LIROIDS: SNAKE

Chapter Three: Kindraloy's Secret

Kindraloy lay far from the roots of Cellok and the black towers of Doomsany. Its streets were narrow, its homes built of timber and stone, its people humble and cautious. No magic touched this place, for centuries ago, two lovers, King Kindra and Queen Loy, had sacrificed themselves to strip power from its soil. Here, no spell took root, no curse thrived. It was the only place in the world where the Shadowborn, gods, and demigods were made small.

Snake walked those streets with his cloak drawn close, a hood shadowing his face. To most, he was only another traveler, though some turned their heads, uneasy without knowing why. His hair, raven-dark, the symbol of his bloodline, caught light even when hidden. He carried silence with him like a second skin, and silence unsettled mortals.

He reached a small home near the edge of the town, its garden modest, its windows aglow with faint light. He paused, letting himself breathe. Here, in Kindraloy, the whispers of Evilside fell silent. Her roots could not reach him. For a brief moment, he was not an assassin nor cursed heir, only husband, only father.

The door opened before he could knock.

Trina stood there, brown hair falling loose over her shoulders, eyes sharp with both love and fear. She searched his face with the same question she always did: Was he man, or shadow, tonight?

"You came," she whispered.

He would always return home before a battle, but this time around, his eyes held doubts, one she did not dare look at.

Snake lowered his hood, offering the faintest smile. "I always do."

She embraced him, fierce though brief, then pulled him inside. The scent of woodsmoke and herbs filled the air. At the back of the room, a child sat cross-legged on the floor, a wooden toy clutched in his hands. His dark eyes lifted, and his lips curved into a grin.

"Father!"

Snake knelt, opening his arms. "Shiver."

The boy rushed into his embrace, small arms tightening around his neck. Snake held him close, and for a heartbeat, he felt whole. But as he pulled back, his gaze fell upon the mark curling along Shiver's arm, the Tar mark, black as ink, pulsing faintly beneath his skin. It was a reminder that the curse did not spare even innocence.

"He's strong," Snake murmured.

"Too strong," Trina said sharply. She stood with arms folded, her gaze on their son. "He woke in the night. The soil by his bed had turned to dust. He is only four, Snake. How much longer before the curse consumes him?"

Snake's jaw tightened. "Kindraloy protects him. The barrier holds."

"For now." Her voice broke. "But when Evilside commands, barriers crack. When war comes, shadows reach everywhere. You cannot hide him forever."

Snake said nothing. He stroked Shiver's hair as the boy showed him his wooden toy serpent, blissfully unaware of the weight in their words.

Snake remembered how they had met.

It was a cold winter night 200 years ago, and he had just finished an assignment, for at the time, he was a lone ranger and dragon, his superior in the ranks. Dragon and he were at the edge of town, laughing and singing the night away, when she walked past carrying a basket full of apple pies.

"Mind if I had some, my lady?" he wondered what a lady would be doing out when the moon had risen and unaccompanied.

She kept her cool and continued to walk away.

Dragon stood and caught her by the wrist; the look on his face made snake shiver.

Her hood was off, and her brown hair flowed with the wind. She was beautiful.

Dragon released her immediately, "the scorge of Tan walks among mortals"

His words carried disdain and poison.

"There is no scorge like that of the Lioids, evil sires you are," she spat back.

She was magnificent. He hurried to stop the squabble before the dragon did anything stupid. Tan was known for their color of hair, just like the liroids.

"You dear sir are a mixed abomination," she spat back at Dragon. He lost his cool and his hair lit up with flames.

Snake told him to walk it off, and he did. Mumbling curse words under his breath as he went." You should be afraid of him, you know...he was once Bloods' apprentice, the first liroid assassin."

She looked at him with nonchalant disdain. She was breathless. And he was a fool.

They met again the next day at a flower shop. Dragon had brought his wife rage, for it was their anniversary. And there she was, struggling to choose between the carnations and white roses.

"You look like a lost puppy brother." Dark was here, and why he wondered.

"How are you here? And why?" She always came with either a command or bad news.

She ignored me and went to greet Dragon and rage, whispering something into his ear.

Before she left, she came to him again, "Be careful, dear brother, don't mess with evil side unless you want to get yourself killed." She looked at the brown haired lady, "cursed spawns," and walked out of the shop.

We met again by the beach, I was picking up seashells for passion while she was lost in thought, walking and playing with her shawl.

"May I be of service to you?" She did not notice when I walked to her.

"Oh... I'm sorry, must have been daydreaming again." Her smile was astonishing.

"Sorry to be too straightforward, but...I think I may be in love with you." he waited patiently for her reply.

Her face carried no expression. "You do know where I'm from, right?...or are you just feigning ignorance?"

"I do know...it would turn my family upside down, but I am a hopeless romantic, so.. I guess I am willing to give it a try if you are," he waited with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

"Tan would have my head," she replied

"And Evilside mine"

He could feel the battle playing in her mind. She might be from Tan, but she was defiant, and he could feel it.

