This is the second and last one it is still PG. It was quiet long so I split it to 2. Blood and the Ashes II Vengeance Sequel to "Blood and the Ashes I" Chapters : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Prologue *gasp cough fall... kneel down oh darn... keep up last breath no... cough stand get up follow must reach...go get up now... stand finally I can do this no yes... cough more damn sand gulp sand no...vera yes vera I see vera follow. open eyes WATER dirty beige cloak WATER cant... tried to stand grasp the hand WATER say open lips gasp... WATER say beige takes cap down throws yes water... no don't stop why no no no don't take me away I saw her no dont... i must not not not reach I must yes must find...* ~~~~~ When ten years ago my mother told me what a skilled person can cross great plains alone, I did not believe her. I was wrong. I darted out of my house because of the commotion at the plaza. I only had my tunic and pantaloons on, and was sleepy, but all the screaming and gasping sure woke me up. I was outside my house at Shoresburry, which was located in the corner of the plaza, which was right behind the western gates. The plaza was the place of the merchants, and I always liked to come outside and feel the sharp smell of peppers, meat, and exotic spices as well as old dusty clothing, which created an unforgettable atmosphere. But right now the plaza was filled with people. My eyes darted around to reveal the source of this eruption, and found it: a stretcher carried by two guards. My eyes widened. West gates? Someone from the plains? I immediately ran up to the guards, pushing away the crowd. One of the guards, a young pike man with a naive and simple look tried to stop me by blocking the way with his spear, but the other one grabbed his hand and nodded his head, saying "Ranger,". I was not listening. I looked at the unconscious person lying on the stretcher. He wore an iron plate, with leather at joints, and smeared with blood. His legs, which bore leather leggings, were cut open in several places and shone with dried blood. But his face was the most horrifying part of him. His lips were all dried up and cracked, his forehead bore a cut, and a huge jagged scar had its place across the stranger's face. It was a horrible sight. He looked young, probably the same age as me, but his wounds showed his intimidating nature. He looked damn familiar. Then, he opened his eyes, as mine widened the second time this day. "Constantine..." I said in disbelieve Brother. top ^ Chapter 1 I awoke weeping. I breathed heavily. Goosebumps inside my stomach crawled around, shivering my whole body with the salty presence of tragedy. I sat up on my bed, trying to get the screaming and death away from my head, as I tried to do night before. Long, long night before. This is my second night sleeping at Gabriel's. The town's doctors had to give me big amounts of water to recover me and to clear my lungs from all the sand. All of that I knew from Gabriel, since I myself barely remembered what happened. Now, I recovered, and since I had no place to go, Gabriel let me in. Every night he would sleep on a couch downstairs, while I could rest in his bedroom, where he had a chest, small table, two chairs and an old dusty bookshelf. I slipped off the bed, going for water. As soon as I would close my eyes I would see the same thing - ghastly green surroundings, and her. Vera. She would always stand in the damn green mist, which seemed to penetrate the surrounding trees and even crawl into my head. She would stand there, smiling, calling me to her. Was the darn dream taunting me? I knew not. But what happened after was the rotten part of apple. She would be cut to pieces. Slashed, chopped and hit, she would be mutilated and die thousands of horrifying deaths, as a reminder of what happened when she died. Every time then she was burned I could smell her burning flesh in my very nostrils, every time she was impaled by spikes I could see her limbs twitching, every time she would be slowly mutilated, arm by arm, leg by leg, I would feel her blood spraying upon me, pieces of skin and bone hitting against my face... But the worst part would be still ahead. Every damn time I told myself to wake up, every damn time I would read every prayer I knew just to wake up, I couldn't. And when I finally did, I would wake up crying and the next second I would close my eyes, this dream would repeat. Again. Again. And again. "Does anyone ever have known how is it to see someone you love the most die thousand times every second you close your eyes?" I thought each and every time I woke up. Every time this terrible nightmare cut apart my peaceful rest, it would be so pressing, making me suffer so much, I wonder if I was haunted. Ironically, our love was only opened when we were all bound to die. Otherwise, there wouldn't be such a collosal feeling of regret. Regret... but did I regret Vera dying, or myself surviving? Better to die than to experience such loss I would say... I guess the only thing that keeps me from ending my own life are kobolds. Bloody bastards are nearing Shoresburry, leaving a huge trail of blood and ashes behind them. They are going to pay. I put my whole face in the cold water. I am not going to trade staying awake for seeing Vera die. I saw soft candle light, coming from behind me, and heard wooden door slowly creaking. Gasping, I spun around. Gabriel stood in doorway, with his simple nightwear. It was soothing to see my young brother, but I couldn't help but feel what the greater things were missing from my life. It was sinful to put Vera before my blood brother, and I felt ashamed. Gabriel was younger then me on 2 years. He did not come with me because he wanted to establish his carrier here as a ranger. He told me he was a rookie, and what he was doing fine. "Constantine... what is going on?" He slowly grasped my shoulder, lightly pushing me to the chair. He sat next to me. "why suffering at night?" I explained. About Vera, about our love, about the nightmares. Then I was done, he stared at me. I understood. He was young, and his experience with losing something was limited. It was probably shocking for him, even though it happened to me. He gave me a friendly hug. Gabriel. Small brother. The familiar smell and feel gave me a sense of tranquility coming from Gabriel. He was not like Brom, and he wouldn't be like Derek. He would always calm and understand. He told me to take care, and left. I thought about sleeping, but decided what I would not. I had to stay awake. Away from the terrible nightmare... top ^ Chapter 2 Today was a big day. I was to go to the Shoresburry Court and tell them the grave news of what happened to Goodswill. I