Record of Lodoss War Fansite.

Archives: A New Balance

Chapter 5: Roads of Alania

    Shortly after leaving the city’s walls, the party became aware of the presence of something following them in the trees along the road. Mia seemed unperturbed by it, or possibly unaware. Occasionally, a glimpse of gray fur could be seen among the trees, or a shadow darting through the underbrush.

    Veriss kept a straight face and was very aware of what was out there. Every once and a while, her hand fell to the handle of her large sword, but she only adjusted it on her belt. Greysoul kept a slow pace behind Mia. Veriss glanced around for a moment. Military strategy. Act like nothing is wrong...

    Veriss cleared her throat. “Jonas...” Veriss said, in a forced, casual tone. “You appear to be a warrior of skill. Where did you learn?” she asked, without looking at him.

    Jonas arched his eyebrow as he instantly and naturally thought up an elaborate yet completely unbelievable false life. “Well, my first instructor was master Kiamatrow of Alecrast, after I surpassed him I went to.... Oh right, that doesn’t work.”

    Jonas continued, opting to forget trying to impress his companions and just tell the truth, “Well, no actual instruction per say....But Nessa and I have been sparring with each other since before we had two ball hairs between us.”

    “Yeah, but that was only last month for you,” Nessa said as as he walked beside them. He wasn’t too worried though, they say that when Parn was his age he could barely hold his sword up. And even without formal training he liked to think they could defiantly hold their own in a fight.

    Veriss nodded without a response at first. These two were certainly a type of people she had not dealt with before. She took note that they never had any actual combat instruction. She wondered how well they could actually perform if they were never taught things such as other styles of combat or even basic combat tactic. She wanted to get off the subject already. Unfortunately, she was hoping to scare off whoever was following them by dazzling them with their combat prowess. What she did was provide whoever was out there a sense of security that a little under half of the group hadn’t been taught how to even hold their weapons correctly...

    Veriss looked around again. “How about you, Lady Aiyanna? What sort of training have you received?”

    Mia glanced towards the trees as Lucied swung close to the group again. The wolf was out of sight, but not out of range of Mia’s senses. He was afraid of the group, more specifically, Veriss. You’ll only put us on edge if you keep that up, Mia thought. Lucied’s actions were not her responsibility, he was her friend, not her pet. Mia returned her attention to the group. Surprisingly, Veriss was inquiring Aiyanna on her abilities. Mia glanced toward Aiyanna for her response.

    Aiyanna raised her head from thought at the inquiry. “Please call me Aiyanna, I am no lady at all. I was trained as a battle mage since I was seven years old. I’ve been trained use magic as a weapon. I prefer that above using physical weapons. My mother’s family is a mage family, it was expected of me. How about you?” She said as she suppressed any past memories from surfacing. She wasn’t innocent, she had blood on her hands. Even if it was to avenge her mother, who died so terribly as she witnessed, it wasn’t normal for a fourteen year old to kill.

    Veriss nodded. That was much more to what she was looking for. Whatever was out there needed to understand that some of the members there were well trained. “I was trained by the Knights of Valis for basic combat and tactics since I was fifteen years of age. I was then accelerated into the elite warrior training in the academy until I was twenty-one and I graduated top of my class. Unfortunately, I could not continue past the elite training and go into knighthood.” Veriss Trelem, noble by nature, explained her training unlike most nobles would. Her words lacked the high and mighty attitude that many nobles in Lodoss shared. She did not even appear noble at all. Truth be told, she was the adopted daughter of a high ranking official in the Valisian army.

    Aiyanna smiled bitterly, “They won’t accept a woman to be a knight, how ironic. Even in a mage’s world they have hard time accepting any woman of exceptional talent. They accept her in the end, but many have become so bitter by then. Well I am only twenty, so I can’t say much more. I’m inexperienced.”

    Veriss did not respond then. She looked to the side, off and away from Aiyanna. She was wrong. That was not why she wasn’t a knight. Perhaps it would have been, if it was not for something else that occurred before knighthood could be considered. Veriss bit her lower lip for a second before looking back to the road they were on. Finally, she spoke. “Yes. Many men do not have a desire to see one whose common place is in the parlor and to be ornamental at their sides to be risking their lives just like, or even more so, than a man,” she said in her usual tone.

    The warrioress glanced around them once more, looking for signs of whatever it was that was out there. She looked to Mia for a moment. She was an elf. She had seen the abilities of shamans before... She also knew that elves were older than they looked. Usually hundreds of years. Perhaps it was an elf that would be most dangerous and most awe-inspiring.

    “And what of you, Mistress Mia?” Veriss glanced away for a moment. She thought she saw something...

    “It is a fool that denies skill in favor of his own pride, and a dead fool soon after.” Dralock had fought with women, and seen them last longer than some men. “A friend taught me that the hard way.”

    Mia clapped Dralock on the back as she chuckled. “That’s how it is,” she agreed. “Usually if someone thinks I’m any less competent a warrior because I’m a woman, they usually end up on the flat of their ignorant back,” she added, punching into the air as if fighting with an invisible man.

    Once she’d made her point clear with the gestures, she looked over her shoulder at Veriss to answer her question. “Well, I was trained as a ranger from my teen years, you might say I was conditioned for it from birth. But when I was about two hundred and thirty, I developed a severe case of wanderlust,” Mia replied, quite nonchalantly. Most elves didn’t like to reveal their age to humans, but Mia didn’t give a damn. “So for about some seventy odd years, I’ve been a mercenary off and on.”

    Veriss nodded. That was much better. Much more towards the intimidation that she had been looking forward to. Finally, there was Dralock to question. And if all of their skills combined did not strike fear into whatever was stalking them, she believed that finally meeting them all in battle would be overwhelming to whoever or whatever was there. “And what of you, Dralock?”

* * *

    “It would surprise many to learn that some Goblins have names. Most do not; they are distinguished by scent and physical traits and often not at all. But there are some who are more extraordinary than the others, those that fight harder and collect more kills; those are the ones who earn a name in their primal society.” - Thule, Royal order of the Valis Sages, circa NRC 325.

    Ungar of the scarfoot goblin tribe was once a proud middle ranking captain in Marmo’s forces. In an army of thousands he had command of hundreds, a creature that brought fear in all sentient races. He fearlessly led troops into battle and turned certain defeat into victory, known best for being one of the few goblins to have a well known name. In his many years he fought and bled all for the sake for the holy blade.

    To Ashram and Beld the sword Soul Crusher was a tool and a symbol of their power. However, to the monsters of the island it was god, an entity to which bowed and offered their lives. And then Ashram left and took the sword with him, leaving the monsters with no deity or purpose. For weeks Ungar and his tribe wept bloody tears in its absence without the will to hunt or live, begging for the demonic sword to return. In the end it was Ungar who realized that their god had abandoned them, and he alone knew that if they were to survive then they would have to stay together and leave the accursed island. So he gathered as many of his kind who were still loyal to him and made a great exodus to the mainland where they now roam for survival. No longer the servant of any ones purpose save for their own. They were diminished, starved, and defeated. But more importantly they are free.

    Ungar now sits in the temporary encampment. As he sharpens his blade he has a rare moment of reflection and wonders what happened to the other goblins of Marmo, the ones he could not convince to come with him. He wonders if they starved to death waiting for the holy sword to return. Others one the island were not as close to the sword, surely they survived.

    A scout approached Ungar and interrupted his thoughts with a low grunt, the scout held out six fingers and jerked his head east as he made several more grunts. Ungar instantly understood the cryptic message and secured his blade to his side. With a deep roar he grabbed the attention of the small band of goblins and without question they marched as the scout led. Their adrenaline pumped and mouths watering with anticipation, for there was fresh meat not far.

* * *

    Aiyanna looked to both left and right. She felt something was wrong about the air. Perhaps something was coming? She sighed, not long after leaving a city and they were immediately exposed to danger. She looked at her staff, her crystal orb was still clear, not even a hint of silver light to warn her. “Hmm...is it just me or...does anyone else...” Aiyanna trailed off before finishing her sentence. She could be wrong after all and she didn’t want to panic anyone yet.

    Veriss looked to Aiyanna. She had not spoken very loud... Veriss had not made out what she said because of a snort made by Greysoul rather suddenly. She leaned over to speak. “Excuse me, Miss Aiyanna. I did not hear what you said. Please repeat yourself.”

    Mia could only assume Aiyanna sensed Lucied. “Don’t worry Aiyanna, it’s just my wolf,” Mia replied. “He would rather stay hidden than walk with us.”

    Aiyanna nodded, “Maybe, but my magical senses are telling me something not nice might not be far away. But, oh well, my staff’s crystal orb will shine with silver light if anything not nice is on its way.” The hair on the nape of her neck was standing. She didn’t want to think about running into bandits or goblins. She knew a creature was following them for sometime, but she didn’t know it was Mia’s familiar. Her body tensed as she walked, ready to dodge any attacks.

    “You did not mention the wolf before,” Veriss said. Veriss thought that Mia should have informed them. Veriss had been on edge for nothing.

    “Lucied would prefer to not be noticed,” Mia told Veriss. She didn’t consider herself his keeper. If he wanted to make himself known, he would.

    Dralock smiled to himself. “Once,” he said, “I met a ranger whose animal companion was a small rabbit. We all laughed at him for it, at least until our first battle with him. By the gods, I never knew rabbits could be that deadly.” He clearly suppressed a shudder at the memory.

    Aiyanna looked at the dwarf in amazement, “Rabbits? I knew they have used doves before, but not a small rabbit. I am curious, if not offending to you, what did it do?” Aiyanna realized it might not be a good memory but her curiosity had gotten better of her.

    Mia glanced toward Dralock, “Now even I find a rabbit familiar strange. I’ve GOT to hear this story,” she said with a grin.

    Dralock gave a sudden shudder that shook him from head to toe. “Let’s just say, hope you never find out.”

    Aiyanna “hmphhed” at the dwarf’s comment, now she would never laugh at or underestimate anyone with a small fragile looking familiar. One lesson learned on the road. Aiyanna sighed, as her former master, Lucien, would say, ‘Sometimes you can learn something useful from anywhere, be it on a road, in a forest clearing, or even watching the sky.’

    Aiyanna took notice of her staff as it shined in ghostly silvery light. It was a weak signal, but surely something nasty was within its detection range. “I am not sure, but my staff is telling me something bad is on its way to our location.” Aiyanna said as she stopped walking.

    “Maybe it’s a gopher.” Nessa replied as he walked beside Veriss’ horse.

    “Or a sparrow, I hear they get nasty when they’re hungry.” Jonas said.

