The Seven Slayers
I had originally started this story, but I decided to repost it after some editing. So, enjoy it and please review. Any suggestions, critisism or just "good job" is welcome. Again, enjoy
The Seven Slayers
Prologue
"Fate is a weird and wonderful thing. It does mysterious things, when ever it thinks necessary. It has away with dealing with things. For example, it was fate that allowed the death of the Prime Evils come to be. It was fate, which brought out a hero from nowhere to battle the evil when there seemed no hope left and it was fate that helped him succeed. Now, with Diablo, Mephisto and Baal all dead, the world is returning to normal. Demons still run across the land, but ultimately, the humans are winning the battle. The story that I'm about to tell, is a story of seven warriors, of seven classes and seven pasts. Unknown to them, fate has conspired to throw them together, and only by working as a team, may they overcome the looming threat"
Cylene sat in the tavern, with her untouched drink sitting on the wooden table in front of her. The tall amazon looked around at the empty room, where tables and chairs stood with no human, or even living, company. There was not a soul in sight and even though it was a small problem, Cylene had found it to be a little unsettling. She studied the room with her beautiful, emerald green eyes. She slowly took a sip of her drink as it was getting warmer by the second and the heat inside was just as bad as the desert beyond the town's wall. She turned as she felt a breeze hit her dark, blondish hair and noticed a barbarian male had walk through the door. She could tell immediately that he was a barbarian by his muscular build and the mean expression on his face, which made her wonder if he was here to cause trouble. Despite his intimidating appearance, his brown eyes told a different story; a story of loss. He seemed to had travelled to Lut Gholien to find something, an objective Cylene also had on her mind. She turned back to her drink as he walked across the room and began speaking to the woman known as Atma. Cylene felt sorry for the woman, as she had been here for eight days and had never seen Atma smile. It was as though the happiness had been completely drained from her. The barbarian began talking to Atma, and as he spoke, it looked as though all the blood had drained from her face. She signaled for the barbarian to go into her back room and they could talk some more.
"I don't know where she is Korlic," Atma told the barbarian as she closed the door behind her.
It wasn't the biggest room Korlic had seen; a bed, a table a chair with writing equipment and a stash against the wall which looked like it had been broken into lately. Korlic turned back to Atma as she explained that she hadn't seen his wife in two weeks.
"But she was living here last," Korlic queried.
"I know," Atma replied nervously. "But she took off one day and hasn't come back since."
Korlic had a strange feeling there was something Atma wasn't telling him something, but she's been a caring woman since he met her and if she's hiding something, it's to protect him. That's what scares him the most.
"Did she say anything before she left?"
"Just that she had some un-finished business."
"Un-finished business?"
"I'm sorry Korlic, but I cannot tell you more."
Korlic decided to drop it for now. Clearly there was something going on that she didn't want him to know. Atma and his wife were close friends and they told each other secrets that they wouldn't tell their husbands. Korlic looked at the desk, where an amulet lay. He picked it up.
"How are you Atma?" he randomly asked.
"I have my bad days," she said as she gentle took her son's amulet from Korlic. "but I'm pulling through. Hard to believe it's been two years since…since…"
"Since your husband and son made a sacrifice to save their people," Korlic finished. He knew she could never say they were murdered. It would have killed her to say the words aloud. "If you hear anything about…"
"I'll let you know," she answered as she walked out.
An hour past before the tavern had filled up. Korlic had sat near Cylene; his expression had changed from strong, independent barbarian to a depressed, lonely man.
"Cheer up;" she said to him, "It can't be that bad"
He looked up at her. "It is bad. My wife lived in this city, but Atma says she has been gone for a while and nobody has seen her."
"I know how you feel," the Amazon replied. "I'm looking for my father, and I don't even know what he looks like."
"I see we are both in the same predicament," the last word surprised Cylene. She didn't think barbarians were idiots, but it was no secret they had brawn over brains. She would assume he'd use the word problem or something similar to that. "My name is Korlic. May I have the honour of knowing yours?"
She smiled. "Of course you may. Cylene."
"What a beautiful name," he stated, grinning a bit. "You are an Amazon, correct?"
"Is it that obvious?"