wanted to see the Court - it was the part of the new government system, established some time after I and Derek relocated. This was part of the reason I left - Shoresburry was not independent anymore. From what Gabriel have told me, the Court was like a usual royal court in any capital city, but in Shoresburry, it also acted like a town hall. I chuckled, thinking what Shoresburry's new governor is playing nobles. Gabriel told me his name was Marquize Bivare. How fitting. I got my gear ready, (I did not wear armor when walking in the town, Gabriel bought some appropriate clothing) and set out to the Court. Shoresburry was a city build in a form of a triangle, with two gates, eastern and western, and a dock at one side which faced the sea. It was a big town, but not big enough for a city, and was well protected because of its big walls. I didn't remember much other then that from that city, but I could find the Court using Gabriel's directions without a problem. The Court was magnificent. Smooth stone at the base of a big semi-spherical structure provided a solid grey look. Decorated with marble at the spines, the structure seemed enormous but elegant. The top of the dome had glass, which allowed the sunlight to come in. I entered the building, as two guards equipped with halberds and short swords hanging out from their belts opened the huge iron doors before me. I slowly walked to see a huge round room, with tons of staircases leading out to the upper levels. A nostalgic feeling of Goodswill sky bridges and staircases stormed through me. The whole room had marble floor and richly colored carpets, providing a clear road. The hall looked like it was outlined with guards; each of them equipped same as two others before. They wore uniforms on a top of their chainmail, bearing the flag of Shoresburry - a sandy beach with waves. I was amazed by the beauty of this place. However, I was interrupted by rustling of the carpet. I turned to see a woman dressed in rich clothes coming towards me, from one of the side entrances. The guards stood motionless, giving the whole place a serious tone. Then the woman came near, I saw her fiery red hair, and an elegant figure. She is probably a wife of one of the nobleman here. "Milord Spike" she came close and quietly said, not to disturb the quiet nature of the main hall. One thing bothered me. Spike? "My name is Katrin. Your brother have informed me of your glorious last stand, and also that you have news." "Yes, milady" I answered "I have been told to show you to Marquiz's quarters. Please, follow me" She gave me a smile, and walked away. I followed her. We have crossed several staircases and galleries. I looked at various statues and tapestries, examining the rarest pieces of art in our kingdom. Finally, we have stopped in a front of a door made out of heavy oak, guarded by two guards, images on their uniforms outlined with gold. As they saw me and Katrin, they opened the door. We stepped into the Marquiz's office. top ^ Chapter 3 Wolfie did not understand a thing what was going on. What he did understand, is that if there was a trouble, it was big. His squad of "beige's" spotted tracks. Not usual ones, no. Skeleton tracks, and not one. A horde of skeleton archers, which recently marched through a desert. The only reason Wolfie did not call the reinforcements immediately is because they could lose the track of the skeletons. In the desert part of the plains, the winds come and sweep up the sand very frequently. Wolfie and 11 others at his squad spended 20 minutes walking through the sands. The nearly un-bearable heat surrounded the men, making them sweat, but they had to endure. They were beige cloaks, the elite of the rangers, and had to scout the Great Plains. They were accounted as the best of the best, tough enough to survive several days in the desert, with proper equipment. But now, something told Wolfie that they are about to meet something even the rangers cannot handle. ~~~~~ I stepped inside the Marquiz's quarters after Katrine. Nothing I would not expect. The room was filled with drawers and furniture, all antique and made out of "noble" wood, such as oak. The massive desk lied in the center of the room, in a front of the window so small, I could not see it outside the building. The desk's surface was polished completely, giving an impression of a perfect working space. In the room there were four men. One had a green cloak and a sharp, gazing sight. His tunic bore an image of a leaf. The other person, standing in the corner of the room beside the green cloaked man, bore the same type of cloak, only colored in dirty-beige. His tunic bore no image, but was painted in a light-brown camouflage pattern, and smelled of dirt and cheap cloth. On the other side of the room, leaning against the wall stood a battle hardened-looking guard. He wore an eye patch, covering his left eye. The guard, instead of a tunic, had a cloth in the center of his chain mail, where Shoresburry's flag was pictured. Also, on a top of his chain mail he wore iron boots, leggings and a helmet. Lastly, sitting on the curved chair behind the desk was Bivare himself. Wearing an exotic suit, he was forced to look up because of its design. He also had long, curved mustaches, which underlined his likings for the old "nobleman" customs. "Good day, Milord Spike," Marquiz spoke as couple of seconds passed after Katrin and I came in. I had no experience with nobles, so I simply bowed and muttered "Milord" He stood up from his chair, grinning with a side of his face. Pushing the chair in the desk he said "I am sorry what happened to your settlement. " "Thank you, milord" I answered. "Please, leave the formalities, my friend. We became equal three weeks ago, at Goodswill's heroic last hold." He said, continuing to smile. "Milord...how do you know all this?" I asked the question carefully. Even though he seemed to accept me as his son, I should still take precaution. I don't want to anger him. "Ahh, hahaha! You see, Gabriel recounted everything you told him. Including your new title, Lord Spike" "Spike? Lord?" I was dumbfounded. "Yes. Your honor shocks all of us. Your recent injury, too. You've been lucky, and instead of cutting your insides, it impaled your arm. Me, I think there is nothing wrong with this wound of yours. More then that, I think you should wear it as a title, proudly," Well, that is what Brom have said...but now I have the title? And I am a lord? Lord Constantine the Spike? "Also, you have been assigned a noble title of a Lord. When the kobold threat is destroyed, we shall give you proper lands. But for now, wear this title too, proudly." "Thank you, milord" "You are most welcome. Now, I would like you