    Despite their jokes the boys both took a cautious look around. Nessa almost hoped for an attack, typical youth and his new sword gave him the feeling of immortality. Like many his age he felt that he and he alone would be the one human on the planet to never die. But more than that he had the vibrating impatience to prove his worth.

    Veriss looked up, listening to the mage. Lady Trelem put a hand on the handle of her sword, ensuring it was safely sitting in its sheath. If anything was to come up, she would have to be off Greysoul. Greysoul was an excellent horse, but was by no means a war horse. Greysoul knew how to handle himself in battle, of course. His job was to run around the battlefield. Sometimes he would just plain run off. Other times he would attempt to trample enemies. Either way, he was probably going to come out unscathed and Veriss was free to fight without concern for her horse. Veriss stopped her horse with the tug of the reins and dismounted.

    She looked around for a moment. “Someone either take Greysoul or everyone stay off him. If no one is on him that can’t handle a horse, he will take off. I suggest we pretend to be taking a rest. Everyone will be prepared for battle if it comes and everyone will be alert then...” she almost whispered to everyone.

    Mia paused in her step and stared at the road ahead for a moment. Finally, she spoke, “It sounds like a good plan. Lucied will scout ahead.” She turned aside and walked toward the grassy roadside. She sat down in the grass and lounged comfortably while her mind was closely connected to her wolven friends’.

    Lady Trelem nodded, looking the area over. She pulled the travel bag off of Greysoul and rubbed behind his ears. This was her usual sign for him to relax, which he did. The grass on the side of the road caught his attention almost immediately, and he strolled casually to the edge of Aiyanna’s spell and stopped. He seemed to notice its existence by some sense, and looked at the edge for a second, and decided not to cross it. Instead, he stood a foot or two away from it. He casually swished his tail as he chewed, as if taunting anyone close by who wanted his death.

    Veriss began pulling small pieces of equipment from her bag. All she had was the pieces for a small wooden contraption to hang a pot from and a pot, obviously for making stews and other quick, traveling meshes called meals. She began to set it up as she normally would, while leaving one eye wandering from side to side, waiting for something to happen. She constantly checked or had a hand laying on the handle of her sword...

    Jonas dismounted Greysoul and grouped with Nessa, who had already started scanning around. In all honesty it looked about as safe a place as Caena with not a threat in sight. They were in an area of open plains with sheer hills around them and a few sparsely wooded areas. The hills were arranged so that one could see for miles in two directions and only three or so hundred yards in the other two. A rather beautiful place if one were to stop and look.

    “So what do you think?” asked Nessa, out of earshot from the others.

    “‘Bout what?”

    “About them.” Nessa said as he jerked his head to the others “About all of this.”

    “I think we’re lucky we met em’,” replied Jonas. “I keep feeling like there’s a catch though, something we haven’t thought of yet. And let’s face it, we’ve never been in a real battle, plenty of fist fights and sparring matches. But no one’s ever tried to kill either of us. How do we know we’ll be able to handle it?”

    Jonas’ words struck Nessa deeply as he had the same thoughts himself. Dying had crossed his mind as a remote possibility, but his biggest worry was weather he had the mettle to keep his head when things got intense. He hoped to the gods he wouldn’t turn tail and run like a coward in the face of danger. Fear of being afraid.

    Jonas then interrupted his thoughts “You think maybe we should go back after this job? I mean there are worse things than being a commoner.”

    Nessa snapped his head to Jonas as though he had been insulted. “You can if you want, but I’ll eat my right arm before I go back. I was born in a back water town, I can’t change that, but I’ll be damned if I let some grand dice roll determine my fate. Having noble blood or a strong lineage doesn’t make any one better than me, just luckier, and I’m going to prove it.”

    “Fine, I was just saying is all.” Jonas said as he walked away from his friend. “Didn’t mean to insult your crusade.”

    Aiyanna looked over to the two young men, “Don’t get too far away, there is a magical shield around us, unless you want to get pierced by an arrow.” Aiyanna set herself down and took out her two long daggers. They were a piece of artwork by themselves. They were beautifully wrought with silver wings and small golden eight sided mirrors in the middle. They were a combined gift from her parents and her former master, Lucien. Their ten inch long blades were thin, but not rapier thin, and finer than the average dagger or fine blade. Their beautiful pommels gleamed in the sunlight.

    “They are getting closer.”Aiyanna said as the silver light on her crystal orb grew brighter.

* * *

    They were predators, born with the instincts to hunt and feed at every opportunity with the ferocity necessary for survival. Ungar and his goblin band looked down at their prey from the top of the nearest hill, ravenous to the point that they were far more dangerous than a well fed creature. They fought their urge to attack directly even though they outnumbered the tall ones at least three to one. Ungar could smell magic, and it looked like the element of surprise was not completely with them as the prey scanned around for an uncertain threat.

    Ungar made a sideways glance at the shaman, the one goblin of the group he could call elder. The shaman had never gained a name but was revered as an irreplaceable element in the group, his magic camouflaged the others to remain unseen among the tall grass. And in battle his bond with the rocks and sky outweighed any spear.

    “Kuurchact hectas Nehya.” Ungar whispered to the shaman, ‘keep us silent and hidden my friend’ was the rough translation. The leader of the group waited patiently, holding up a hand to keep the others in their place and not daring to unleash them unless it was the perfect time. Meanwhile the shaman chanted silently in his native language, straining his concentration to keep up the camouflage and to cast a new spell.

    Shortly after, Ungar’s patience had paid off. A sudden and unusually strong gust of wind appeared from nowhere, rustling the leaves of nearby trees and masking whatever small noise the goblins would make. Ungar dropped his hand and immediately the goblins sprinted towards their prey low to the ground, still camouflaged and still silenced by the wind. While the shaman remained on the top of the hill to maintain the spells, the others fanned out to surround their prize at amazing speed. With no hesitation or time wasted Ungar’s band leapt from the grass and revealed them selves with weapons drawn and teeth bare.

* * *

    As he was putting his armor back on Dralock felt the wind suddenly pick up. “Is there usually such strong winds out here this time of year?” It didn’t seem normal weather to him, but he hadn’t been in these parts much. Just as he was picking up his ax to put back in its holster on his back, goblins began jumping out of the tall grass. “Heads up!” he shouted, instantly assuming a battle stance.

    Mia was quickly on her feet with her daggers in her hands faster than eyes could see with her elven speed. “Aiyanna, can I cast spells through this shield?” she quickly asked the sorceress. A good fire spell would take down their numbers.

    Back in the woods, Lucied came tearing through the underbrush toward the goblins advancing on Mia and her company. The huge Marmo wolf bowled through the line, grabbing one goblin by the back of the knee as he ripped through them.

    “Magic can be cast from inside to outside, but not the other way around. I can’t guarantee that they won’t get through the shield with their own magic,” Aiyanna said as got up.

    Veriss twirled around suddenly, giant two handed sword coming out of its sheath. The mammoth blade was a bit larger than your average and, from its shape and workmanship, it was obviously a custom job, albeit plain looking. She looked around at the group, charging at all sides. She took a defensive stance, with her sword at a diagonal angle in front of her. It swayed from side to side as the first goblin charged her. She used the plating to defend against the well-placed strike of the goblin. She had fought them before, but none she had seen had such a honed skill as these did. She noted not to take them as weak. Her plated hand twisted and grabbed the goblin’s arm, pulling it around until it broke. Her one hand, holding her massive sword, pulled all its strength to swing it up. Her control was much worse, but she still could direct the heavy blade somewhat. The blade swung across and downwards on the hapless goblin, sending her blade deep enough to kill. This move usually would have split the goblin in half. Last time it did. The armor held it back. She pulled her blade out and dropped the body. The other goblins had watched the display, measuring her up. Two goblins charged her at once, and she was prepared. Holding her sword in two hands, she blocked with the blade against one hit and her plating saved her from the other. She continued this charade until she was in a position for an upwards slash. She brought it suddenly, slashing the face of one of the and twirled around to counter the other’s attack. She quickly slid her blade across the goblins and twisted the sword locked in his hand. She could hear cracking of his hand as it fell. She then lifted one foot and kicked him back. She charged instantly, slashing him down. She turned to the other, who had gained his composition back from the face slash and was ready to continue the fight. Veriss took an advanced charge, moving slower than usual, giving the target time to take her move before reversing it at the last second. She raised her sword up very early, began to swing down, and dropped her sword and stabbed where the goblin’s defense wasn’t. The goblin struggled to deal with the sword in his gut. With one last cry, he shoved his sword into her shoulder. Veriss gasped and fell to one knee. The blade wasn’t in it, it fell with the goblin, but it hurt. It hurt a lot. She stood up, knowing it would affect her fighting skills. She could feel the blood dripping down her arm as she prepared for more.

    “Oh hell!” Nessa shouted as a goblin leapt straight at him, with no time to draw his weapon the boy made a desperate jump behind him, landing flat on his back as a spear struck the very ground he occupied moments before. Nessa scrambled to his feet and drew the saber from his side while the goblin yanked his own weapon from the ground.

    Nessa’s heart raced as adrenaline coursed through his body, with a powerful battle cry the boy charged his waiting opponent and made a wide downward swing. Instincts would have made the goblin dodge or block, but with military training told it to never give up the initiative. The goblin thrust the spear at Nessa’s face, who managed to flinch out of the way only through sheer reflex, but also leaving him vulnerable for a brief moment. The goblin took advantage of that moment and with left over momentum it brought the blunt end of the spear and smashed it across Nessa’s temple. Nessa barely kept himself from crashing to the ground as he brought himself back to the ready position. This time he would not be so rash.

    If she didn’t have a spell to cast, Mia would have jumped to help Nessa. All she could do now was give her little bit of guidance to the group. “Dralock, watch out for the boys! Jonas, Nessa, stay around me, Dralock or more importantly, Aiyanna! Do NOT get near Veriss!” Mia had no idea what sort of thing would trigger her Hyuri spirit, but she didn’t want to chance the party’s safety.

    “Salamander, spirit of fire, rise to my call!” Mia spoke, her hands raised in front of her, focused at the line of goblins coming toward them, she repeated the incantation over and over, gaining more spiritual aid as she did. After a few repetitions, the elf was surrounded by a ring of flame. “Send your righteous flames to destroy my enemy!” Mia finally instructed, drawing a hand back and flinging it forward. The ring of fire shot forward, the spirits independently attacking the goblins in the range of her spell.

