This fanfic was first posted over on the old Keen forums a while ago, when I got it started. Well...a lot of people have read it, and a lot of things have changed since when I first wrote it. So, I think I'm going to repost it here, and I even wrote a new section and plan to continue it, now that I'll have more free time! Huzzah!
Anyway, all the legal stuff--I wrote this, thusly making it property of Archmage, or more legally, Brian Ford. All the characters in it are original designs, and any resemblance to real people, living or dead, is pretty much unintentional. Please, please do not post, link, or do anything else with this fic without MY CONSENT!
And without further ado...comments, critiques, etc, are all WELCOME and ENCOURAGED.
The light breaking through the curtains threw itself across the room, casting dancing shadows which scattered about, each with their own intentions. Some say the shadows live, living lives that make no sense to mortals. Certainly no one educated believed an ounce of such idle chatter—and thusly, the young William Ironclad refused to submit to such rubbish.
He rolled over in bed, eyes bleary. Clanging metal echoed down the hallway. “Uhmm,†groaned the tired apprentice. Father’s going to have my head, he thought to himself.
Forcing his body to stand, William studied himself in a full-length mirror. Long, brown hair. Wiry muscle from work in the metal shop. Well developed, smooth hands. Perfect for such work…or so he was told. With a sigh, he ran his fingers across his scalp. He hadn’t wanted this, and in fact, he loathed it. Try as he might, however, there was no way to deny his father.
“William!†The familiar cry floated down the hallway. “Get out here for breakfast so we can start work early!â€
William sighed again, letting the moist air in his breath soothe his dry lips, cracked from the heat of the forge. He shook his hand, flipping it by the wrist. Still broken, he mused. I wonder if I should tell him about my finger…
It wouldn’t have mattered if he had. William’s father was the sort who figured that no injury should slow a working man’s frantic pace. In fact, he’d probably disregard the idea and suggest that breaking a few bones built character. Typical brutish behavior, William thought. No one with any civility did such.
“William!â€
With a rough shrug of his shoulders, the boy strode down the hall corridor and into the cramped kitchen space. His father had remodeled such that the shop counter absorbed most of the home. Out back, the smithing shop was larger than any of the living quarters. Obsession with one’s work rarely does a family any justice.
“Father, I’m here,†William croaked, forcing a weak smile. “What’s for breakfast?â€
His father grunted. “Ah, grab an egg or something. I’m going out to finish up that blade I started working the other day…â€
It figured. “Sure, dad,†William replied. He poked around in the cabinets, mentally set on finding a skillet. With a little difficulty, he located one, sliding it out carefully and admiring the craftsmanship of the fine cookware. Well seasoned, if nothing else.
Slamming the pan down on the griddle over the fire, he cracked a few eggs and whisked them about with a wooden spoon, adding a dash of pepper. “At least I can feed myself,†he muttered, voice laced with contempt. It seemed as soon as he was old enough to hold a hammer, his father cared for nothing but his son’s advancement in the smithing trade. Of course, not feeding the boy would lead to his starvation, and eventual death, but his work-obsessed patriarch apparently overlooked this minute detail.
The growling of William’s stomach drowned out all other senses. He hadn’t realized exactly how hungry he was until he smelled breakfast. Time was merely an illusion as he stared into the cooking eggs, scrambling them. At last, the eggs cooked enough for his tastes, and he removed them from the burner and flipped them onto a plate, settling himself into a chair.
The food-induced daze died in a flickering instant as a rapping at the front door shattered William’s dream like a crystal wine glass. “Who’s there?†he questioned, voice steadying. Probably a customer. He had to put on his best business voice…childish behavior was his adversary now.
Discarding his fork, he worked his way to his feet and wandered out to the front desk. “Come in,†rang his voice, coming from the depths of himself…almost unreal, as though it was unnatural for him to say. Perhaps I’m not cut out for this, he sighed. It feels forced…and awkward…this alone might be the reason he’d never make it as a shopkeeper.
The door creaked open, hinges moaning for oil. Had the scene been in the midst of a blizzard, or a dark and stormy night, perhaps it might have appeared more impressive. Nevertheless, William’s face demonstrated a kind of awe at the visitor…
The man burst through the door, clothing fluttering in the mild breeze. A red cap, feather embedded in the back, adorned his head. Long, flowing white hair draped down over his shoulders, which were wrapped in a reddish silk cape. Knee high traveler’s boots and loose-fitting red robes topped off the ensemble.