to tell us everything you know about kobolds." And so, I did. Mostly that what I have learned from Vera, but some of my knowledge too. Where they were after the raids, their goal - the obsidian gate, and their equipment. Katrina left shortly after I begun. As I unveiled more and more of the information, I saw Bivare nod to the men in the room, and they started writing the information down. Then I finally stopped, Marquiz rewarded me with his smile. Charming. ~~~~~ Far away from the city, Wolfie was devastated. His squad followed the tracks for total of two hours, and they went into the places they never did before. They finally found where the tracks leaded to. Now, they were heading towards a huge, gaping hole in the mountain, which seemed to swallow all the light what came near it. The entrance to the mountain dwelling seemed to be about 50 by 50 blocks. As he walked, Wolfie mattered to himself "Damn. What the hell am I doing? If all of those skeletons came here... what if they are still here?" He did not turn back. They were in the middle of nowhere, and if they had back now, even the most skilled ranger wouldn't find this place again, if not by luck. Besides, Marquiz loved to give titles to the most productive members of Shoresburry. "Baron Wolfie. How fitting" Wolfie thought. His thinking process was interrupted as the ranger beside him had his eye blown out of his socket. top ^ Chapter 4 "...Milord Spike, you might like to meet those men," Marquiz said, pointing to the men at the room. "Please, meet Milord Gazeb, Shreik and Edward." The men nodded their heads. "Milord Shreik is the captain of the guards. His service to the city is great. Gazeb and Edward are the captains of our elite warriors - the rangers. They are trained to run for big distances, and are swift with bows and swords. Edward controls the "green cloaks", men what scout the forests and Gazeb looks over "beige cloaks", which travel through the Great Plains and deserts. Those men are the people who are going to consult you the most, since you have such great knowledge of kobolds." "It is a honor" I nodded my head to the men. I did not know what they thought of me, but I knew something about Edward. Gabriel told me he was the rookie of the ranger green cloaks. I hope what Gabriel is doing good, and Edward is impressed by our family. "Now, Milord Spike, you are dismissed. This evening, however, we will make a celebration at your honor," I smiled inside me. What a hero I am, I sarcastically thought. "Don't forget to come 3 hours before midnight!" ~~~~~ "BLOODY HELL, EVERYBODY DOWN!" Woflie screamed, waving his arms desperately at the numerous rocks. The cascade of arrows coming from the cave was so huge, it almost covered the whole sky in a front of them. Wolfie jumped, sliding behind a long rock. With one hand he took out his bow, hanging from a leather case at his belt, and with another he pulled the first-to-be-harmed ranger to himself. Then, Wolfie realized it was useless - in 3 seconds of time, from the first shot to the current moment the ranger was already filled with about 9 arrows. He looked at the sides of the other rocks. He saw about 3 bodies, maybe more. He cursed under his breath. The arrows landed, hitting just behind the rocks. "If those are skeletons, maybe they wouldn't understand that they can kill us by firing couple of inches higher. If those are not skeletons...how could they not be skeletons? The tracks clearly lead to the damn cave!" thought Wolfie. Next shower of arrows landed closer to Wolfie. "DAMMIT, WHAT ARE THEY?!?" he screamed on a top of his lungs, shocked with un-understanding. He felt like a small blind rabbit, hunted by a vicious pack of wolves. Fear and a strong presence of death nearing, and then a realization of there being blood... and the blood being his. The third deadly cascade ended with screaming. Wolfie had to do something. And he did. Just after the fourth time ended, he screamed as hard as he could, tearing his throat and stabbed an arrow from the ground into his own back. ~~~~~ I came at the Court right at the time. For this night, the main hall looked transformed. Crowds of people were already present and everyone was wearing rich clothing. Big tables shone with food and ornamental plates. Exotic birds and animals were present. As soon as I came in, Marquiz saw me, and stood up, announcing my name. "Greet lord Constantine, the Spike!" Next second, the hall exploded with cheering. I was sitted on a place next to the Marquiz. Gabriel was on the also beside me, and seemed to be burning of excitement. We started eating. The food was excellent - the exotic spices on foods were so rich, as soon as their smell intruded my nostrils, my mouth begun to water. The meat was juicy, white and soft, and the skin was prepared to be with a sting of burning. The wine was cold and sweet, with a smooth texture. After a while of eating, Marquiz Bivare stood up, and made a toast, honoring me. I felt good, but couldn't help but feel out of place. Some people looked strangely at me. There were looks filled with jealousy, un-acceptance, fake smiles and even anger. Even so, many people looked like they were truly happy for me. Soon, it was the time for the ball. As soon as it was announced, I was yanked away by some court woman, and so we danced. I knew what the balls are but for entertainment, but still, dancing with a woman after Vera's death kept me uneasy through-out the whole ball. When it finally ended, we were given time to have a drink, dance and socialize. I grabbed a glass of wine, and scanned around the room with my eyes, trying to find Edward, Gazeb and Shreik, or at least one of them. When I spotted them, however, the same woman who danced with me approached me. "Well, lord Spike... you did not even recognize me?" She took out her head wear. Katrin. Damn all the noble clothing! "Milady Katrin? Good to see you." I replied. "Hmm...very good, indeed...let us get some privacy" With that, she pulled me by my arm to the corner of the hall. I did not like where it was coming to. "Katrin, I..." "Shh..." She putted a finger over my mouth, as her other hand begun to slide over my chest. "Now, why would you say that to a beautiful woman?" she said, with a suggestive smile. As I was about to explain myself and take her hands of me, a loud sound of the heavy metal doors splashing open erupted through the court. Everyone froze and directed their attention to the entrance. A bending-over person, supported by two guards came in view. As he stepped in, he fell, arrow in his back. top ^ Chapter 5 "He stabbed the arrow into himself?" The small sterile room was crowded with people, as myself, Gazeb, Shreik, Maquiz, a couple of guards and