    Aiyanna nodded to Mia, because who knew what could trigger the Hyuri spirit? Aiyanna yanked off her hooded cloak and smiled. Aiyanna stretching her left hand and softly spoke in Kastuulian. Their battle spells were much more effective than the newer ones. “Moon of vengeance, rise from the depths, give justice to those who shall receive through my hand!”

    With that, brilliant silvery-blue magic shot out towards the goblins. These were well trained, they weren’t wild ones far as she knew. If they haven’t jumped out of the way they would have been burned right through like the trees behind them. Aiyanna muttered her disappointment as she raised her personal magic circle, a Starwind circle, but she didn’t have time to include the young men. Then she flung her two daggers into the air and, using her magic, they floated in the air, ready to attack as she directed. The young man named Nessa was certainly in trouble, she looked around for Jonas. Time not permitting, Aiyanna raised her daggers and sped them towards the goblin who could easily overpower Nessa. She was aiming for the vital parts at its throat, if not she would have cut its hands off first. If she didn’t get it, she was willing to use harsher spells. She prayed, as the daggers sped towards the goblin silently, that they would hit at least one of the vital places on the neck. If not at least slash it enough to distract it and give Nessa a chance to over power it.

    As the goblins began their attack, Dralock happened to recognize the battle formation they were using. It had been a classic one used in the war, and had certain weaknesses. For one thing, it required a shaman. “Mia, can you have that beast of yours head upwind?” He called as he lopped off three heads with one swing, and brought the ax back to block the blows of two more. “There should be a shaman up there. He’s the key to their attack!” He was beginning to have some trouble holding off the five goblins that surrounded him.

* * *

    Nessa’s vision blurred from the impact to his head. Instead of a goblin in front of him he saw only a gray blotch ready to deal a finishing blow. Nessa raised his sword in defense but without sharp vision he couldn’t predict where the attack would land. The boy’s salvation came in the form a well crafted dagger launched at the goblin. With incredible speed and an iron will the creature raised his arm and stopped the blade by allowing it to pierce into his hand. Nessa’s vision cleared just in time to see a goblin with a dagger skewered through its hand with the tip mere inches from its eye, giving a low growl as the sole proof it felt anything at all.

    Nessa felt both discouragement at the creature’s toughness and renewed hope that it could only grasp the spear with one hand, putting it at a disadvantage. Nessa then began attacking furiously yet with apparent self-discipline, forcing the goblin to a defensive stance and occasionally having to make a desperate parry. But Nessa had his own weaknesses, without training he never learned techniques beyond simple common sense, and without a mentor he was never able to remedy the bad habits he formed. Lastly, he was still used to fighting with a claymore. He didn’t realize that his new sword would be lighter and less reliant on physical power.

    First, Nessa received a cut on his forearm, then another at his ribs and a third bouncing off his armor. It seemed he was losing, but luckily for Nessa he was a fast learner. The wound at his arm told him not to lead with the same attack twice, the lesion at his side taught him not to over extend his thrust. Little by little he started to learn the dynamics of sword play, experimenting with various attacks and when he got cut it burned into his mind what did and did not work. Not that he was so talented, the goblin was forced to fight with a two-handed weapon using only his off hand, otherwise the goblin would make short work of Nessa.

    After a few minutes both Nessa and the goblin were riddled with small cuts until at last a combination of skill and luck left the goblin wide open. Nessa tightened his grip and barely managed to attack in time, making a deep slash at the goblin’s belly just below its breastplate.

    “I did it....” Nessa said to him self in disbelief as the goblin toppled forward. His head then snapped towards Jonas, who was fighting a much larger goblin and wouldn’t last much longer. He heard Mia’s orders to stay near her, but he couldn’t abandon his friend.

* * *

    Aiyanna yanked the daggers back, glad Nessa could take on the goblins. “Sir Dralock! hold on!” Aiyanna said as she saw the dwarf be surrounded by five goblins. Aiyanna concentrated, breathing evenly, like in a mediative state, then, breathing in big, she began a much harsher spell. “Blood to blood, thee shall suffer, and go back to whence thy blood came from!”

    Loose leaves whipped up as the power left her and targeted one of the goblins surrounding the dwarf, it should die in screaming agony before exploding into pieces. She grimaced, indeed as Dralock had said before facing the goblins, she had to watch out for this shaman.

    Jonas’ heart froze with shock as the goblins jumped from the tall grass without warning. Luckily none of them attacked him directly, giving the boy a chance to draw his twin swords. However, one of them wasted no time getting to him. It was one of the larger ones protected by thick armor, in one hand it carried a large, round shield and a heavy sword in the other. It was a monster. Jonas had seen wild goblins before but none were like this.

    As he readied his swords Jonas taunted at the goblin in hopes of distracting it. “Hey ugly! Your mother was a dung heap!”

    Either it didn’t understand the boy or it simply didn’t care, the goblin charged Jonas with indifference, initiating the duel with a powerful side swing. Jonas crossed his swords and barely blocked the attack, grunting with exertion as he struggled to keep the heavy sword at bay. The goblin then retracted his sword and repeated with an equally powerful attack from above. With no opportunity to counter attack Jonas was forced to remain in a defensive shell. He needed both swords to block the goblins heavy attacks and he simply couldn’t block with one and strike with the other. The goblin clearly had the upper hand, but fortunately for Jonas the goblin seemed to realize this. You’re easily surprised when you think little of your opponent.

    Knowing that it was only a matter of time before his defense was broken, Jonas took a chance. The boy fended off another attack and summoned all the speed he could, he then thrust one of his swords straight down and into the goblin’s foot. The creature roared in pain as the sword went clean through his foot and into the ground. In bloody wrath the goblin swung hard while still nailed to the ground, Jonas desperately raised the sword in his other hand but as the blades clashed his was torn from his grasp. Jonas’s sword flew through the air towards the sheer hill going down, possibly all the way to the bottom, there was no getting to it anytime soon. Jonas pulled at the sword impaled into the goblin’s foot but found that it was stuck in the ground deeper than he thought. Getting it out required enough forced that he staggered backwards once it was free and stumbled on a rock. The goblin then advanced towards him with rage in its eyes.

    “Whoa he’s pissed!” Jonas exclaimed as the goblin raised his sword for the deathblow. But the strike never came, Nessa had charged the goblin at its flank, forcing it defend rather than kill Jonas. The two locked swords and even with both arms Nessa couldn’t overpower the goblin using but one. The goblin gave a hard push and knocked Nessa away a few yards, but it also gave Jonas time to scramble to his feet and join his friend.

    “Tsk, tsk, tsk. You’re still working on yours?” Nessa asked with his sword ready and his eyes locked on his opponent.

    Jonas also readied himself with his remaining sword beside Nessa “That’s not fair, you got a little one.”

    Two friends then charged the monster, attacking with everything they had.

* * *

    As one of the goblins in front of him suddenly exploded, Dralock made his move. Jumping at one of the remaining ones, he hooked his arm around its neck and swung with his ax extended to decapitate the other three. Then as his feet touched the ground, he snapped its neck. “Thanks”, he called to Aiyanna, “that was all I needed.” Then he ran to help the boys with their ‘big’ problem.

    Ungar waited in the tall grass as he spectated the battle thus far. As the strongest he had to be careful who engaged, he had to monitor his opponents and determine which could match his skill best. It would be foolish to waste time on an enemy that could easily be killed by the others, he had to determine where he would be needed most. The pups would be a waste of time, and the warrior woman was already surrounded. An elf was among them but he would leave her to the old shaman, he liked to test his skill against another like him. Then there was the other woman with the stench of human sorcery, they are best handled with many at all sides. That left the dwarf, who had already slain a substantial number of his men. That was the one he wished to kill.

    Ungar rushed ahead, jumped and landed between Dralock and the boys. Ungar was by far the largest, a rare breed known by sages as a goblin lord, born with physical and mental attributes far superior to his brethren. In his hand he held an iron chain at least twenty feet in length and attached to the end was a sadistic spiked ball that could easily kill a man in a single blow.

    “{Face me, rock filth!}” he shouted in his own tongue just before launching the spiked ball at Dralock.

    Dralock stopped short as a goblin of immense proportions landed in front of him. It yelled something in its own guttural language just before launching a spiked ball at his head. Dralock barely had time to position his ax in its path. With a heavy ‘clang’ the ball struck the ax with such force that Dralock had to fight to hold it. So, there are some left, he thought to himself. A Goblin Lord.

    Dralock readied himself for a serious fight. This enemy had skill to equal his own, and he needed to be ready for it. The goblin pulled back the spiked ball by its chain and threw it again. Dralock batted it away, but the goblin then turned it into a swing and brought it around to strike again. Dralock barely ducked. The spiked ball swung around and around: each time Dralock was almost struck..

    Then, Dralock raised his ax to stop it. This was a mistake. The ball and chain wrapped around the ax, and the goblin pulled the ax, sending it flying while Dralock held the end. Dralock skidded a couple of times before stopping. This was going to be a lot harder than he thought.

* * *

    Aiyanna smiled before analyzing situation quickly, she was being surrounded by three goblins. They were of medium build, but their armor and well-made weapons might make them a little harder to fend off. Aiyanna ducked at an attempt at her head and jerked back to give some space between herself and the one who attacked. They were looking at her like she was trapped prey. So much for their hope of her to be their next meal. She yelled out to Mia, “Mia! if I get knocked out, drag me to Roid and look for Erias Irisis in the Merchants’ Guild!”

    With that, she raised her staff and used it as a weapon while she manipulated her daggers at the same time, distracting all of them. She needed to break out of the semi-circle formation between them. She found her opening and launched one of the daggers towards goblin on her left. It didn’t matter if it hit any of the vital parts of its body, with enough force she slammed her staff at its helmeted head. She heard it reverberate and the goblin sway for few seconds. With a little more effort she pushed it out of the way and ran out into a more open area. She spun to face them before her right upper arm got a shallow cut from one of their swords. Aiyanna hissed in pain and anger, her eyes flaring in fierce battle spirit. “May the stars damn you to their darkest depths!”

    Aiyanna then ducked to stop her head being cut off for the second time. She turned one of the daggers around at the attacking goblin from the right while it was busy. It hovered near its hand and when it was raised high enough to try to strike her with high impact, the dagger cut off its right hand. Blood spurted out as it roared in pain and dropped its weapon. Before it could pick it up with the left hand, she cut that hand off also, then dodged a dangerous sneak attack from her back with a war hammer. Aiyanna grinned in maliciously, then she let her other dagger gouge out the now handless goblin’s eyes.