As Korlic was about to reply, they both heard someone arguing outside. The one voice was clearly Atma's and the other sounded angry and rough and mean (very mean). The voices had gotten louder and without saying a word, Cylene and Korlic had left their seats to see what was happening. They both had been armed; Cylene, with a spear with a sharp point - as well as a bow around her body and quiver of sharp arrows - and Korlic with a huge two-handed axe. They exited the tavern together.
"Where is it?" a ruff looking man demanded, with an evil gleam in his eye. "Tell me or else…"
Korlic stepped between the man and Atma, "Or else what?"
The man and his two thugs backed away after noticing Cylene and Korlic were more than ready for a fight.
"Who the hell are you?" he snapped.
"He body guards," Cylene stepped forward. "And you are?"
He raised his arm which had a strange bracelet on it. "I'm a man you don't want to mess with."
"Want to bet?" Cylene readied her spear.
The man mumbled something and climbed onto his horse. "You better get it Atma!"
The man left as quickl as he had came, leaving the three standing outside.
"What did he want?" Korlic was curious.
"I… I can't tell you," Atma said. Her expression was worse than usual. She had turned pale as she quickly walked inside, leaving her heroes outside in the blazing sun.
"What's wrong with her?" Cylene asked, worried about the sad, lonely woman that had just left them.
Korlic looked at Cylene. "She lost her family to a terrible monster awhile back," he sighed, "and she has been this way ever since."
Cylene looked at the Atma with pity in her eyes. Cylene could not even imagine how that felt, as she never truly met her real family. As she began drifting into her memories, she was interrupted by Korlic, who said they should go inside.
Meanwhile… at the entrance of Lut Gholein
Kiera walked calmly into the town, all dressed in black, the sun on her like a leech, sucking her life out and the look on her face showed her discomfort. She checked her surroundings. As an assassin, she always had to know her surrounds, no matter the circumstances. Men stared as she walked past them. She was undoubtedly a naturally beautiful young woman. Her black long, smooth, black haired swayed left to right as her piercing blue eyes looked around at the people in the streets. Her eyes caught a boy being pulled by the two guards along with another trying to hold down a wolf and another being tortured by a crow. She found it amusing how the guards couldn't keep these animals down and, by the look on his face, so did the young boy. She also found it strange that guards were holding a mere child like a criminal and followed them as they were lead to the palace. The assassin thought about the stories of the palace, which stood in front of her. It was believed to be overrun by the evils of hell, but it seems that everything was normal, or at least returning to normal. But, everything was returning to normal after the death of the Prime Evils. Diablo, Mephisto and Baal all fell before the power of one hero. Ever since then, the world began transforming back to its peaceful state.
The boy was placed in front of a man. By the look of respect shown to him by the guards, it was safe to assume he ruled the city. "What is problem here?" the apparent ruler asked.
"This trouble maker," the guard grunted, referring to the boy, "was caught steeling from Lysander. He has stashed items and food worth fifty gold somewhere in the city."
"Do you know what the punishment for steeling in this city is?" the man asked the boy.
"Off with your hands!" the one guard excitedly butted in, drawing his blade.
"Slow down there," the assassin interrupted calmly.
"And you are?" the guard asked, agitated by the woman who approached them.
"That is not important," she replied fast, throwing a small bag at the one guard. "That should be enough to cover what the boy stole."
"Fine!" the ruler stated looking into the bag, and then at the woman's weapons. "Release the boy. And you, assassin, make sure the boy stays out of trouble."
The boy ran up to the assassin. He had such an innocent look on his face and eyes. He whistled to his angry wolf and crow, which obediently came over. The boy climbed onto the grey wolf as though it was horse, but it was not surprising, as the wolf was the biggest Kiera had ever set her eyes on and the boy was quite small. The black crow landed on the boys shoulder.
"You sure have away with animals," Kiera said as they walked along the road.
"Of course I do," the boys over-confidence showed. "I am a Master Druid of course".
"A druid?" the assassin giggled. "Aren't you a little young to be A Master Druid? How old are you? Five?"
"I am eleven," the boy got angry, "and I am old enough to do anything. And you are one to talk. The man called you an assassin."
"That is because I am one."
"Impossible. Assassins do not care 'bout anyone. And you saved me. If you are truly an assassin, why are you so nice?"
"I wasn't always nice. People change." she began thinking back.
"What happened?"
"It is a long story. What about you, and your animals?"