William’s mind focused entirely on the mysterious visitor, consumed by only one thought.
Wow.
A brilliant, blindingly white smile punctuated the newcomer’s face. “I’m here,†he said, voice relaxed and confident, “to pick up an order.â€
“Yes sir,†replied William, still stunned by the man’s grandeur. “You are…â€
“A wanderer,†nodded the robed figure. “Your father should know what I’m here for.â€
William just stared for a moment. After what seemed like an eternity, he turned back and began the trek to the shop—a journey that felt infinitely far. Something radiated from that customer, and it was something fascinating. A strange power, one William was unfamiliar with. What was more interesting than even the energy itself was the fact that he had no words to explain it…what was he experiencing? At long last, he found himself staring at his father, bent over an anvil and sweating.
“Hey, dad,†William announced. “You have a customer…he’s says you’ll know what he’s here for.â€
“Ach,†grunted his father. “Tell him I’ll be with him in a minute…†He reached for a pair of blacksmith’s tongs, lifted the sword he was forging, and slowly lowered it into a vat of cool water, causing steam to billow from the surface. The heat and humidity in the shop was almost choking as William’s father pounded away, taking one last look at his work.
William sighed. This, he decided, is exactly why I refuse to work in this shop, or any other. The atmosphere in here is entirely too restricting…and terribly uncomfortable. Beads of sweat dripped down his brow.
At last, his father acknowledged his existence and patted him on the shoulder roughly. “You should cut that hair, son, or I’ll have to take a blade to it myself.â€
“Yeah, sure,†William shrugged. His father fought with him over such simple things…admittedly, he favored control. It must have been related to his work, the way he preferred everything to turn out exactly as he commanded. There was no room for argument, and no place for flexibility. All of his creations had to reflect his original intent—and his son was no exception.
The roaring fire in the forge still burned brightly, but the fire in William’s soul was redirected now. His new desire was to learn something totally foreign to him, and to understand that which he did not. Nothing would override that goal…nothing.
When he glanced up, he noted that his father had left. Not surprising in the least. He’d most likely gone to enjoy doing a little business with that man. Taking a final look at the shop, he departed, heading back to the front of the house.
Opening the side door and noting his, now cold, eggs sitting on the kitchen table, he realized his hunger was overridden by curiosity. Sliding his way around the room, he headed up to the front desk, where his father was busy negotiating with the stranger.
“No, sir,†his father noted gruffly. “It’s not quite finished yet. It takes time to do something like that.â€
“Well,†the man replied, flashing his smile, “it’s quite a trip back to my home. I can’t afford an inn…I had figured you’d be finished by now.â€
“Look, I’m sorry,†countered William’s father. “What do you want me to do?â€
William broke his silence. “He could stay here until you finish,†he pointed out, voice slightly more timid than usual.
The man continued smiling. “Your kid certainly knows a lot about hospitality. Perhaps you should consider the same?â€
The air was still for a few tense minutes while William’s father appeared to be considering the idea. At last, appearing tired and frustrated, he spoke. “Fine,†he grumbled. “The guest room is down the hall. Give us any trouble, and I’ll have the local authorities throw you away forever.†The visitor only laughed.
William’s father stormed off, apparently rather irritated with the circumstances. “Who are you?†William queried, awe resounding in his tone. The visitor laughed again.
“I,†he grinned proudly, “am a Red Wizard.â€
William’s eyes burst wide open, enlarging to the size of newly minted gold coins. “A wizard?†He ran his tongue across his teeth, deep in thought. I’ve never met a real wizard before, he thought. Never. And what’s more, I hadn’t even seen one before today…I knew there was something about him…something I couldn’t detect, exactly. “Where are you from?â€
The wizard shrugged. “I’m from the Gunnir Academy, in the mountains to the west. It’s a nice place…school of magic. My name’s Endel. I’ve been studying magic for 8 years or so, since I was probably about your age.â€
“You must be good, then?†William nodded.