a doctor stood around a table, with the beige cloak, arrow in his back, lying down. We have just finished dragging him into the royal infirmary. The royal infirmary was a complex of several small rooms, where a doctor can attend to the patient quickly. "Very likely, milord. The arrow did not penetrate far." Explained the tall and slim doctor, wearing the blood-stained white medical robe. "Wh...why?" Bivare's expression was dumbfounded. "We have to find out once he gets better" answered the doctor. "Will he?" asked Shreik, snorting rather loudly. "We will have to see... he crawled in the sands for about 4 hours. Lots of blood is lost, and he is exhausted, but nothing more serious." Marquiz took out a handkerchief and wiped his forehead of sweat. "But... why did the guards from the gates just let him in, without getting him help first?" Bivar said, glancing at Shreik. "He was a ranger, milord. We have to follow what they say." Shreik answered careful not to sound bitter. "He commanded them, too? Well, he must have something important to tell us. Milord Gazeb, do you recognize him?" "Oh yes," Gazeb said, stroking his chin "Captain Wolfie..." ~~~~~ Rise. Rise. Rise. Ashes. Wood. Rise. Fire. Rise. Rise. Ethereal. Burning. Fire. Stand. Fall. Up. Up. Up. Search. Hunger. HUNGER. Search. HUNGER. HERE. Red. Memories. Red. LUNGE. Blood. SHATTERED THROAT. Bite. Bite. BITE. BITE. BITE. Devour. LIFE. SOUL. Ash. Corpse. I. Blood. Search. HUNGER. Search. Find. Red. One? More. LUNGE. Reds. THEY RUN. Follow. Over. BITE. BITE. BITE. Devour. LIFE. SOUL. Memories? Liza. Damn. Bastard. GOT HER DEAD. Memories. HATRED. Memories. MEMORIES. TORTURE. Memories. SACRAFICE. HATRED. HATRED. Gibberish. HATRED. NEAR. IT. NEAR. TRAVEL. MUST. EAST. Bones. Rise. Bones. CONTROL ~~~~~ The hand shot out, grabbing mine. Captain Wolfie's now open eyes were blood-shot, and his lips opened. He did not speak, just stared at me. His eyes then quickly glanced around the room, his pupils widening and closing in. "They... my lords, they..." He started speaking with a dim, creaking voice, before erupting in the cacophony of cougher "W...Water." The Doctor came immediately, pouring water into Wolfie's open mouth from a pitcher. Wolfie still held my hand. Everyone in the room stood, listening, knowing that whatever he will say next may be very urgent. "Ah...the...skeletons. Skeletons, lots of them... we...found the tracks. The tracks, they... they led us right to them... a huge horde...damnit" Marquiz's jaw dropped. "Looks like we have another problem to worry about" He said, grim with a grim chuckle. top ^ Chapter 6 I was heading back to our house with Gabriel. Bivare ended the banquet early, and I wouldn't blame him. Poor Maquiz has heavy things on his head. When we almost reached the house, someone came close to us. The light from Gabriel's lamp fell on the intruder, and, surprisingly it was Katrin. "Good night, milords. Gabriel, may I talk to Lord Spike? It will be just a short talk" She said, looking at both of us. I was about to say something to Gabriel, but he bowed down, saying "But of course." What the hell? She probably is very important, since Gabriel just...accepted. As Gabriel entered his house, Katrin immediately turned to me, smiling. "Once we have been interrupted..." "Milady...what is it what you want?" "What I want? What a joke! Don't you want it too?" She said, chuckling. "Woul..." And second interruption follow next second, as loud tapping erupted from outside the walls. "What is that?" I asked. "D...damn" Katrin murmured. Suddenly, a spider jumped over the wall, coming right towards us. I jumped, grasping Katrina and rolling away from the hissing spider. It turned to us, eyes shining with red. I got up before Katrin, and quickly drew my dagger. The spider leaped. Damnit. The dagger was too short to match spider's quick movements. The spider jumped over me, hitting the side of my face. I yelped and jumped behind myself, landing on my back and piercing one of the many eyes of the damn eight-legger. It became enraged, and stomped at my chest with the two of its legs. I grinned in pain, as it hit me hard between the ribs. Suddenly, a slashing movement cut the spider apart, showering me with disgusting yellow liquid. Katrin stood up in a front of me, holding a rapier outstretched. I stood up. "It's nice to know what the milady knows how to use a sword." I said, trying my best not to sound ironic. "Are you hurt?" "Just a flesh wound...what just happened?" "Spiders recently adapted. They can climb walls" Gabriel emerged from his house, dressed fully for battle, and carrying an extra sword for me. I immediately took it. "The spiders are all over the city now. The ones what escaped from the guards just scattered around and are wrestling with the civilians...or climbing some tall structures. They love doing that." Katrin said. "The Court..." muttered Gabriel "Let's go!" The three of us made our way to the Court. On our way there, we saw several encounters of guards fighting spiders. We assisted the guards, and finally reached the court. About 9 spiders circled three guards, Shreik and Marquiz. Corpses of four guards lied near the entrance, pools of blood everywhere. We jumped at the spiders, and the scales tipped over. We slashed, hacked, and swooped until the spiders were dry of their yellow blood. What a night. top ^ Chapter 7 The small grey cavern was illuminated by nothing but a slight ghastly light, which shivered across the cavernous walls. The Wraith floated quietly. Shattered memories took time to rebuild, but shattered bones had connected to form that he is. His ethereal mind have not yet understood everything, but the sense of what he was risen because of strong hatred was obvious for him. Somewhere, his targets lived, occupied by their own problems... ~~~~~ A soft screeching of a feather on a piece of papyrus was somewhat nostalgic and pleasing. The medium-sized room was lit up by several candelabras, on the walls and on a table. Gazeb, Shreik, and Edward (or the "commanders" as I like to call them) stood in the room, circling the table. Many other men, which I didn't know, from all of three factions stood in the middle of the room, awaiting more details. Wolfie was sitting and sketching the new defenses, that are to be build in the walls, while the commanders told him what to do. I was in the room, standing backed to a wall. Every once in a while the commanders would consult with me, or give more specific orders to the other men in the room. "Trip-Mines? I don't want my men killed!" said Shreik, waving his arms furiously. "A modification, milord Shreik. Water is to be put under the charge, making it completely harmless to the walls and the outside