"What about me and my animals?"
"What is your story? How did a boy, a wolf and a crow come to be in Lut Gholien?"
The boy's face saddened. "My parents died. Since then it has just been me and my friends, traveling around the world, going where ever the wind takes us", he said looking at his bird and wolf, smiling once more.
"And you get by with stealing?"
"I need something, and I take it."
"So it would seem," the assassin replied, looking down at the wolf. "What a beautiful wolf. What is her name?"
"HIS name is Iago," the boy replied, "and my crows name is Kasha."
"What beautiful names."
"My father named them."
"Speaking of names, do you have one?"
"Zethar. And yours."
"Kiera."
As Kiera and Zethar spoke, they made their way into the tavern. Not allowing any pets inside, Iago and Kasha, surprising Kiera, stayed outside and behaved like Zethar commanded. Kiera could not believe how a mere boy of the tender age of eleven, could control these wild animals as he did. She to the sky as the sun slowly began to set and wondered how long she'd be allowed to stay in the city.
Meanwhile… Outside the city
The fierce paladin, otherwise known as Damien, sliced through another Sabre Cat. His sword hit the flesh of the beast, with an extreme force, sending it spinning through the air and finally hitting the sandy ground; the ground, which was riddled with the bloody bodies of at least two dozen Sabre Cats. The paladin, wielding his shield and broad sword with great skill, attacked the remaining three Cats. He struck them down with anger and hatred. Finally killing the last of his enemies, he didn't notice one of them climb to its feet. About to strike the unknowing paladin, the Sabre Cat suddenly burst into flames, sending the paladin to the ground. He looked up, waiting for the smoke to disappear, and once it began to clear, a figure, holding a staff, could be made out, walking towards the warrior of light.
"You should really be more observant when fighting," she said to the paladin, as the smoke had completely cleared. He saw a woman with a beautiful body and the face of an angel. But despite her good looks, he didn't like her comment.
"And you should learn to mind your own business," he snapped back.
"A lot of anger in you," she began circling the dark skinned, dark eyed paladin. "You should learn to calm down. It might help your concentration."
"I do not need the advice of a foolish sorceress."
"You need someone's advice, Paladin," she replied, examining the man. "I watched your entire fight and you are a very angry little boy."
The paladin attempted to retaliate, but were disrupted by a young man, maybe nineteen or twenty years old, sliding down the dunes screaming for the duo to wait for him. He was dreadfully pale and by the way he was dressed, it was safe to assume one thing… this boy was a necromancer. Or at least, that's what it had seemed. But, by his warm hearted smile and friendly tone of voice, it was hard to tell.
"Thank you for waiting," the young necromancer stated. "My name is Drakul. I was hoping for some direction to the nearest city."
"You are in luck, young necromancer," the sorceress said. "I am heading that way," she turned around. "Follow me!"
"Thank you," Drakul replied gratefully. "May I have your name?"
"Zyka."
"And yours, noble paladin?" Drakul addressed the bitter warrior.
"That is none of your concern creature of the dark," the angered paladin replied walking off, leaving the young necromancer with a confused look.
The three companions, if you could call them that, walked along the sands and with in no time, had arrived at the gates of Lut Gholien. Drakul attempted to speak to the two warriors, but they didn't seem in the mood to talk, unless it was to criticize or mock each other. Nightfall had come, and the three companions had decided to enter the tavern. It seemed to be a peaceful night. But, little did they known, that this night would be anything but peaceful, for outside the town were the making of a nightmare… but also of a great thing too.
"As I described above, fate has away of dealing with things. It was fate that Cylene the Amazon's search for her father had lead her to Lut Gholein. It was fate the Korlic the Barbarian had come looking for his wife on that day in Lut Gholien. It was fate the Kiera the Assassin chose to hide from her past in the walls of Lut Gholien. It was fate that the winds drew Zethar the Druid into Lut Gholien. It was fate that Damien the Paladin had found a horde of demons outside of Lut Gholien. It was fate that Zyka the Sorceress had been heading into Lut Gholien this day. It was fate that Drakul the Necromancer had stumbled upon a guide to Lut Gholien. And it was still fate that caused these seven different warriors, with different pasts, to be present in the exact same location at the exact same time"
Thanx for reading. Again, please review.