Endel laughed. “I’m talented, but it’s not all natural. I’ve worked hard, but I still fancy myself as somewhat skilled. Just wandering the country, now, trying to work on my skills, and enjoy my life to the fullest.â€
William’s heart skipped a beat. That, he thought, was the way to live! Answering to no one, traveling the plains, navigating the rivers, scaling the mountains, battling off vicious creatures…and it was probably all in a day’s work. What a great life to go forth and see the world…
With yet another brilliant smile, Endel studied William. “Say,†he asked. “You don’t have any tea or anything, do you? I can tell you’re interested in what I do…and I can tell you all about it over a few mugs.â€
William nodded and slipped off into the kitchen. This, he mused happily, is going to be interesting.
Sitting at the kitchen table, Endel hardly reminded William of a great hero or adventurer. In fact, his impressive appearance was quite contrasted by the plain kitchen area. He gripped the screeching teapot by the handle and poured tea into colorful clay mugs, one for himself, and one for his guest. He had considered the kinds of things he might inquire of the visitor, all while busying his hands with the tasks of boiling water and locating suitable vessels for serving hot drinks.
“Appreciated,†Endel said with a nod, taking a sip of the tea. “Where should I begin?â€
William’s chest surged as his heart lapsed a bit behind schedule. “Well,†he admitted, “I’ve seen adventurers around here before, of course. But none of them were, well, quite so interesting. I imagine they’d have similar stories to tell, but you know, something just invited me to ask you.â€
“Understood,†replied Endel. “It might be interesting to tell you a story, but how about I try something else, first.â€
Head cocked to one side, William shot him a puzzled look. Endel set down his mug and closed his eyes, which flickered lightly under the lids. A slow smile spread across his face, an expression somewhat like that of a child examining a firefly on a summer evening, after attempting to snatch them out of the air for an unknown amount of time. It was a smile of wonder and discovery.
“What are you doing?†the puzzled William asked.
Endel shook his head slowly. “I’ll tell you later. Right now, it isn’t important.â€
William just stared. After a short pause, Endel resumed his earlier speech. “But a story. Perhaps…â€
And he began to tell his tale.
“Once,†he started, “I was out, adventuring with a group of friends. Just three of us. Myself, and my partner Ilion, and Fiona…another friend.â€
William nodded excitedly. “Continue!â€
Endel spoke again, resuming his tale. “We were in an area entirely unfamiliar to us. It’d been a few days since we’d rested in any town, and we hadn’t seen any signs of civilization. Imagine our surprise when we came across indications of a nearby city, out in the middle of nowhere!â€
He cleared his throat and took a sip of tea. “It was kind of an unusual happening, I’d have to say. Of course, our hunch was entirely correct. There was a reason no one had ventured out that way in a while.â€
William blinked. “Why?â€
“Because,†Endel continued with a smile, “the only city for miles had been sealed off—by a magical barrier.â€
A thoughtful look flashed across William’s face. “That doesn’t make sense. I’d have been a bit nervous.â€
Endel nodded. “Rightfully so. Perceptive. Unfortunately, our hunger and fatigue won out over judgment. And so, we approached the city. We were stopped outside by a border guard of sorts. The city had been sealed off to contain two things within. One was a deadly plague. The other was the monster that caused it.â€
William stared, lacking words.
“Anyone with any sense would have given up at about this point,†Endel laughed. “Guess what we did?â€
“What?†William queried, eyes intense.