    Then she took on her next goblin, it was definitely bigger than the last one she just left to die. She dodged with all the speed she had from the war hammer. She had to think of something very soon or she would be tiring out very fast if this kept up. Then, she saw it, she quickly slashed in the air and created an illusionary version of her as her real self faded away from sight and smell. She watched for an opening as it kept following her copy. Then, she struck from behind, like it did to her and let her two daggers stab its neck, which wasn’t protected. The blade of the dagger came out at the other end and stayed there. The goblin howled before spitting out his own blood and attacking her real self as her illusion faded away. But its strength was fading as it kept missing her by wide margins. Then, it dropped dead. She yanked out her dagger from its neck then faced her the other who had been attacking in fast, spontaneous attacks. She already had at least seven or more cuts on her arms from it before she cast her illusion.

    Aiyanna managed to block its sword attacks, which were fast. She kept blocking with her staff. Then, she raised one of her hands before casting a spell. “Vengeance of battles, I call thee to stand before me and assist me! Blood to Blood!” With a sudden thrust towards her, the goblin gave her a deep cut, but she got what she needed. She caught its arm.

    “Have fun and die in agony,” Aiyanna whispered as her own magic jumped from her and attacked the goblin. The goblin’s eyes bugged out before it threw itself to the ground, rolling in pain and agony before its eyes became white and its mouth was a fountain of blood pouring fourth. Then, it shuddered violently before the life left left its body. Aiyanna panted a little from her effort in last battle with the goblin. That spell had cost more mana than any other spell she had cast so far. She looked at others’ situations, seeing if she could help. She didn’t want to waste anymore mana, in case Mia needed help.

* * *

    Mia’s spell didn’t burn out until the salamander spirits had succeeded in devouring their victims. The goblins hit by the summon were now burnt husks in rigid forms in the grass. However, Mia had already moved onto the living. Lucied had come to her aid as well; wolf and elf fighting side-by-side.

    Five goblins rushed toward them and Mia drew her daggers in the blink of an eye and held her ground as their enemy surrounded them, waiting for them to make the first move. A club swung at Mia, which she agilely danced around, ending up to the goblin’s side and quickly embedding a dagger in its unprotected side.

    Lucied went for the same goblin’s leg, ripping out the tendons from behind its knee. It howled in pain from the dual sided attack and began trying to turn and swing at Lucied, which only resulted in his leg giving out beneath him. Mia yanked her dagger out of the fallen goblin’s flesh and a spear ripped through her cloak, missing her chest and arm, however. She used the spear to launch herself into a back flip, her feet slamming into the shoulders of her new attacker. As he fell, she slashed a dagger across his throat. His grip on his spear was released as he fell, leaving it stuck in Mia’s cloak.

    With her last victim now gurgling in his own blood in the last moments of his life, Mia rolled back and hopped her feet. Her daggers were quickly sheathed and she took the spear caught in her clothes as her weapon.

    Meanwhile, Lucied had ripped out the throat of their first victim and had moved on to the next. The wolf went for the hamstrings on his second kill, bringing it to the ground where it was as good as helpless. However, its rusty, blunted sword grazed across Lucied’s back, leaving more of a bruise than a slash. He yelped, but instantly went for the goblin’s sword hand. His powerful jaws crushed the goblin’s wrist as it desperately fought to get out from under the huge wolf.

    Mia heard Aiyanna call and shot back a response as the next goblin stalked toward her. “Like hell I’m dragging your unconscious ass to Roid! If you get knocked out, we’re dragging you to the nearest temple! Hah!” She blocked the goblin’s sword slash with her spear haft as she finished her statement, which only splintered the shoddy wooden shaft. Mia tossed aside the useless half and darted to the right of the goblin. As it turned to face her, she slammed the spear blade into its eye, yet at the same time, it swung at her torso. Luckily for Mia, the shock of getting a spear in its eye reduced the force of its swing. Her leather vest protected her skin, leaving her with a welt and a possibly fractured—or at least bruised—rib.

    Lucied was soon knocked off the his goblin with another’s fist, sending him tumbling aside, but the wolf was quickly on his feet again and ran at his attacker. The other was trying to crawl away with his remaining uninjured limb.

    Lucied was blocked by the goblin’s buckler; the wolf landed on his feet and debated his next attack while growling viciously. The goblin swung at him with a standard issue Marmo blade, which Lucied crouched down to avoid, then launched himself up as the goblin completed his swing. Lucied latched onto his arm and shook, trying to rip off a hunk of flesh. The goblin tried to shake him off his arm instinctively, then punched the wolf in the shoulder with his free hand. Lucied was knocked off, but took a bloody mouthful of muscle and tendons with him. Lucied rolled to his feet, dropped the meat and snarled. The goblin’s arm was pretty much useless, but he was determined to kill the wolf. Its sword dropped into the grass, but it snarled in reply to Lucied and charged him with his left fist balled. Lucied dodged to the right and caught the hit on his flank, but he also sank his teeth into the goblins neck. The force hitting him from the left only gave him more momentum to tear the flesh. Blood gushed from the goblin’s neck into Lucied’s coat and it fell heavily to the ground.

    With a sneeze to clear the blood from his nose, Lucied bolted toward Mia. She was nearly done with the last of the five. It was distracted from the spear sticking out of its eye socket and was trying to pull it out, but the blade seemed to be caught in the bone of his eye socket. It did manage to break off the spear shaft, but Mia came running at it and jumped into the air, landing a solid kick to its face in mid-air, jamming the blade into its brain. The goblin’s arms fell limp and it wobbled for a moment before crumbling to the ground with a couple twitches.

    Lucied stopped in mid run and looked at Mia for instructions. With a hand feeling her ribs, Mia nodded toward Aiyanna, then trotted to the sorceress. It was their job to protect her after all.

* * *

    Veriss’s area of battle, on her own to the side where a mass of goblins had come in a hope to catch everyone else off guard left her being a wall. The ground around her was crimson with blood, as was the titan-like woman’s body and face. The blood wasn’t only theirs, but some of it was her own. A puncture wound in her shoulder sent spikes of pain across her. With only her weaker arm at full ability, she resorted to keeping her blade moving and keeping the momentum up in the hopes of only needing to use one arm at a time for her massive blade. Even trained goblins found it hard to get in through her almost graceful sword swinging technique as the sharp blade sliced through everything in sight. Veriss’ heartless face only watched for more targets as she moved slowly around the area, taking down goblin after goblin. Veriss was getting tired, however. The effort required to keep a constant motion so long and the muscle required to push through living bodies was tremendous and even her well toned body was having trouble keeping up.

    Veriss switched her massive blade to her left hand, continuing the slaughter she was creating. The main of the goblin throng was around Veriss, trying to take the juggernaut down. With each passing death, a goblin found a way to get in and hit her. Many of the hits were protected against by her armor, but a deep gash in her leg was created by one goblin looking to drop her and have the others swarm. It was a failed attempt, but it was almost cut to the bone. Blood spurted and splattered along the path Veriss made through them until their numbers began to thin. She finally stopped her desperate technique to hold against so many and she struggled to pull the massive blade up in front of her with one arm solidly. She finally grasped it with both hands and went into battle once more against them one by one.

    By the time Veriss was prepared, the rest of the goblins were prepared and were leaping on top of her, ready to cut her throat and other major organs. Veriss was swallowed up instantly in the ambush attack. When all seemed lost, her sword pierced through a body on the top. Suddenly, Veriss burst into a standing position throwing a number of goblins off, some dead and some alive. She flipped her sword down and ran through one hanging on to her ankle and kicked it away. She swung her sword back up, panting. Her face was ripped up and there were slight cuts on her neck where they had tried to slit her. By this time, it appeared as if Veriss’s armor had been painted the color of blood as had her hair. What was left of the goblins that had come to fight Veriss were retreating or moving back into the forest to meet up with others or jump in where the others were. Veriss didn’t care. Veriss turned and surveyed the battle scene, looking for a place to go.

* * *

    Even two on one the boys had no easy challenge with the goblin. Except for Ungar he was the largest and could by far overpower either of the boys on their own. But they weren’t.

    Nessa and Jonas were lifelong friends, in life as well as battle they looked after each other. As soon as the goblin gained the upper hand on one he was forced to switch, and when he successfully defended from one he was cut by the other. They may not have had great skill, but they had each other. But even so it was a hard duel, the boys regrouped as the gasped for breath, while the goblin stood tall and hid his pain well.

    “What do you think?” Nessa asked as he scanned the creature.

    Jonas took a sideways glance and replied “I think he’s too heavy. I’ll go left, you go right?”

    Nessa nodded at the plan and flanked to the goblin’s side while Jonas did the same. The idea was to have Nessa draw an attack while Jonas hit the goblin at his shield arm, hopefully leaving the arm useless and cutting down the goblin’s defensive abilities. But unfortunately it didn’t quite work out that way.

    Nessa locked swords with the creature but he was somehow still mindful of Jonas at that moment. Without taking his eyes off Nessa the goblin raised his shield to block Jonas’ strike. He then swept Nessa’s sword with enough force to leave him wide open. Though unarmed, Nessa was too close to the goblin to be slashed, instead the boy received a punch to the head so forceful that it sent him crashing to the ground.

    It was easily the hardest blow he had ever taken, he felt dizzy and disoriented, with no idea which way was up. He struggled to stay conscious and he knew he would throw up at any moment. He managed to get on his hands and knees and saw Jonas fighting the monster alone and with only a short sword. The boy tried to get to his weapon but his depth perception had suffered, one second it appeared right in front of him and the next it appeared ten yards away, the very land seemed to be dancing.

    Meanwhile Jonas struggled to keep the goblin at bay, at this point he had little hope of killing it, he was simply trying to stay alive. But finally he made a slip in his defense, the goblin made a deep slash at Jonas’ shoulder. The young man howled in pain as his sword arm became useless.

    And then everything had suddenly gotten quiet, the pain ceased and in fact he didn’t seem to feel anything at all. He looked to Nessa who was watching him from the ground with horror, and then he looked down to see the goblin’s sword impaled into his chest. The boy fell back as the world turned pitch dark around him.

    Mia’s attention was immediately drawn to the boys when she heard someone scream in pain. She watch slack jawed as Jonas fell with the goblin sword through his chest. Nessa was on the ground, but she couldn’t tell what condition he was in. Mia drew one of her daggers and hurled it at the goblin. With elven speed and accuracy, the blade embedded itself in the goblin’s neck.

    As Nessa watched his best friend die, a swell of rage boiled deep withing the boy. In that instant he felt hatred as he had never felt before, he felt a moment of pure spite for the hideous creature before him. But more than anything he felt the desire to kill.