of the pit." Countered Edward, tactically. "Hmm...alright then. Dwayne, you are in charge of instructing soldiers and citizens where to walk! Heheheh" Shreik said, pointing at one of the men. Wolfie recorded the measurements and begun to put the small traps on the plan. "I suggest adding ridges to the walls, to prevent spiders climbing on top" Voiced his opinion Gazeb. No complaints. Wolfie continues to sketch. "...Kobolds posses war machines. How are we supposed to deal with them? The town never had space for catapults to be kept behind the walls." Shreik's voice broke the silence again. Suddenly, a fitting idea jumped into my mind. To make a simple and easy to use cannon! It would be concealed in the wall, and fired upon advancing enemies. There would be two types of TNT - one set as a charge, and another one set to push the charge and make it lunge towards the front of the cannon. "If we...if we have enough dynamite... I think then I would work on a specific design of a cannon. It would be concealed in a wall." I spoke. And immediately I turned pale. Damn it. A cannon cannot be concealed in the wall the wall is only one block thin! "Certainly. Are you sure the cannon can be concealed in a five block wall?" My eyes widened. Five blocks? Looks like another major thing changed in the time of my absence from Shoresburry. I looked over at the papyrus. Right, five blocks. Perfect. I tell the design to Wolfie. He sketches. "Finally, I would think that adding channels for lava and rocks to be thrown at enemies is essential." Gazeb gave his final insight. A minute later, Wolfie have added a finishing touch. "Milords, you are dismissed. Tomorrow at the same time, we shall discuss the new threat - skeletons." Everyone begun to leave the room. top ^ Chapter 8 I slowly descended down the stairs which led me away from my house. I was quite upset, because I could not get a chance to ask Gabriel who Katrin was - he was at the pub, drinking with his ranger friends. Breathing fresh air, I took a look around the night sky, observing the shining stars. A metal bolt whizzed inches past my head, hitting and breaking against the stone wall. I jumped to a side, only to see that the bolt had a little buddy following it. A dagger. It hit me in the left shoulder, and got stuck, deeply. My shoulder was sliced with sharp pain, as the dagger sliced the tissue until it hit the bone. I gazed at the direction of the throw. Four people stood there, dressed in black. Two swords, a dagger and a crossbow. One second, and we all looked at each other. Next second, the dirty and stuttering voice was heard: "Kill 'im!" I immediately jumped up, grasping the damaged shoulder, and started running. I ran in the night streets of Shoresburry, lost, sometimes taking a right or a left. The loud footsteps, or rather heavy "THUD's", of my pursuers echoed in my head, as they followed me. Suddenly, another bolt flew past me, ripping the edges of my clothes. I rounded the corner. "AGH!" I screamed, as I tripped over a sleeping cat and rolled into a puddle of dirty water. The dagger shivered in my wound, cutting my flesh. "Bloody...damnit" I whispered to myself, as I saw that my pursuers had almost rounded the corner. I looked around, in despair but found no place to hide. Gasping and closing my eyes, I pulled the dagger out of my shoulder, spraying blood over my face. I screamed, but found enough strength to stand up, and held the dagger in a reversed grip. As I saw the black-clad men, I immediately lunged towards the first one. He had a dagger, but did not have enough time to use it, as I stabbed the top of his head repeatedly, turning his brains into a bloody mess. Then, I punctured the bastard's neck, and kicked his falling body in the direction of the other men. He fell, taking down one of the swordsmen and a crossbowman, leaving me face-to-face with another swordsman. He looked at me, snorting. "COME 'ERE!" He screamed, and slashed at me. I jumped away, and tried to land a stab on his shoulder. He parried, almost knocking the dagger out of my hands; Good thing I held it in the reverse position, as if not, my hand would be severed. I showed my opponent an offensive gesture with my hand - I wanted to make him angry. And it worked. Roaring, the swordsman slashed and hacked at the place where I was just couple of seconds ago. I simply sidestepped in the direction of my opponent, evading his blade, and giving myself a chance to stab him in-between his ribs. I was so near him - it was ideal. The dagger truly shows itself at these distances. I stabbed, putting as much power as I could into the blade, trying to get him in the back. Instead, it punctured through his arm. "SON OF A WHORE!!! I AM GOING TO RIP YOU APART!!!" Swordsman screamed, dropping his sword and going berserk. He charged at me, trying to headbutt me. I side stepped yet again, meeting his head with my dagger. His eyeball cracked, and so did the skull behind it, and the dead body fell down the cobble-stone paved road, with a thud. I took a look at the two surviving pursuers. I saw that the crossbowman already started to take aim, and so I took my other dagger, which I kept near my boot. I threw the one I had in my right hand, and it was a square-hit in the crossbowman's throat. I took my dagger into my left hand, and took the sword from my fallen opponent in my right. I was not good at dual wielding blades, but I needed everything to face the only survivor out of all my pursuers. I waited for him to attack, and immediately parried his strike. He was much faster than the last swordsman, and I decided to take more caution. I lunged with my sword, but he put his flat-out, parrying my attack. He slashed at my stomach, trying to cut it open, but I parried it with my sword and simultaneously tried to stab his side with my dagger; He twisted his sword, and parried the dagger, too. That devil was bloody fast. We continued trading blows, but I felt that I started loosing a lot of blood - my left hand already started to feel weak. I missed the blow, and his blade punctured my left shoulder. The bastard was aiming for the shock factor. I jumped away from yet his another slash, and threw my dagger, poorly. My arm was so exhausted and damaged, and I couldn't even throw a dagger squarely - the handle, not the blade, hit the swordsman, glancing away from his armor. That however, bought me some time. Enough time to land a stab near his crotch, sending him whimpering to the floor. I let go of the blade. It landed on the pavement with a "dzang". I was exhausted. As I slipped down to the floor, I saw six guards round a corner, their swords un-sheathed. top ^ Chapter 9 I sat back on a chair, glass of wine in my hand. Groaning, and