“We asked the border guard if we could enter the city.â€
“Hey,†shrugged William. “It’d have been boring to back out then, right? You can’t just find something that fascinating and leave it alone!â€
Endel blinked, stunned. “You and I think alike, kid. That’s an interesting coincidence…â€
“Anyway,†he resumed. “The border guard looked at us like we were mad as hatters. He told us he didn’t think there was even anyone inside left alive, since they’d been sealed up for a couple of months. Chances were that the monster had gotten them, or else the deadly pestilence.â€
He shook his head sadly. “We wanted to make sure…and the guard opened the barrier, just for a moment, so we could enter. I’d venture to guess it was his opinion we were suicidal. The town seemed pretty desolate at first, I suppose. The streets were deserted, except for the bleached bones of some of the locals.â€
Endel winced, recalling the memories. “The air reeked of disease and decay. I swear everything in that city was tinged green from the toxins. But, reckless as we were, we pressed forward, deeper into the area. That,†he muttered grimly, “was when we saw it.â€
“Saw what?†William wondered aloud. It had to be something serious, he thought. Not many monsters can do that, to my knowledge. I’ve studied them a bit in my books, and it requires a large amount of power to even attempt something so vile…
“The most disgusting, hideous, and revolting sight I think I’ve ever had the displeasure of pointing my eyes at,†he spat, clearly sickened. “It bore three heads, each a different animal. One, a dragon. The next, a goat. And the center head was a male lion, complete with ragged, disheveled mane.â€
William squeezed his eyes together, contemplating the description. “It sounds like a chimera,†he stated. “Those aren’t so bad, at least, not to look at.â€
“Perhaps,†Endel noted with a nod. “This, however, was obviously no ordinary chimera. What I saw was a sick and twisted perversion of the chimera as a species. The creature’s fur was in patches, and skin exposed with mange. The creature reeked of garbage as it wallowed in the city square, half submerged in a marble fountain. A fountain, now broken, carved to resemble a trumpeting angel.â€
Endel screwed up his face, trying to recall the day more exactly. “That creature could only have been the work of hideous and foul dark magic. I’d even bet it was undead, as the life aura it exuded was absolutely black, and felt completely artificial.â€
“We had no choice,†Endel muttered darkly, “but to slay it.â€
“I gave the word, and we took up combat positions. I readied a spell, and Ilion drew his lance. Fiona readied her bow, and we struck. Fireball after fireball, I pelted the abomination with a blazing hot rainstorm, and Fiona met the beast with a hail of arrows. Ilion fought to the bitter end, impaling the monster again and again, leaping through the air with trusty weapon at the ready.â€
“We didn’t come out without a scratch, though,†he sighed. “Ilion had thrust his lance, and the creature parried the blow with a mighty swipe of its claw. I cried out, and chanted a spell I hadn’t used in a while, skewering the chimera with spears of radiant light. But alas…â€
“What happened?†William chattered, leaning against the table and barely resting his rear end on his chair.
“I struck true, but enraged the creature. I suppose it really didn’t like holy magic. It turned on me, and, furious, ground its nails into the dirt as it charged. The force of the blow threw me to the earth, helpless as it snarled in my face. I was lying down, the horrendous beast standing on my chest, digging long claws into my robes.â€
William’s eyes reflected his thoughts, perhaps better than he could have put them into words. His feelings were a clear mix of excitement and borrowed terror.
“The beast reached up, as if to gouge out my eyes, paw racing towards my face, when I put up my arm to shield myself. I felt the burning sting of red-hot pain lance through my arm as the nails impaled themselves into my flesh, piercing deeply. And then, the most terrible thing of all happened.â€
William could barely bring himself to ask. “What?â€
Endel shuddered. “That evil being glared into my eyes. We met, and we connected. And I swear to this day that the monstrosity smiled.â€
“And this,†Endel said grimly, “is what I have to show for it.†He pulled back his sleeve, revealing a trail of pinprick impressions…and a lengthy, jagged scar. He traced his finger along the old wound.
“H...h…how did you survive?†William stuttered.
Endel raised his eyes skyward. “Fiona. As the beast glowered at me, enraptured by my pain, I heard an arrow singing through the air. I opened my eyes, and sure enough, there was the shaft, buried deep into the chimera’s eye socket. The startled critter tore itself loose from my arm, leaving what you see of that scar. And at last, Ilion finished it off, jabbing his lance deep into the fiend’s body.â€
William’s body quivered with exhilaration. “Amazing!†he cried out. “I want to have an adventure, and one even better than that!â€
The only answer William received was Endel’s raucous laughter. “We will see, kid. We will see.â€
It was early the next morning, as Endel was preparing his belongings to leave, that William made his decision. He had been pondering the matter all night, trying to decide what it was he really desired. Why, he thought to himself, does magic interest me so?
He had lay awake for hours, eyes unable to hold themselves shut as he rested his rigid body. Perhaps he was in a comfortable position, physically, but his mind was far too active for him to rest. The slightest stimulant bothered him, disturbing his sensitive state. Put simply, he was on edge, thoughts swimming in his mind, visualized as a whirl of colors that refused to stop, going around, and around, and around…
He considered his options there, lying in the moonlight streaming through the window. He could tell his father what he wanted, but knowing his father’s desires were for him to become a respected smith, he would certainly refuse. Perhaps he could simply leave home, on his own, leaving his father a note. Endel would find it, surely, and would know.