    Nessa picked up his sword and got back on his feet, an act he thought impossible a moment ago but his hatred seemed to far surpass his pain. The boy then released a hellish war cry and charged the goblin, but he had barely gotten one stride before a dagger was launched from where Mia was. The blade deeply embedded itself into the goblin’s throat and cut off his windpipe. The goblin dropped his sword and clenched his throat as he gasped for air. Nessa stopped in surprise and saw that the beast was already defeated, killing him at that point would only end his misery faster. Now the worst he could possibly do was let the creature die slowly.

    “Dammit.” Nessa whispered in too quiet a voice for any to hear. He had been cheated of his revenge, the one thing that would have given him a measure of solace for the murder of his friend. The boy then stormed into the bulk of the skirmish for another fight, leaving Jonas’ body on the field as he sought to quench his newfound blood lust.

    “Oh Falis! Don’t tell me he had been possessed by a Hyuri spirit!” Aiyanna yelled as she looked at the young man who went into a frenzy avenging his dead best friend. She started to run towards the dead body of Jonas, she had to protect it so it could be buried with respect. She had seen her mother and her teacher die in horrific spells as victims in a struggle for power. She had made a promise that she would avenge them, but she did not allow blood lust to take her over. Still, she had killed the murderers of her mother and teacher. She was fourteen when she did it and she finally found out that same two people had killed her master, who died when she was eleven years old, and her mother. She could still remember her eyes widening in shock when she went to surprise her teacher, because for once he was late. But when she opened his door, the room was awash with blood. His heart was pinned neatly next to his headless body, that had been maimed badly. She screamed and screamed, his heart was still slowly beating, in its last phase of life. His body, cut almost so badly that it might as well have been shredded paper was pinned with his own weapons to his bedroom wall.

    Aiyanna reached Jonas and with all the magic and physical strength she could muster, lifted him and rolled him over to more secluded area. She had to kill the leaders, or at least help kill them. Goblins would scatter without a leader. So how could she help Mia or the dwarf to defeat the shaman and the leader?

* * *

    Song headed down the road looking ahead. Lazorus followed slowly behind with a remotely annoyed look. “We’re not lost,” she said, turning off the road after hearing a commotion. “Wonder what’s going on over...?” she looked on to see a band of mismatched persons fighting a horde of goblins. “Well that looks promising,” she said not really having any intention of going to help them. Lazorus spread his wings out, ready to fly, and looked over at her. “Yes, I really am this shallow. Look, they seem to be handling themselves quite nicely, and we shouldn’t get into any fights unless asked. For all we know, this could be some kind of training. No, we’ll watch and wait to see if they need our help, and if they do, we shall join, if not we shall watch.” Her pegasus looked ready to charge, she stood there looking at her nails, then glancing back towards the fight. She didn’t want to get into a fight if she had no reason to be in one.

    Four goblins surrounded Lucied as they devised a strategy to take down the persistent beast. They had hunted wolves before but this one seemed to be trained for combat. A goblin with a tattered cloth over its left eye noticed that large sword managed to kill one of the human pups, he was pleased they were finally able to kill one of their opponents. But he then saw large sword killed by that rotten elf wench.

    The one eye grunted in frustration and in a rare moment he began to question Ungar’s decision to attack such a well armed group. He then noticed yet another tall one observing in the distance, a scout perhaps? On who could find more to bring the goblins trouble.

    The one eye then shouted in his own language and pointed at two of the goblins. “Kurchanleth! Ecta nasarra veshnof, kearctnes!”

    Instantly the two scouts broke off away from Lucied and advanced towards Song.

    “Yeah, I do suppose we could set up camp somewhere around here,” Song said to Lazorus not really paying attention to the fight until an ax came inches from her face. “Oh no!” she said, looking at the two goblins who appeared ready to kill her. Song quickly moved backwards.

    “Well that was close,” she said to herself. “Guess the fight has been...” before she could get a chance to finish what she was saying, the second goblin pounced at her. She managed to get her sword away from her belt, with less grace then she wanted. One of the goblins had apparently decided to go after Lazorus. He can handle himself, she thought, deciding to take the one who was pouncing at her. She swung her sword in hopes to make contact with the creatures head. Unfortunately, she underestimated the goblin.

    “I thought your kind was supposed to be stupid,” she said, looking at the creature as it again swung at her. She blocked it, realizing the creature was again stronger then she had perceived. The creature yelled at her in its own tongue. She decided to respond, the creature appeared to be getting annoyed with all her chattering, so she would talk some more. “Well, one thing I was told about you was right, you are quite ugly.”

    The creature seemed to get a small understanding of what she had said, and went at her full force, she moved out of the way just in time, but not with out being cut. She made one quick movement around, stabbing the creature in the back. She quickly pulled her sword out, then went back to watching the fight, she didn’t even make sure to check if the creature was dead or not. Lazorus walked back looking particularly proud of himself.

    Lucied snarled and bristled as he was surrounded. He wasn’t sure if he could take four alone, however, to his surprise, two separated and headed into the bush. Lucied sniffed the air and caught the scent of elf, though it seemed to be combined with human scent. A half-breed. He could smell a horse as well. Another was here. But that wasn’t his concern at the moment.

    Lucied crouched down and debated his next move. The one-eyed goblin swung at him, and the wolf darted to the side. One eye’s blade swung through the air and a crude mace from the other goblin crashed into the ground where he had been. The second one was weaker, it would be best to get that one out of the way first. Lucied dashed around behind one-eye, then behind the second goblin. The wolf sunk his teeth in behind the goblin’s knee and ripped out a mouthful of foul flesh. The goblin screamed and fell to the ground. Lucied trotted out of range of one-eye and spat out the goblin flesh.

    The one-eyed goblin stalked toward Lucied, tense and ready to defend himself. He stepped over his fallen comrade as if he weren’t even there, howling in pain on the ground. Lucied snarled and crouched close to the ground, ready to dart in either direction to dodge an attack.

    One-eye swung, and Lucied darted to the side, but the goblin was only feinting and then swung to follow the wolf. The blade caught the side of Lucied’s face, leaving a gash from under his jaw and up his cheek. The wolf yelped and leapt further back, only to leap forward again to go for the goblin’s arm...

    Song listened watching the fight, not really caring all that much. She watched the wolf, when she heard him yelp, she felt angry. She jumped onto Lazorus’s back. “We fight,” she said, grabbing her sword from her holster, and heading into the fray. She rode at a quick pace, her sword out going for the goblins free arm, in hopes of slicing it off. It probably wasn’t going to work, but she might as well try. Dumb goblin for injuring an innocent animal!

    The pegasus and half-elf bursting from the woods was enough to have the one-eyed goblin staring in shock long enough for Lucied to sink his teeth into one arm. Song’s attack caught the other arm, though she didn’t dismember the goblin, his arm was mangled beyond all use and he was thrown to the ground. Lucied wasted no time in ripping out his throat.

    With the final goblin of the four finished off, Lucied looked up at his benefactors coolly, though rank goblin blood soaked his muzzle. His eyes met Song’s and a feeling of gratitude passed to her through her elven empathy.

    Song noticed the wolf’s gratitude and smiled. Now it was time to check her dismembered goblin. She first decided to return the wolf’s gratitude. Which she thought was really cute.“You’re welcome,” Song said, jumping down off Lazorus. She searched the remains of the goblin for anything off use, finding nothing. “It was a dud Lazorus...Oh well at least we got to save a cute wolf,” she said said reaching out to pet the creature.

    Aiyanna looked at the deep wound she received on casting her last spell. Nothing too grievous, she would live. But then, she realized there was still the Shaman to deal with. Was Mia dealing with it? Her mana was depleted due to the demanding spells she had been casting in such a short amount of time. Aiyanna then cast a protective circle and rummaged through her small waist bag to take out a small green bottle and tip a drop of strange reddish looking liquid onto the deep wound. It stopped the bleeding but didn’t close it. Aiyanna winced as the pain didn’t subside still. She wasn’t still good enough in healing magic. “Damn it...”

    Rage swept over Nessa like a tidal wave, causing him to lose all rational thought, his one objective was to kill something, anything. He would have rather killed the goblin that murdered Jonas, but Mia effortlessly ended him with a well aimed dagger. In doing so she probably saved his life, but he hated to admit that he felt no gratitude. Nessa felt only a deep frustration for being denied of his revenge.

    The boy then challenged one of the weaker scouts and swung furiously at the goblin. His strikes were clumsy to say the least, but they were fast as well as powerful. The goblin only managed to defend himself for a few moments before being forced off-balance and then cut down soon after. Nessa collapsed to his knees and gasped for breath having expended far too much energy with unnecessary motion. But he felt better having vented some of his anger, now he was able to focus.

    He noticed Aiyanna was wounded and exposed, he then remembered the reason he was there in the first place. Their mission was to guard her, and if they failed then all the blood spilled that day would have been even more pointless. The boy picked himself up and rushed to Aiyanna, though tired he was determined to last longer than the goblins.

    Aiyanna leapt up at sound of something towards her and fell into a defensive position. Then, she realized it was only Nessa but didn’t drop her magical shield, in case he was possessed by a Hyuri spirit. The Hyuri spirit didn’t care who was killed long as its blood lust was satisfied. “Nessa? Is it you or the Hyuri spirit?” Aiyanna asked carefully, hoping the young man was really back to himself.

    Nessa might have been close to the edge of losing himself, but apparently Hyuri was uninterested in him. Perhaps there were no Hyuri spirits nearby (aside from the one occupying Veriss). Or maybe they had better candidates, Lodoss was a war torn land, there were many more enraged souls to choose from. Either way Nessa seemed to retain mind and soul. “What’s a hurrey?” The boy asked knowing nothing of the rage spirit. He then ignored the statement to address her concern. “I’m fine, just needed to blow off some steam.”

    Aiyanna sighed and motioned for him to come close, “Let me stop that bleeding at least. And a Hyuri spirit if a spirit of rage. It possesses people who become enraged and drives to seek revenge. They allow one to fight on, even if they have grave body damage. They, in the end, kill their host.” Aiyanna fished out the small green bottle again. “Do you want to bleed to death before having to fight again? Hurry, there are more of them to fight.”

    Nessa approached Aiyanna and allowed her to heal him. While she did he mulled over the idea of being possessed by a Hyuri spirit. Except for the last part it sounded like a good deal, instant power and the ability to fight even when heavily wounded. But only at the cost of one’s life, everything has a price.