moving my left damaged hand, I checked if it still hurt. It did not, but felt damn weak. I was in Gabriel's house. The guards have picked me up, and showed some first aid. Then, I was sent back to Gabriel's because the damage was not crucial for my left arm. The guards promised to deliver news of the attack to Bivar, and to interrogate the only survivor of that nightly battle - the swords-man, although I doubt he is still a man after the wound I gave to him. I fell asleep right on the chair. Not the coziest sleep, but the nightmares stopped, at least. Then I woke up, Gabriel was already in the house, looking surprised as he just saw a giant slime. He poured some wine and gave me a glass, and immediately started asking about what happened. This is why I am sitting here. After telling him everything, Gabriel drank the whole glass, and rubbed his chin. "Well, you are a new lord... many people would be jealous of you. Would send thugs," He tried to explain "best thing to do... probably to tell Marquiz. He will find out who send them, and deal with it..." "I already got that covered," I replied "aahhh, Gabriel? Who is Katrin?" Gabriel seemed excited. He sat up. "You don't know? Oh yes, right, sorry. Katrin is the only member of the second noblest family in Shoresburry. Bivar is her uncle, and her father loved his wife so much, he decided to take her last name. Unfortunately, both parents met an early death. Right now, she is pretty much a court lady." Explained Gabriel. "I see...did you know she picks...candidates for the continuation of her family?" I said, with a wink. "Aye. Very casually, too. I...saw her come to you. Is she...interested in you?" Gabriel was not very comfortable discussing these topics. Maybe he did not want to back-bite on Katrin, or maybe he was just shy. "Yes...don't worry, I kept my honor." Gabriel's worried expression changed into a smile. We spent the rest of the afternoon talking and eating. I remembered that I have to go to the meeting at the Court at the evening. About two hours before I had to go, we heard rumbling from the outside. I looked out the window, and saw workers building ridges on the side of wall. I smiled, knowing that the work to defend the city has started. Finally, an hour later, I headed for the Court. -------------------------------------------- I...They...UNDERSTANDING....KNOWLEDGE...MIND! -------------------------------------------- I ascended the staircase, and made a turn to the right. Immediately after I opened the door to the meeting room, I heard a scream. top ^ Chapter 10 The unbearable sound of over thirty men un-sheathing their weapons ripped through my ears. I reached out for my dagger. "I FEAR NO EVIL, I FE...HELP MEAAAAAAAA!!!!!" A massively loud scream exploded through the whole room. Immediately, everyone in the room, including me, darted to the long window, out looking a small graveyard with a cemetery. We saw a pile of human guts, and a man, with his stomach slashed apart. In a front of the already lifeless body, stood a shambling half-rotten walking corpse. "HELL!" screamed Shreik, running outside. Everyone followed him, except Bivar. I did not notice that he was in the meeting. "Take this, Lord Spike, and watch your back." He said, handing an iron short-sword to me. What followed was so sudden; I remember everything that happened next as if I was in pure shock. I and Maquiz ran outside last, just to see that not only the cemetery was torn in combat. We saw citizens running everywhere, and falling, intercepted by skeletal arrows. We saw undead everywhere, and the big eastern gate smashed open, pouring with zombies and skeletons. Suddenly, three zombies jumped at us, cutting me and Marquiz from the people fighting at the cemetery. The smell of rotten flesh was unbearable. I immediately slashed at one zombie's head, severing it. Bivar's rapier found another one, and stabbed through the third. It held the last zombie in place, and I finished him off by slicing his upper body in two, leaving him into a pair of dangling parts, splattering disgusting and smelly blood. Shreik and eight guards ran up to us. "Milord, we will split up and clear the western part of the city, while the other lads will defend the east!" said Shreik. His chain mail had splatterings of both blood and bone-meal. However, we could not even take couple of steps, and we already got attacked by about five zombies and three skeletons. The guards have shielded themselves and stroke at skeletons, spraying dust from their bones everywhere. The zombies were more resistant, and forced us to chop almost blindly, as they leaped at us. Finally, we started moving out through the city. What a horror it was, seeing crowds of villagers running and being butchered, never reaching safety. We regrouped with some more guards, and were ready to retake the gates, after battling over one-hundred different undead. We pushed the rotten fiends close to the walls, eliminating them with ease. But that was not the end. White objects flew in the sky, as we saw huge catapults, sitting right outside our walls. Some of the white objects crashed on impact, but some appeared to have landed with no damage. However, we only discovered what the objects were then one of them landed in a front of us. Landed, stood up, and shot its bow, killing a guard. They were trying to launch skeletons over the walls. My mind was clouded with questions. What the hell was going on? What raised everything inside that graveyard? How did the undead use the machinery? The shock was only comparable to Vera's death; however this one did not come because of sadness, but rather because of un-understanding. Finally, it took another hour to fight off the skeletons and burn down the catapults. The aftermath of a battle left body parts and groaning, wounded soldiers laying everywhere. ~~~~~ This was nothing compared to the first siege of Goodswill, but the results were grim. In one minute worth of time, the city was ripped with undead, which came from the city's graveyard. That served as a distraction, as over five-hundred undead stormed through the gates and wreaked havoc through the city. Thank the gods that it was the meeting today, or most of the guards would be resting or simply patrolling. Because of this, we have survived... but the results were grim. Over fifty guards were killed, and near hundred of citizens were butchered or mortally wounded. Of course, the city had much, much more of both, but if we won't recover quickly and destroy the threat, chances are we wouldn't survive to see the kobolds. top ^ Chapter 11 Million shards of sand hit me, as if trying to grasp and bring me down. The enraged wind howled around, trying to knock me off balance. I