His eyes squeezed themselves shut violently, barricading out the disturbances of light, leaving William alone in the dark. He was alone with his mind.
Magic, he thought. There had to be a reason. He pondered the subject, eyelids forcefully closed, trying to come to a conclusion.
And then it struck him.
It was early morning, the sun barely peeking its corona over the horizon when William awoke. It was important, he asserted, to rise so early. His muscles, more vital than they had been in months, perhaps years, seemed less tense, less…frustrated. Abruptly discarding the bedsheets, William flung himself out of bed, dressing with newfound haste. Time was of critical importance.
He packed lightly, grabbing a small traveler’s satchel and slinging it over his shoulder. Within it, he carried his most useful and valuable possessions. A spare set of clothing. A hunting knife. Some food, in the form of dried fruits and a bit of salted beef. A length of twine.
He turned to the door, ready to exit the kitchen, when he stumbled across something he had forgotten. Glancing down the hallway, directly into the corner of his bedroom, he noticed something. Propped up in the corner of the room, as if an ornate decoration, was a sword. His sword.
It brought back a few memories, pulling at him from deep within. Gazing at the blade, he stepped forward, slowly, entranced. He reached out, grabbing the narrow hilt. It was a tool with a history.
“I made this for you, son,†his father had said, the voice echoing now inside his soul. [/i]“Go on, give it a try.â€[/i] He vividly recalled that day, years ago, when he had tried to heft the weapon, stumbling awkwardly under its weight. His father laughing, wishing he could show his friends.
â€The son of a blacksmith!†he cackled.
“The son of a blacksmith, and he can’t even lift a sword!†William’s father’s uncontrollable laughter resonated in his ears as though the entire event had occurred only hours ago.
He grasped the hilt, lifting it. Now it was easy, he mused. What was once impossible is now nothing. That must be the greatest feeling one can experience. Flipping the blade around in his hand, he glimpsed at it upright, pointing it upwards.
A wicked blade, it was. The handle was elliptical at the base, a similar shape all the way up to the guard, and made of polished, black stone, carved by a master. Carved by the master, his father. Sweeping the eye along the hilt revealed it’s intriguing shape, a swirl of unique patterns and indentations. The guard took the resemblance of talons, spiked forms jutting out to either side of the handle. The blade itself was long and silvery, and not exceptionally wide. As the eye made the journey from bottom to top, it appeared perfectly normal—until the bearer reached the end. The blade cut back to reveal a dastardly serrated edge at the tip, just before an overextended point. His father had certainly taken pride in his work.
William smiled, slightly. It was a private smile, one no one would ever know about but himself. That was just the way he preferred it.
He slid the sword into a scabbard at his belt, hoping it would come in handy. At very least, it looked impressive, though he doubted he’d be able to scare anyone with it. Silently, he padded down the hallway to the room his father had donated Endel for the night, carefully prying open the door. This door, he knew, was one that was horribly parched, choking from lack of oil. Slowly, he opened it…
At last, he squeezed himself into the space between the door and the jamb, accidentally bumping his body against the outer edge of the wooden barricade.
The resulting squeak was as loud to William as a chorus of one thousand screeching locusts. With a slight wince, he slid the rest of the way into Endel’s room, turning towards the bed, exerting every effort to avoid making noise.
“Hello,†sounded a totally calm voice. William jumped, startled by the sudden, and stable, noise. He whirled to face Endel, who was apparently readying his belongings to leave. Fully dressed and in the process of making the bed, he greeted William with a knowing smile.
“You want to come with me, don’t you.†It was not a question. Endel’s voice was firm, steady, and confident, as always. All knowing, perhaps. William gazed longingly at Endel. He was perfectly aware of William’s desires to travel.