"Do you fancy me?"

"Who wouldn't... your bloodline is known for siring handsome men"

They both laughed...He looked at her with love, which made her slightly uncomfortable.

"Just give me one chance...just one would be enough"

"You're very optimistic, dear sir."

"I just have a good gut feeling... it always works for me"

She looked at him, surprised at his boldness.

"Look, I know Evilside and Tan hate each other...but we only serve them nothing more".

"You're a liroid prince, not a follower or subject...or am I wrong?" she sounded uncertain. But he was determined.

"I am..." he held her hand, "and I would make you fall in love with me."

She smiled, then laughed out loud. It felt like I had finally found where I truly belonged, the one person I could be myself with...I would not lose her even if it meant crossing my family to do it.

That was all in the past now, for they had been through a lot together and would not let their families split them up. He loved her then and loved her still. Trina was an escape from his reality, a grace given to him by chance...he took it and he has never been happier.

He looked at his son playing with his wooden toy and smiled. He was his world, and he would kill for him.

Later that night, Snake stood outside, staring at the moonless sky. Trina joined him, silent for a time. Finally, she spoke.

Tan rises. The king rallies his people. If Evilside moves against him, Tan will burn. My people will burn."

She knew her words would confuse him, but she spoke them all together. But he gave her the same answer he had always given for years.

"You are mine," Snake said softly. "And Shiver is mine. I will not let Tan's war touch you." He assured her.

"You cannot promise that," she egged on.

He looked at her, eyes dark, voice edged with steel. "Then I will kill every man who tries."

Trina flinched at the venom in his tone but did not turn away. She had always loved him, even when fear hollowed her chest. He was shadow and serpent, but he was hers.

Inside, Shiver slept, the mark glowing faintly on his arm.

Dragon arrived in Kindraloy the next day. He did not disguise himself as Snake did; his fiery hair marked him instantly, and mortals shrank from his presence. He laughed at their fear, though his eyes softened when he reached Snake's home.

Shiver greeted him with wide-eyed awe. Dragon lifted the boy easily, tossing him into the air before catching him with a booming laugh. "He grows stronger each time I see him. He will outmatch us all one day."

Trina forced a smile, though her hands twisted in her dress.

Later, Dragon and Snake sat outside, the air crisp with morning. Dragon's grin faded as he stared into the distance.

"Passion comes to visit soon," he said quietly. "She reminds me of her mother every day. Too much. It hurts to look at her sometimes."

Snake glanced at him but said nothing, for he felt the pain in his words.

"Flame burns already," Dragon went on, a spark in his eyes. "He will set the world alight when the time comes. And Fury…" His voice trailed. He shook his head. "Fury is too much like her mother. She whispers to servants, to strangers. Twisting hearts already, and she is but a child. Rage laughs, proud of it. But I see danger. I see ruin."

Snake's lips curved faintly. "We are cursed. Our children inherit not our strength, but our chains." He spat the words with pain and bitterness.

Dragon laughed bitterly. "Chains can still strangle kings."

The two sat in silence. Snake thought of Shiver's mark, Dragon of Passion's smile, Flame's hunger, Fury's whispers. Assassins they were, but fathers too—and that was the cruelest truth.

In Doomsany, Queen Dark listened to reports from her spies. Scream stood beside her, veiled and silent, her presence chilling the chamber.

"The crusader king rallies faster than we expected," a general stammered. "His priests spread faith like wildfire. Villages burn their own fields rather than let us take them."

Dark's lips curled. "Fear does not break men who believe in gods. But faith…" She turned her veiled companion and best friend. "Scream. What breaks faith?"

The voice came muffled, dreadful. "Doubt. Let them believe their god falters. Let them see priests burn, prayers fail, holy fire snuffed out. Break their faith, and you break their army."

Dark smiled coldly. "Then faith shall bleed first."

Glass sat in her chamber of crystals, her hands trembling over shards of light. Visions bled into her eyes: Snake holding Shiver as the mark consumed him, Dragon watching Flame ignite a village, Fury whispering into ears that turned to stone, Passion walking away into light. She saw Queen Dark on a throne of bones, Scream's veil burning away to reveal horror, the crusader king falling with fire in his hand.

She whispered, "Every shadow carries its end."

Her words dissolved into silence.

As Snake prepared to leave Kindraloy, Trina caught his arm. "Do not let Tan burn."

He looked at her, torn. "I serve Evilside. Her will is shadow."

"And what of mine? What of Shiver's?" Her eyes brimmed with tears she refused to shed. "Serve them, Snake. Serve us."

He kissed her forehead, but his silence was answer enough.

Dragon waited outside, fire in his eyes. "The queen commands, the goddess demands. We march."

Snake nodded, though his heart lingered on the home he left behind.

The two assassins walked from Kindraloy into the shadows once more. The war waited. And in the distance, banners of fire rose from Tan, their light flickering like stars determined to burn against the endless night.