and others shielded their eyes and slowly made our way. The order was dispatched almost as soon as the every undead left the city, either slashed into pieces, or driven away with torches, like some mad cattle. A team of forty guards, sixty beige cloaks, a newly entitled Baron Wolfie (at the ceremony he chuckled and exclaimed "Not just a Baron - a prophet too!"), and myself. I was told not to go, but I told Marquiz that I must - I needed to support an eradication of such big threat to Shoresburry. The terrible wind was nothing compared to a sandstorm, but it played with the sand as it was it's minion - sending it in our eyes, trying to knock us out of it's way. We traveled for about two hours outside Shoresburry, and the wind started it's rampage about twenty minutes ago. The town guards covered our fronts with shields, to protect us from sand, but our party was too large. The wind swept over and under them with ease, continuing to irritate us. Then the wind finally cleared, Wolfie left his spot with guards and came up to me. "Hello, Constantine" He greeted me. "Aye, Baron" I smiled back. "Milord Spike, I know that you have some big combat experience. I am glad to have you by my side in this expedition" he said, patting my back. "Thank you, Baron...Wolfie. It is an honor, too." "Heh! Well, I hope we will be good partners together for days to come" He smiled and winked, returning to his place with the guards. I liked the man. ~~~~~ WWe stood in a front of the gigantic entrance. The best way to describe it is to picture a huge, gaping hole in the mountain. The cave abode formed an ominous arch around the entrance, devouring it with darkness, which seemed to try to flee from the cave, just to be vanquished by the sunlight. I shivered, picturing the shadow as an alive being, waiting for someone to come closer... "Alright, men. Split up, twenty to the left, twenty to the right. Start putting torches. Beiges, if the light shows anything moving - shoot it." Wolfie gave an order. The guards carefully proceeded, in pairs, where one held the torch, and the other covered him with a shield, sword ready. The light uncovered a meter of the wall, then another one, until we could see the massive cave outstretching in a front of us. The cave was not as impressing as the entrance, but the shocking thing stood right in the center of it. A Cathedral. A huge structure towered in a front of us. Colorful glass, once beautiful, was now broken and stained with blood. The massive gates which were made out of hard oak smelled of rotting wood. Stone, once perfectly smooth, now cracked, broken, and infested with moss. A huge steel cross lay broken. A perfect example of a magnificent building, destroyed by the greatest killer of everything - time. "Damn...me" mumbled a dirty guard near me, his mouth open wide. I looked at Wolfie. He caught my gaze, nodded. "Guards, cover the rangers. We are going in." top ^ Chapter 12 Footsteps echoed through the large, dusty room, disrupting it's way-too-long sleep. The room was gigantic, and yet looked smaller compared to the entrance. The altar sat at the back, near the podium where the priest would stand. The rows of wooden benches were disordered, yet preserved, unlike the outside of the cathedral. The stone in the columns had cracks, filled with moss, sticking out of the stone in patches. The eerie light... The light? I saw that no one was putting torches. An eerie, small light was escaping from the back of the altar, and into the room, coating it with a tone of blue. Only the spots behind the outer columns bore darkness, giving a contrast between the dark and light parts of the inside of a cathedral. The whole party, entranced by the surroundings, slowly walked towards the source of the light - the altar. Built out of limestone, the rectangular altar was dulled with a thick covering of dust. "Constantine, what do you think this means?" Wolfie asked me. "I have no idea. An old...manifestation? Preserved with time, only to come out today?" I gave my blind guess away. "I think not... why did we only find this now?" He said. "Wait... Let me see..." Wolfie leaned over the altar, looking behind it. I joined him. A small, five on five block down-ward slope just sat behind an altar. The light was coming through it... Suddenly, I saw something dart in the shadows over the column beside the altar. The sunken feeling of dread overcame me, as I felt my guts roll-up. "Wolfie...there's someone else in here" I whispered. Wolfie did not have time to answer, as hundreds of arrows were shot. The arrows glanced away from shields, but some found their targets, piercing arteries and hearts. Screams and gargling of people suffocating on their own blood erupted through the whole room. "DAMN! EVERYONE, RUN TO THE HOLE!" Wolfie screamed, ripping his own throat with his scream. Beiges started streaming down the slope, but the guards were slow. "PUT YOUR SHIELDS UP AND COVER OUR ARSES, MAGGOTS! DO YOU WANT TO DIE?" Wolfie screamed an order again. That sure gave them speed. I ran to the slope, following Wolfie. The rocky, raw walls of the tunnel went in the spiral. People and corpses stumbled and rolled down the slope, bringing yet more people down. In minutes, everyone was in the roll, screaming and yelping. ~~~~~ The chase continued thirty-seconds later, as we landed on a hard rock floor. The natural cavern outstretched in a front of us. I immediately spotted a tunnel. It shone with an eerie blue light. Moans were heard from the slope - looks like the undead took it, too. We've spent eight seconds standing up, and shaking ourselves from out fall. We could organize our party, but it was no time, as I saw even more undead coming from not just the slope, but streaming from the corners and walls of the cavern. "Damn... RUUUUN!" I screamed, letting my legs guide me, blindly. Others came, and soon we were all a big, crazed, and terrified group of runners. Undead were everywhere, grabbing, stabbing, shooting and killing us. Screams bloomed like flowers in spring, shocking and stunning our senses. We, however, just kept on running. The light shone at the distance of the every turn, twist, and way. It mocked us, swirling in it's ghastly tone, but at the same time somehow encouraging us to keep going. ~~~~~ It stopped as abruptly as it happened. I found myself in the dead end, a large, circular cave, surrounded with undead. I made a few steps backwards, and felt something touch my back. Looked around, and saw Wolfie, standing behind me. Both of us un-sheathed our swords, drawing them in position. "At least...we can...die fighting..." Wolfie said, taking breathes between the words. I nodded, and saw hundreds of undead charge. I let out a