“Why do you want to come?â€
William raised his head, and with a hard, serious face, related to Endel his decision. “Every adventurer who came before you was the same. All of them warriors from afar, in search of powerful weapons for their travels. But none of them were very worldly, for accomplished adventurers. All of them brutish men…just like my father. They work their bodies until their physical form is exhausted, ignoring pain, pleasure, and emotion. They toil and sweat, living in shells of flesh, all just to survive, nothing more ever crossing their minds, existing as did primal man.â€
Endel nodded slowly. “Do you realize what it takes to become a mage? You have described the rigors of physical labor, and the pains of working one’s body. But the mind, too, tires, draining itself. You will have to work, and study, learning the arcane ways. It is not an easy task to become a great wizard. Why do you seem to think it is a preferable route?â€
Endel’s response evoked a deep sigh from William. “Because,†he asserted. “Because I don’t want to end up like my father, pouring out my sweat and blood to feed my family. I want to see the world, and learn things, not live in a shop. My mother…â€
William’s head hung. “Go on,†Endel reassured him.
“She told me something once. She said that there was nothing more valuable than knowledge, because if you know enough, you truly have the power to make anything happen.â€
Rubbing his feet against the wooden floor planks, William stared at Endel, eyes demonstrating his sincerity. His decision had been made. Endel strode towards the door, silent, and with a slight smile. A smile much like the one William had made examining his sword, one of private desire and inner realization.
Not a single board creaked for the next three hours.
Endel and William had been on the road for a few days, and William was already adjusting to the life of a traveler. Walking during the day was far from irritating or painful, and he hadn’t really experienced anything seriously uncomfortable, such as blisters or bad weather. It was easy to see why he might have become attached to the life, that is, before he fully understood any of the potential hardships of living on the trail. He and Endel had talked at great length about his possible future as they had traversed the well-worn path of those who had come before them.
“So,†William had asked, “where exactly are we going?†A familiar sense of eagerness rang in his voice, like that of a child opening a birthday gift. It was the same tone of voice many new apprentices to the Academy used, often before they knew what they were getting themselves into.
“The Gunnir Academy,†Endel replied with a slight smile. “Gunnir’s a school for mages, and it’s where I’m from. I’ve studied there since I was a bit younger than you are now, and I’m hoping to graduate within a year or two.†He strode ahead, his crimson cloak flapping in the breeze and the sunlight reflecting off the silvery sword he carried at his side.
William nodded quietly, trying to contain his exuberance. Nothing could possibly be better than this, especially not for a boy who had spent his entire life cramped in a blacksmith’s shop. It was rather difficult and frustrating to be caged up in such a manner, and his father’s adamant stance on what young William was to become and mold himself into disgusted the youth. Nothing was worse than not being able to make your own choices, he had decided. Mom would have given me a choice, he thought. Mom would have understood. All of this, all of the way dad behaves, the way he absorbs himself into his work…it’s all because of what happened to her…
The pair walked for a few more hours, enjoying the fresh air and chatting about all sorts of details regarding Gunnir. What was it like? How big was it? How many people were there? Just boys, or were there girls too? Was the food good? Finally, William asked the question Endel had been waiting for.
“Is it hard?†he queried, a bit of fear mixed with his curiosity.
Endel was silent for a moment, and his familiar smile slowly spread across his lips. “Yes, William, it’s not going to be easy at Gunnir. You’re going to have to work, and study, and put a lot of effort into everything you do if you want to succeed. But, some people,†he added with a smirk, “have a certain natural talent about them. Don’t worry too much about it. I have faith…you’ll achieve great things, if only you put in a little time and work.â€
William screwed up his face for a moment, as though he were slightly perturbed at the idea of having to work whatsoever, and then quickly assumed his prior grin. “It’ll be worth it,†he decided. He raised his gaze, grinning brightly into the setting sun. A wave of vibrant hues washed across the sky in the distance, crisp reds, oranges and yellows giving yield to purples and blues. Yet another one of the perks of being a wanderer, William decided. The average traveler gets more time to appreciate the radiance of the world than the average shopkeeper.
Endel glanced over at William. “Sun’s going down. It’s not particularly safe to travel at night, you know. We ought to find a little shelter and call it a day.â€
“What’s so unsafe, anyway?†Hakaril asked interestedly. “It can’t be that dangerous. Besides, you’re a mage, right?â€
The red wizard shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. Just because I’m a mage doesn’t mean I’m invincible, William. And you won’t be either. Remember that, or it’ll be your downfall some day.â€
“Oh, whatever, but…†the young man found his words cut off by an earsplitting howl in the distance, one that seemed only to get louder, as well as closer, as time went on. At last, the unpleasant sound subsided, leaving William a moment to stick his finger in his ear and recover from his prior wincing.