    Nessa’s wound closed and stopped bleeding, since they weren’t deep wounds, the skin healed on the outside at least. Though, to Nessa, the wounds would still hurt, but the pain was bearable. “Come on, we should help Veriss, stick close to me. I don’t want to die yet and neither do you. So stick together.”

* * *

    Close by Aiyanna, Veriss had hacked down a goblin, his hand falling on her leg as streams of his blood flowed onto the ground. Veriss’ face and body was covered in blood, some of which was her own. She retained the stoic expression that she had almost always as she turned to attack another. Off to the side some, she saw the shaman moving for an attack on Mia. She decided that Mia was quite capable, but noted to keep an eye on her. If trouble was to arise, Veriss would make way to strike the shaman herself. In the meantime, the remaining goblins were her target...

    Veriss’ heavy blade came down onto a running goblin, dropping to the ground. The massive warrioress watched their hasty retreat silently. Her shoulder had been stabbed into, but the pain was secondary to her. Her armor made her limber, but it also left parts of her exposed. As she made sure no more goblins had stayed to attack again, she pulled the thick blade up with one arm and carefully put the sword back in its sheath. The sword itself was the color of goblin blood instead of the bright silver color it once was. She, too, was colored as such. Veriss appeared to have gone against an army alone and survived. Numerous splatters of blood covered her body and her hair. Her muscles bulged from severe stress and ached from activity. Only one thing seemed to have not changed about her. The expression on her face and the empty eyes within it that was the same as if she had been sitting around the mercenary guild before she left.

    They should have retreated much earlier. They could have avoided such a major loss of numbers. Veriss swallowed, although her mouth was dry. She could taste the flavor of blood in her mouth. It was bitter... Veriss glanced at her punctured shoulder for a second, and then paid it no mind. It didn’t hurt as much as it looked.

* * *

    Once the spell had done its job the old shaman had no need to stay on the hill. Slowly the old goblin raised his staff and chanted to the wind spirits. His frail body was soon locked into an envelope of swirling air currents strong enough to lift him from the ground and carry him to the battle field. It wasn’t long before he chose his opponent, the elf who was the only one who could offer a challenge. None but the sturdiest blade could pierce his cocoon of wind, and only she could stir excitement into his blood.

    The other goblins jumped out of the way, not daring to stand between the elder and his prey. He didn’t directly challenge Mia, instead he opted to let his actions speak for him as he directed his staff at her and weaved the incantation for an earth spell. Within moments sharp stalagmites shot up from the underground network of caves beneath them, aimed to impale Mia.

    “Hyuri possessions are rare,” Mia mentioned off handedly to Aiyanna just before the ground erupted beneath her. However, she had felt the summoning of earth spirits and knew that some how that element would be used against her. Her elven speed and agility allowed her to avoid the stalagmites, but once they had all risen to the ground, Mia used them to gain a better vantage. She could see the air spirits protecting the shaman as a shield, she couldn’t be sure of just how strong it was, but from this distance, it was best to have a battle of spirits.

    “Valkyrie, great spirit of light, answer my call and blind my enemy!” Mia called, and a brilliant light flashed in front of the goblin shaman. Then, as a stark contrast, she called to Fetch. “Spirits of darkness, drain the strength of my enemy!”

    The old shaman howled in pain as his nocturnal vision was blinded by the punishing light, so much so that that he wasn’t able to react to the second spell until it was too late. Strength was sapped from the goblin’s already frail body as he had to lean on his staff just to stay on his feet.

    The shaman felt intrigued more than threatened that Mia was able to use two opposing elements so close to one another. With some of his precious remaining energy the shaman beckoned the wind spirits around him to support the brunt of his weight.

    “Gugh chea nav.” he uttered under his breath, roughly translating to ‘defend yourself’. He then unleashed a volley of wind gusts on Mia from all directions, they were short but near hurricane force that could easily push her into one of the surrounding stalagmites.

    The gust of wind knocked Mia off her perch and slammed her face first into another stalagmite, and when she fell, she lodged her hips securely between two others. Dazed from the blow to her head, Mia had to take a moment to gather her wits enough to cast another spell. Apparently, he was too drained to cast more spells since one gust of wind was all he could muster. “Let’s see how you like it,” Mia murmured.

    “Spirits of the earth, thrust your spears at my enemy!” Mia called. Her spell was the same the shaman initially cast at her, thrusting stalagmites up through the ground.

    The old shaman felt his own spell being returned to him, but was still being weighed down somewhat by Mia’s spell. The goblin had a vague prediction of where the stalagmites would aim and asked the wind spirits to carry him. Ancient rock formations shot up from the ground and with is limited maneuverability he managed to dodge all but the last. The sharp stalagmite penetrated his air shield and tore deep at his side, leaving an open gash that no priest could fully heal. Shock and pain ripped though the goblin’s body as he clenched his torso in vain to stop the bleeding. With the pain he could no longer keep his concentration with the wind spirits, which dropped him to the ground helpless. Perhaps it was luck, or maybe his arrogance that brought this to him. He had defeated elves before, many of them older than his foe. But that WAS a long time ago, he was ancient by goblin standards and already he should have died a hundred times over by now. With the last reserve of his strength the shaman lifted himself back on his feet, choking on his own blood as he leaned on his staff. “{Go on, elf wench,}” he grunted in his native tongue. “{End me in the glory of war.}”

    Mia staggered out of the maze of stalagmites with her hand over the side of her face that was smashed into one of the mineral deposits. She could feel that one of her eyebrow scars had split from the impact and was bleeding. She approached the shaman, weakened and wounded, leaning on his staff. He spoke, but she never cared to learn goblin. Mia drew her remaining dagger, then darted at the goblin. She kicked his legs out from under him, as well as his staff. Though, being wounded, she couldn’t land properly, but she was back on her feet instantly and grabbed the shaman by the front of his robes to pull him up, then slashed his throat. Like so much rubbish, she dropped his body to the ground and let him bleed out as she strode back to her company, limping slightly.

* * *

    As Dralock skidded to a halt, he found himself next to a goblin body. A dagger was sticking out of it. Dralock grabbed the dagger and threw it at his opponent. It was a wild throw, but it did the trick; the blade just missed the goblin’s hand, but managed to slice the tendons of his wrist as it passed.

    The Goblin Lord then pulled out a sword and wielded it in its off hand. Dralock stood and attacked. Swinging with his Axe, the Goblin Lord parried his blows well, despite being disadvantaged. for two minutes the fought like that, though it seamed like hours. Then the goblin slashed at Dralock and the dwarf hooked the blade in the top of his ax between the blades, and spun the ax in his hands. The result was the sword being torn from the goblins hand ans tossed away, leaving him weaponless. Without waiting, Dralock swung the ax and connected.

    The Goblin Lord looked down to see the ax five inches into his chest. He was dead, and he knew it. Given just another split second Ungar would have reached for the dagger at his belt and launched it at Dralock’s eye, but that time was not available to him. Cold steel entered the goblin’s flesh and pierced his heart and lungs. No magic or medicine could save him at that point. The goblin lord backed away as the ax was pulled from his chest and soon after he collapsed to his knees. He could have made a desperate attack, perhaps with his last breath he might have even been able to kill his murderer. Instead he used the final reserves of his strength for something far more important.

    “D-Die...Fffree....” he choked in the human tongue just before he fell to the ground. It was his legacy, his entire life summed into a single phrase. Weather the dwarf understood it or not, with two words he told the story of how he broke from the enthrallment of the demon sword and led his people to free will, if not prosperity. It was a gift, one so sacred that it could never be fully understood. Soon after the wind of his lungs left him for the final time and resonated to the surviving goblins. Instantly they all knew that their leader, comrade, and brother had fallen. They knew that Ungar of the Scarfoot clan was dead.

    The death of Ungar resonated among the survivors mere moments before the old shaman was slain. Without their leader the few that remained had little taste for fighting and cautiously shied away from their enemies. Though they would mourn the passing of their fallen, they died honorable deaths in the eyes of their comrades, spared from a shameful end of starvation or being hunted down in the foreign land. Ungar, the shaman, one eye, and large sword were the strongest, now dead along with several of the solders. All that remained were a small handful of wounded grunts and scouts that would stand no chance against an enemy which suffered the loss of only one. They would fight no more, by then it would only be a pointless slaughter.

    One by one they dropped their weapons and limped away from the field of battle. One by one they realized what Ungar knew all along, that they were Marmo’s children no more. The holy sword of conquest, the seducing blade had truly and forever left them to their own survival. It had left them solders with no battle to fight. Warriors with nothing to die for save a pitiful skirmish on the outskirts of Alan. Perhaps they would be accepted into a wild pack of goblins, perhaps they could forget the taste of human meat. And perhaps they could at last know what it would be like to be free of someone else’s cause....perhaps.

* * *

    Aiyanna panted and leaned on her staff heavily, due to huge loss mana from all the spells she had cast. She saw Nessa and Mia gathering and Veriss was standing by also. “Thank the gods you guys were here, I couldn’t have defeated them myself. Mia, let me at least stop the bleedings and close the cuts. I don’t have enough magic to do complete healing. We also need to give an honorable funeral to Jonas. Where is Sir Dralock?” With that Aiyanna looked around for the dwarf.

    Mia waved dismissively to Aiyanna. “Don’t waste your energy, I’ve had worse,” Mia told her, refusing her healing. Mia turned her eyes to Veriss, finding herself more at ease with the berserker. She kept herself under control during the battle and still plowed through the goblins. The warrior had the wounds to show for it, but she seemed unaware yet still quite in control of herself.

    Veriss was painted. She was painted with the crimsons of war, wearing them as a proud warrior would. Her giant blade was replaced in her sheath. Sweat swirled into the blood, making her one big mess. Off to the side, where the blunt of the attack had come from, dead goblins and parts of them lay in a mess on the once calm grass. Even her hair had blood in between the strands. Her metal no longer glinted in the light. It was near impossible to tell wound from enemy blood splatter. She slowed her breathing, letting her muscles relax. She said nothing to the others, and did not move far. Instead, she watched the tree lines...

* * *

    Lucied gratefully accepted the petting, his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth while he pressed his head into the half-elf’s palm. He enjoyed the attention of females, they were always willing to pet him. After a moment of friendly petting and scratching, the wolf glanced toward Mia and her companions, then at Song, curious as to if she’d want to join them.

    Song was happy he let her pet him. She looked over at the others, wondering if they were going to invite her. She also wondered what they were doing out here. None of her business so she decided not to question, she would introduce herself if asked, otherwise she planned on staring and just watching. She continued to pet Lucied.