blood-stopping battle cry, and lunged at the rotten bastards, preparing to kill and be killed. I was crying. I would not live to get my revenge. top ^ Chapter 13 "HALT!" A sudden voice rocked through the cave. All the undead, as one, lowered their bows and claws. A bright flash of light seemed to explode in the center of the cave, stunning me, and blurring out my vision. Then my vision cleared, I saw a huge, green, swirling image. It cleared before I could remember much of it, but the new, ominous figure appeared. A large, black cloak, torn and ripped up was masking a body of a fiend that has revealed himself. His rotten face was filled with anger, and two dark flames danced around in his terrible, empty eye sockets. The monstrosity did not have legs - it floated in mid air. I heard of these creatures. A wraith. "Welcome, Constantine...or is it SPIKE now?" It howled. "You...know my name?" "Yes. I know lots of things about you..." the wraith chuckled "And so do you..." "I do not know you..." "Constantine, you DO know me. I am someone who hated you. Someone, who gave his life for you...I am Joe." Bloody hell. Joe...a wraith? How? "Constantine, you think that I am ONLY Joe?" He said, as if reading my mind "In this world, feelings and emotions play a major role. I am not Joe. I am his hate. His hate, which he accumulated over the years. His hate, the one you thought died after his little...confession. But it did not. It was simply forgotten. You cannot forget a hatchet without burying it." "You...you are angry at Joe himself, for sacrificing himself to me...and Vera?" I still couldn't think straight after this...twist of events. "Yes, that is true. But not completely, no... I am an icon of Joe's sin. I am an image of ALL of his hate projected not only to you, but to whoever caused his death. I rose from the bloody ashes of your fallen town, and followed other lost souls into...here" The wraith slowly turned and waved his hand, dramatically "I've seen death, Spike. I've seen the ones you call "ghosts", those damned souls, who died, but had to be stuck in this world, for the sake of something they did not have time to do... Joe's regret of his death, mixed with his hate created ME. I am just as strong as his emotions were. I overpowered all of the souls, and took them with me, to accumulate my powers..." "But this...cathedral, the cave... what is this?" I cut the wraith off. "Even I know not. This place had...potential to be a home to the ones similar to me. This eerie light you see...it comes from the cave, like a beacon. All the souls and I were channeled through it and into here." "So...what is it you want to do? Killing us won't redeem you completely" "And that is why I made you come here... blind hate cannot see, yet it can be accompanied by a seer. I still posses the logic and knowledge of Joe's collapsed psyche. I set the attack up, so I would have the chance to make you a...proposal. You see, one of the souls I have taken is...Vera" I dropped my jaw. "No...you are lying! Vera had nothing on her to make her stay!" "You are a fool. She loved you. She loved you, and yet the small moments you've spent together were quickly destroyed by violence...and her death." Tears begun rolling down my cheeks, and painful memories of loss started coming back. "Constantine, I can bring her back." Something appeared in the Wraith's hand. A small, ghastly green sphere, bearing a silhouette. Vera. "But you will have to do me a favor. Kill the ones who started it all. I am not talking about the kobolds. I want you to destroy the forgotten, damned race of ghasts, the ones kobolds call 'The Great White Ones'. You will have to find or create a portal yourselves, and destroy every one of them. There is a limit of your time, though - after two weeks, kobolds will attack your city. If you are too slow, I will tell every single walking corpse to attack your city. The previous assault was just a baby step. The next one will kill all of you..." Sweat started coming from my forehead. I wanted Vera back...but what if he was bluffing? "What if you attack us right after we kill the ghasts?" "Spike, you are a stupid child. The only things that keeps me in this world is you and the ghasts; I do not care about those kobold worms. Killing you will only ease the pain, so I will save that if things go really wrong... if you kill ghasts, I will immediately vanish from this world." This was treacherous, but the thoughts of re-uniting with my beloved one were too demanding. "Alright...I accept." The wraith looked at me. His corrupt face gave me a smile. His fingers opened, and the green ball dropped to the ground, crashing. A silhouette appeared to grow out of the broken sphere, develop, and... It happened. I started crying. It did not disappear, it did not go away. Vera. She was standing with her eyes close, and slowly fell to the floor. She didn't not have any clothes or scars. I darted towards her falling body, and grabbed it, picking her up. "Th...thank you." I mumbled, crying but laughing inside. For the second time in my life, I did not care that the fiend what just helped me could've also instantly kill me. I only cared about her, about Vera. I nodded to Wolfie, who stood there, his mouth open, and headed for the exit. "Not so fast." I turned around. The wraith was still smiling, but this time it was more of an ironic grin. "I cannot afford to use so much energy to resurrect one of MY souls. I need another one, and I need it now." My body felt stiff. The joy that I had experienced then I saw Vera immediately disappeared. I looked at Wolfie. "Wol..." "Constantine, just tell me what the hell is goinAAAAAAAA" Wolfie's terrified, blood-curling scream whipped at my ears. Something was pulling from within his chest. Suddenly, the flesh on his chest popped, and a heart launched from his chest, leaving a broken body behind. I stood, terrified. Did I just...give someone's life away? "Now, go, "Lord" Spike. Go, and remember of things which were said today." top ^ Chapter 14 Even though the wind cleared out hours ago, the journey back to the city was tough. Vera's body was heavy and it was hard for me to carry her. I still remembered how I and Edward carried Vera in a stretcher. Somehow, even though her current condition is better then the one she had been in after she got blown by a creeper, a great sense of uneasiness never could leave me be. What if Joe...the wraith was bluffing? Why were Vera resurrected unconscious, and not awake? Is it really Vera, with her soul intact, or is it just a shell, a fragment of her former self? She looked alright, but did not breath very deep. I was not worried on that matter though, as anyone who are unconscious do not breathe well.