thicket, they were surprised to see the rising balls of light.

"She freed them..." Theodus said with a layer of water in his eyes. 

"She did! Now find out where she is..." Maximus was not in the mood to see the serene scene in front of them. His only focus was getting her back.

"Aaarghhhhh"

The old voice of one of their old enemies made Maximus' heart skip a beat.

The last time that guy attacked her, her father refused to help her.

He was too strong for her to handle even in the past. Maximus knew she wouldn't be able to handle him now.

"Find her with your elf eyes, Theo!" He urged him. 

Elves have a magical vision they could use if they cast a spell.  They can see the aura of a person rather than the image. If he searches for her aura, he would be able to track her.

Maximus saw Theodus's eyes glowing with  silver-like light and relaxed a bit because he is tracking her.

"She's fleeing..." Theodus said pointing in a direction. "With him..."

Maximus' heart skipped a beat wondering if Theodus means Arioch.

"With who?" He asked just for confirmation.

Theodus didn't reply and turned at Maximus with a sad look.

And that said it all.