“We should have found cover earlier,†Endel muttered. “We’ve been spotted.â€
“By what?†William replied, bewildered and a little stunned.
“Have you heard the stories most people dismiss as rumors, William? The tales of living shadows, which hunt and consume mortal flesh for their own benefit and gain? Alien creatures birthed from darkness, and lurking within it, biding their time?â€
“You’re telling me…â€
William was rather rudely interrupted by a beastly, violent growling noise from just off the road, a sound that chilled him to the core of his bones. He shuddered, whirling around to stare in the direction of the sound, and found himself staring down a creature unlike anything he had ever seen.
A large, vaguely dog or wolf shaped shadow with blood red eyes glared at him malevolently, maw slightly open to bare silvery, glistening teeth, muzzle slightly stained with ichor from a previous kill. The creature’s low, irritated, hungry growling vaguely reminded William of the sound emitted by a motorized bellows of some sort a traveling merchant had attempted to sell his father. Slowly, so as not to startle the creature, William made a move towards the hilt of his blade.
“Be careful, William,†Endel whispered nervously. “On my mark…draw your weapon. Alright?â€
William nodded, placing his hand lightly on the hilt of his weapon, feeling the cool stone against his fingertips as he gripped it. Endel smiled slightly, a gesture concealed by the night’s omnipresent shadow.
“Now!†the red wizard called out as he raised his hands, palms outwards, towards the beast. A flash of light erupted from his body, and a massive burst of flame followed suit, leaping from his hands towards the monster. With supernatural reflexes, the shadowy form leapt over the attack, landing at Endel’s feet and quickly pouncing him, tackling him to the ground. Endel’s eyes widened tremendously, an expression of absolute terror highlighting his features.
“Get away from him!†shouted William, whipping his blade from its scabbard and bringing it down, cleaving through the monster’s form and causing it to yelp, rolling off Endel’s body. The creature and William circled for a moment, each waiting for the other to make the next move.
A ferocious glint flashed in the beast’s eye, and a feeling of absolute dread washed over William. Something was wrong, he realized. This creature was very intelligent…and very sadistic…
The vague form darted forward, leaping onto Endel’s body again, just as he was attempting to sit up, and clawed in rage at the magician, tearing his robes and causing blood to issue forth from the scratches, eliciting screams of pain from Endel himself.
“I told you to go away!†William screamed, slashing at the monster again, but this time, the weapon merely passed through the shape of the beast, which paused a moment, halting its vigorous clawing, and turned its head towards William. A pleased, satiated look illuminated the shadow’s eyes. William swore it was laughing at him, and a hollow, grim voice echoed in his head.
I’ll get you next.
Endel squirmed, somehow all of his strength becoming worthless under the grip of the creature. His face was pale in the moonlight, and made paler still by his terror as he attempted to wrestle free.
“William, just get out of here, or it’ll get us both!†Endel cried out, obviously choking back tears. His eyes closed, slowly, acceptance that the end was imminent becoming a realization in his mind. “Tell someone you’re headed to Gunnir if you get lost, and I’m sure you’ll get able to get directions!â€
“But…†argued William meekly.
“GO!†growled Endel, feebly trying to land a punch on the shadowy attacker pinning him down.
Restraining tears of his own, William hesitated for only a moment longer before taking off in the direction the two had been walking earlier as rapidly as his legs could possibly carry him.
Just as he thought he was safe, and far enough away from the creature that he would never have to deal with such again, the voice that had resonated within his mind sounded again.
It doesn’t matter how far you run, or what anyone does to try to save you. It doesn’t even matter if it’s me. You can always be secure in only one fact…
There will always be those who want only to see you suffer.
<p>
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</td><td><center>Archmage Kirby:
Powers HAL Labs wishes they'd thought up first.
RPGWW! Beware of GM!</center></td><td>
</td></tr></table></td></tr></table></center></p>
Edited by: pd Rydia at: 6/8/05 21:01