* * *

    The giant woman sighed a tired breath. A sharp twang of pain echoed from her shoulder, and the many slashes throbbed. But she paid them no mind. Her face did not register pain. Pain had become a secondary sensual situation for her. Her constant training and meditation taught her how to focus in a way that put pain aside. She did this, as she always did. She walked as if she was uninjured and acted that way as well. No one could really see any of her wounds. Everything just melded into the goblin blood and dirt and battle-scarred armor. She watched them escape, keeping her eye out for any more retaliatory actions, such as an arrow shot for revenge. She saw none. They were truly fearful of the group. She just nodded, accepting the victory of her side.

    Veriss slowly picked up their fallen comrade in her arms. He was small and light compared to her, and it was an easy task for her, despite her current work out. She looked at the dead body, ripped up by blade and anger. She nodded to him in respect, then carried him to where the others were gathering. “We should conduct a warrior’s burial,” Veriss said simply.

    Nessa sheathed his sword as he watched the remaining goblins leave the battle field. He wanted to go after them, to finish him off but it would do no good. He was exhausted and beaten despite Aiyanna’s healing spell, plus killing them would be pointless since they were already retreating. Nessa had no more stomach for fighting. He then saw Veriss carry the body of his best friend, and with the fighting over he at last realized the full weight of the fact that Jonas was gone. No more sparring matches, no more pranks, no more childish games. He was right, there are worse things than being a commoner.

    Veriss then suggested a warriors burial, but that didn’t sound right to him. They weren’t heroes or destined ones, they were children playing a stupid game and for it Jonas died. “He wasn’t a warrior.” Nessa corrected somberly “He was just a kid.”

    Dralock watched as the remaining goblins fled into the hills. Then he turned his attention to the group and their injuries. Mia was bleeding from a good knock to the head, Veriss had cuts everywhere and didn’t seem to notice, Aiyanna looked exhausted, and Nessa’s injuries seemed more of the heart than of the body. And they had lost one of their number. Jonas was dead.

    Dralock put his hand on Nessa’s shoulder. “That he may have been,” he told the youth, “but he has died the death of an honorable warrior. Jonas gave his life defending others,” he looked into Nessa’s face, “defending those he cared for, and as such deserves our respect.”

    “Dralock is correct,” Veriss said. “It is today that Jonas had become a warrior. He died in battle against his foe and showed bravery beyond the call of duty. He deserves no less than a hero’s burial.”

    After her brief inspection of Veriss, Mia turned her attention to the more pressing matter. She went to Nessa’s side and place a hand on his other shoulder. “You can turn back home if you want, I won’t think any less of you if you do,” she said softly. “Jonas deserves a proper burial and it might be best to take him home.” It was only a suggestion, she felt that Nessa was much more determined to become a warrior, but she didn’t want to have another child’s death under her leadership.

    Aiyanna nodded, “I agree, I will help in anyway I can. And Veriss, let me look at your wounds as well.” Aiyanna hovered her hand over Jonas’s dead body and dropped few droplets of the healing potion over his wounds. Jonas looked peaceful, especially cleared of battle wounds. Aiyanna then turned to Veriss and did the same, though the pain did not subside totally, it closed the wounds and stopped the bleeding.

    “They do not need—” Veriss stopped, because Aiyanna was already doing it. Veriss did not use healing equipment. She preferred a natural healing. Any scars that resulted were memoirs of past victories and defeats. But she did not attempt to shove Aiyanna away. Instead, she just nodded to the sorceress. “I believe he should be buried here. This is where he became a true warrior. This is where he fought his greatest battle.”

    “I suppose...” Nessa said at the arguments that Jonas had become a warrior. His was a senseless death but he showed the type of bravery most wouldn’t in that situation. He then heard Mia suggest that he return, but there was no chance in that. Nessa resolved to walk down that path even if it meant walking alone. “No, I had a contract and I intend to honor it. I’ll bury him here and send his wages back to his family.”

    Veriss nodded. “It is settled. Do you wish help digging his grave?”

    Aiyanna sat down in exhaustion, it had been sometime since she used all of her mana in a short, but furious battle. “I think we should give him a blessing. I will do it since there is no priest to do it. If you people don’t mind. Nessa, maybe you want to add something to that blessing?”Aiyanna shifted on her folded legs.

    Mia gave Nessa a curt nod in reply. She was merely suggesting the option after all. Mia looked at Jonas’s body. She didn’t see any point in healing his wounds, his body wasn’t going to be looking so pretty in a few weeks besides. That potion that Aiyanna had used should have been reserved for the living, Mia hadn’t seen healing potions before, so it was probably some new human creation.

    “You should save that for times when its more necessary. Trekking through the mountains isn’t exactly a stroll through the market,” Mia told Aiyanna. “Does anyone have a shovel? I can merely summon gnome to do the job,” Mia added. As she talked, her mind wandered to Lucied. He wasn’t too far away, it seemed as if he had met someone friendly, Mia got the sense of another elf.

    Dralock looked around and found an appropriate spot. Then he walked over to it and placed his ax blade to the ground at an angle, with one hand on the handle. He pushed on it with his foot near the blade, then pushed on the other blade with the same foot, as though it were a lever. It dug up a surprising amount of dirt. Within minutes he was digging away with his ax as efficiently as with a shovel. As he worked, he softly chanted an old funeral hymn.

    “I suppose you are right Mia, but..maybe its just the habit. When my teacher died...I couldn’t let him be buried without his heart or his head. I persuaded master healers to at least sew it all back together and heal his skin which was so badly slashed, that it was beyond recognition. I guess I am still inexperienced in ways of the world.”Aiyanna said as she started to hum a verse in Kastuulian. It was short ritual for honoring the soul of the dead. Aiyanna wearily leaned on her staff. “Nessa, would like a word to honor your friend?” Aiyanna looked at him carefully, she didn’t want Nessa to get sudden surge of emotions again, that may unbalance him.

    Veriss looked to Mia. “Digging a warrior’s grave must come from the sweat and muscle of their companions...” she said, nodding to Dralock who had already begun. Veriss was thinking of going to help Dralock, but she figured that his corpse should be elevated while their makeshift funeral had begun. She moved one of her giant hands to hold his head up. Her face, unlike the others, had no pain for this man. She had no sorrow for the loss. All she knew was that he was an honorable man, and she respected it. She had seen many get slaughtered and many funerals. Even if she could feel loss, she wouldn’t have been effected. Death was a part of war. It had to be accepted. She thought that they shouldn’t hang around forever.

    Nessa never had a tongue for prayer, nor could he think of anything worth saying. The whole ordeal left him numb, confused, sad, and angry all at the same time. And all the while the words repeated over and over in his head that Jonas was dead. It was more than Nessa could handle, he needed something else to focus on for a moment.

    “No thank you, I think I’ll just help Dralock.” he replied. And with that Nessa calmly pulled a small shovel from his travel pack and went over to the digging site.

* * *

    Lucied pulled away from Song and trotted closer to the group, pausing to glance over his shoulder expectantly. The group was focused on the fallen human male for the moment and didn’t seem to be paying attention to the girl and her pegasus.

    Song wondered if she was right to intrude, because the people were apparently burying someone. She realized attempting to sell them something was pointless also. She might as well pay a remote respect, she followed after Lucied. She kept quiet though, unsure of the people. Lazorus followed right beside her.

    Veriss’ senses prickled. Suddenly, she lowered Jonas to the ground. Without a word, she turned around to the approaching person. An overworked arm swung around her side and a stretched hand grasped her sword. She did not know who this newcomer was. She did not know her purpose. She had heard of thieves that took advantage of people that had gone through raids like theirs. They would infiltrate, kill, and steal from them in their weakened form, making an easy job. Veriss did not give anyone the benefit of the doubt.

    “State your name and purpose here!” Veriss called in her monotone, authoritarian voice. Veriss took note of the creatures with them. One of them could be this Lucied that Mia had spoke of, but she knew nothing of it. The other was never mentioned, and led her to trust this person all the less.

    Mia watched Nessa and Dralock for a moment as they diligently dug Jonas’s grave. She could feel Lucied’s presence coming near with others. Mia turned to see who was coming with her wolf friend. She was quite surprised to see a fair half-elven girl and a pegasus following Lucied.

    Veriss very nearly attacked the girl. Mia limped over to the warrior and placed her hand on Veriss’s much larger arm. “I don’t think this one is much of a threat,” Mia said, then approached Song. “Hello,” she offered a warm smile, though it was a touch painful where her face had been bruised. “I see you didn’t get to intimate with the goblins.”

    Lucied trotted to Mia, then sat beside the elf. She laid her hand on his head for a bit of support.

    Veriss did not lower her guard much. She did not trust this woman, no matter Mia’s blind trust. This woman had just appeared on the edge of battle, barely even willing to fight. She left her hand on her giant sword, but lost her stance. Who knew who this woman could be?

    “Well, that’s an awfully rude way to greet someone you just met,” Song said, looking at the woman who had, upon greeting her, swung her sword out towards her. “Well, first off my name is...” she could lie, lying was in her nature, but if she did lie she had the chance of loosing her head, there was more of them then her, so she decided to tell the truth. “My name is Song, and this is my noble Pegasus Lazorus. I was just walking along the pathway, and I heard a sound of battle, so I came to investigate. Then these two goblins decided to come and attack, I’m usually not the fighting type especially when I have no reason to fight, but they pulled me into the fight. After being through with the two of them, I planned on heading out. But I couldn’t let the poor wolf be hurt so I decided to stick around,” she said telling the woman the basic truth. She had told the truth for once, well it was a big step, probably wouldn’t last though.

    This woman has no respect for others, Veriss thought. It was a good way to greet people after a battle when you know not their allegiance. It was a safe and responsible way to greet strangers when you are hired as a bodyguard or you are in league with important people. She found herself questioning why this woman didn’t think it was necessary to be ready to be attacked when strangers come up. Thieves and cutthroats were rampant these days. Traveling was still dangerous in its own right.

    Veriss said nothing. She just turned away and walked slowly back to the body of their fallen comrade. She looked down at him for a moment, nodded to him, and sat down before him. She crossed her large legs and closed her eyes, beginning a meditation routine to hold back anger.

    “Veriss is right, she was doing her job and it’s an instinct to go on defensive when a stranger comes up. Not meaning to be rude, but you could have been a bandit or a thief,” Aiyanna said as she closed her fist as in response to the end of an ancient ritual. “There, his soul shall rest easy. It shall not wander lost or restless.” She looked at the new comer with inspective eyes. “I suppose not many animals will stick with you if you were that bad.”

    “I’m just a merchant passing by...or an aimless wanderer to some,” she said looking at Aiyanna. She did think the other woman was rude, then again the only warrior she had ever met was Alyr who had trained her, and what did he know. “I wasn’t trying to be rude, but where I am from it’s not normal to greet people by pointing a sword at them,” she said, seeing as how the other woman went to sit down and close her eyes.

    Mia trusted her instincts, as well as Lucied’s. Besides, with the way Song was dressed, she didn’t seem like a thief. “Well, thank you for helping Lucied out,” Mia replied, then reached out her hand to Song to shake. “I’m Mia. Where you headin’?”

    “Nowhere in particular. Lazorus and I just tend to go wherever the road leads,” she said smiling at Mia. This was the truth she really didn’t have an idea of where she was heading. She didn’t even know really where she was, of course she’d never admit to that. Lazorus looked about the place, he nudged Song. “So, why were you attacked by goblins?” she asked.

    “I don’t know, we were ambushed. It’s a bit concerning to see so many in broad daylight, but I’ll let the Alanian’s worry,” Mia replied. “We’re heading to Roid, if you want to follow the road there, you can stick with us. Safety in numbers after all,” Mia suggested to the half-elf.

    She was curious, half-elves were always intriguing to her, probably because she was interracial herself. Mia had also never seen a tame pegasus. However, if this girl accompanied them, the group would not wait for her if she lagged behind.

    “Sure we can come along,” Song said, she certainly didn’t want to find herself alone in case their were any more goblins. The group seemed interesting enough, and she could leave to do business in Roid. She didn’t have anywhere else to go, and this seemed like the best option, and she should take every opportunity offered.

    Veriss stayed motionless in a state of meditation amidst the blood and bodies of goblins. Her peace was remarkable, despite her obvious warrior-like nature and her current situation. Meanwhile, the gray work horse which she rode, Greysoul, walked into the opening, blood on his hooves. The horse may very well have met a goblin or two, but he showed no injuries. The horse strolled over to Veriss quietly, dropping his head into her relaxed arms. Slowly, her hands wrapped around his head and held it close. She felt no love for the horse, but the horse worried for her, she was sure. She held the horse for a moment, reassuring its worried eyes. Her hands fell away and the horse’s head rose again. Veriss stayed motionless for a moment longer before standing up, letting her armor shift and move back into each piece’s individual spot. The horse regarded her for a moment before going off to hunt for a patch of grass that was not crimson for a meal. Veriss simply walked over to the place she had started to unpack to trick the goblins and began to repack it. She gave no look to Mia, nor to the newcomer, whom she knew nothing of.

    “All right, but you’re only tagging along. Me and the others are protecting Lady Aiyanna,” Mia gestured to the sorceress. “And she wants to make it to Roid as quickly as possible. So we’re not going to wait up for you.”

    She glanced over her shoulder at Dralock and Nessa digging. “Before we continue, we have to take care of something first,” Mia said softly. She turned away from Song and walked to the cliff a ways from the road. Lucied followed her, ready to support her if she stumbled, though he was limping as well.

    Mia went to the cliff’s edge and looked over, searching with her sharper elven eyes for Jonas’s sword. When she spotted it, she spoke a small incantation to call sylph. The air spirits carried Jonas’s sword up to Mia, who then brought to the grave being dug. She laid it beside Jonas to be buried with him, or for someone else to decide what to do with it.

    Aiyanna did not object to it, after all as Mia said, there was safety in numbers. She still felt like a little kid with the strength she had left. She had to learn to control the amount she expended for her spells more efficiently sooner if this was going to be the case after a short battle. Aiyanna sat at a large stump and watched the rest of her group. Indeed, this road to Roid was turning out to be a quiet an adventure, especially with this mix of races.

    Dralock shoveled with Nessa for maybe twenty minutes, then arranged the boy’s body so that he was holding the sword hilt with the blade along his legs. Then he went over to Mia and asked, “Do you have strength enough for a spell to lower the boy gently into the grave?” he almost stumbled over the last word. Dralock had buried many comrades over the years, and it had never gotten any easier.

    Veriss approached the group ready to bury the newly named warrior. She stood tall, much like a soldier would. Both her hands went methodically to her sword, with her head looking down.

    Mia nodded to Dralock and knelt beside Jonas’s body, more to brace herself than anything. Lucied sat down beside her. She was physically exhausted, but the three-hundred plus year old elf still had plenty of spiritual energy. “Gnome, spirit of the earth, lend your strength. Carry my comrade into the earth,” Mia spoke. Roots slowly crawled out of the ground beneath Jonas’s body, then carried him into the grave, one set of vines handing his body off to another set until he rested on the bottom of his grave. The vines seemed to react to the somber mood and their movements were slow and gentle.

    “Cover him,” Mia said and slowly, the dug up earth tumbled into the grave, slow enough to allow Dralock and Nessa to help in covering him if they wished.

    Veriss drew her blade, holding it up over his grave in salute. Many burials of heroes had soldiers that held their swords over the grave. Veriss had been a part of just one, but she knew the conduct well enough. She looked up to the point of the sword instead of the grave.

    Nessa picked up the twin swords and placed them beside their wielder as he was slowly consumed by earth. It’s a rare practice among commoners, there’s usually not enough of anything to bury it with the body. But the blades belonged to him and with him they should remain. Within minutes the grave was filled, leaving a mound of dirt as the sole proof that Jonas ever existed. All that was left now was a final word.

    “When we were eleven I stole your rock candy, I convinced you it was that Jhareg boy and we went over to beat him him up. Then he gathered his brothers and beat us up, and then we gathered our brothers and so on back and fourth until every child in town was fighting. By then I was too scared to come clean so I swore that one of us would die before I told anyone.” And that was it, nothing left to do, nothing left to say. It was time to move on.

    Mia spoke one more spell over Jonas’s grave and the earth hardened so he couldn’t be dug up by wild animals. After that, she said a prayer to Marfa.

    Aiyanna slowly let her eyes wonder around then bowed her head in respect for Jonas. At least he had the courage and the bravery to fight instead of cowering. “Let’s get moving, I want all of us to get to Adan before nightfall,” Aiyanna said as she wearily got up from her slouching position and lifted her backpack. Using her staff as leaning stick, Aiyanna was ready to go.

    Veriss let her sword fall slowly, methodically. She swung it around, placing the tip to the opening of her sheath and letting the sword’s own weight bring it into its resting place. She turned away. “We should depart,” Veriss said, walking off to hook up the traveling equipment to her saddle. “Does anyone wish to ride?” she asked. “There is room for two...”

    “Let’s get going, shall we?” Song said to Lazorus, jumping up upon his back. She kept her mouth shut, avoiding Veriss. She knew someone had died, no idea who though. She was never one for giving regards or condolences, so she kept her mouth shut. She decided to stay behind everyone and out of the way.

    Awkwardly, Mia stood. Kneeling had allowed her wounds to relax and now that they were strained, it hurt. She only winced slightly, and though her pride forbid it, she considered riding Veriss’s horse. As she walked toward the road, she heard Aiyanna mention making Adan by night fall and Mia barked a sarcastic laugh, “We could only make Adan by nightfall if we all had pegasus,” Mia jerked her thumb toward Song and Lazorus. “We’ll make Novice by nightfall, and that’s pushing it.” The fact that Mia was uncomfortable was obvious in her remarks. She certainly hoped they could make it, there was a shrine to Marfa in Novice.

    Aiyanna nodded, long as it was a village with an inn or a temple she didn’t mind. “Then we should get moving right now. I am not sure if we get attacked again that I will have recovered enough to fight properly.” Aiyanna started walking again.

    “Aiyanna, you should ride Veriss’ horse,” Mia suggested as the sorceress started walking. “We both should,” Mia added, with a wince. It stung her pride to admit it, but limping along she would end up slowing everyone down.

    Aiyanna was tired, but didn’t really want to admit to a ride. But then, she couldn’t slow the whole party down either. “All right, I will ride until I get some of my mana back. Next time we stop, I am going to look at Mia’s wounds too.”

    Nessa almost took up Veriss’ offer for a ride, but then realized that aside from being exhausted he and Dralock seemed to be the least injured. Instead he simply secured his pack and stretched his legs in preparation for another long walk. He dared not look back at the grave of his friend, instead it seemed best to look forward.

    “The next time we stop I would ask a lesson in sword play if anyone were willing,” said Nessa. If there was one thing to be gained from the battle it was that it told him just how much and how little he knew of fighting. Whatever manner of luck that saw him through might not hold out the next time.

    Aiyanna turned Nessa, “I can teach you close combat but Veriss, Mia, or Dralock would be a better teacher for sword fighting.” Aiyanna walked to Greysoul, slouched from exhaustion, then climbed onto the big warhorse with some effort.

    Mia waited for Aiyanna mount and shook her head at the sorceress’s suggestion to Nessa. “No, swords aren’t my strong point, close range or spears are my specialty,” Mia corrected. Dralock used an ax, dwarves rarely used swords since the technique wasn’t very well suited to short, stocky bodies. Veriss was the swordswoman of the group. Once Aiyanna was in the saddle, Mia awkwardly pulled herself up as well and sat behind Aiyanna. With the adrenaline of the fight flushed from her system, she was feeling consistently worse as time went on. Healing would be appreciated, though sorcery could never heal as well as a cleric of Marfa.

    “You shall have it from me, if you wish. I am trained in the finer aspects of combat,” Veriss said, not really looking towards Nessa.

    Veriss shifted forward a bit to make room for the two of them. The Valisian warrioress had not expected two people to ride with her, but their lithe forms fit better than she had previously expected. She adjusted her large sword at her side to fit better. Veriss turned back, checking them over. “If all is well, I suggest we depart.”

    “I hope we can reach Novice by nightfall, I am not so keen on sleeping in the wild after that attack,” And to take Mia to a temple too. Aiyanna’s healing skills were limited to light injuries. She may stop the bleeding and close the wound but she couldn’t heal it totally like the priestesses of Marfa could. “Some of us need skills of a cleric of Marfa.” Aiyanna felt like sleeping right there and then but kept her eyes open long as she can.

« Previous Chapter | Next Chapter »

Chapter List | A New Balance Storyline

Community

Main
Forum
Site FAQ
Links

Series

Anime
Manga
Novels
Games
Music

RPG

Adventures in Lodoss
Storylines
Characters
Archives

Record of Lodoss War is © Ryo Mizuno, Group SNE, Kadokawa Shoten and all other applicable groups.
All artwork is © to the artist credited. All characters are © to their creator and/or player.