New and Improved September First Addition

Inigo led Fezzik and Westley deeper into the castle being very cautious and peering around every bend before going on. Fezzik carried Westley by his limp arm. He dragged his feet below him like a rag doll and tried to stand but found an odd lack of power in his legs. Inigo heard loud footsteps, perhaps five guards were coming. He motioned for the giant and the man in black to stop and he continued a bit further. Racing around the corner appeared a count and four guards, all wielding dangerous swords. Inigo unsheathed his own sword and smiled wide, filled with joy. The nobleman was tall, old and ugly. He carried a sword in his right hand… a hand that was gloved… a glove that fit over six fingers. Inigo was poised to begin his revenge battle glad to have the company of Fezzik and Westley. The count did not recognize him.

"Kill the dark one and the giant, but leave the third for questioning." His voice was colder, more snakelike then Inigo remembered. It was enough to chill the blood. At his command the guards rushed forward to disarm Inigo and kill Westley and Fezzik. Inigo quickly flicked his sword and within seconds all four hit the castle ground, dead. Inigo straightened to full height much more impressive then the ten year old the count had seen before. His legs were long and muscular, his body blade thin of course, and his arms strong. His dark brown Spanish eyes sought revenge. The count's blood was all that could cure his thirst and now there Rugen was ripe for the killing. Inigo's mind was clear as he uttered the words that had danced on his lips so many years longing to be said.

"Hello," he smiled "my name is Inigo Montoya; you killed my father…. Prepare to die" Inigo got into position his grin widening by the second and his eyes bright. Rugen did the same, only his movements were stiffer, not as fluid of those of the Spaniard. Just as the tension rose and they were about to begin Rugen's eyes widened and he did the thing least expected of a count. He ran like a dog with it's tail between it's legs. Inigo was taken aback for a moment but then tore off after him at twice the speed. His strong legs dashing through corridors and following the fleeing count. Much to Inigo's dismay the count ran through an open door which he locked behind him. Inigo was a light fellow and no matter how much he jammed his thin frame against the wooden door it would not budge.

"Fezzik! Fezzik I need you please!" He shouted for assistance but Fezzik wouldn't have it.

"I can't leave him alone" he said gesturing to Westley.

"He's getting away!" Inigo's shoulder was becoming sore as he jammed his arm once more against it then again and again. He was going mad trying to open the door. His revenge at last so close he could see it and all that was stopping him was a piece of wood? The greatest fencer in the world since Bastia was stopped by a piece of wood. How sad Inigo thought it. Inigo was jammed up against the stony wall, ready to charge the door again when a giant hand stopped him. Fezzik blew down the door with one solid punch. Inigo felt relief wash over him as he saw the count just at a distance turn a corner. He yelled out a quick thank you and rushed on after Rugen. The chase went on for what seemed like years to Inigo. He picked up speed and hopped down a curling flight of stone stairs into the doorway of a fancy billiard room. He had seen that Rugen had stopped for a moment but Inigo was too focused to think about that. Soon he would be cornered and Inigo Montoya would at last avenge his father's death. He jumped through the door way, sword ahead of him ready to make his speech once more ready to kill Rugen right then and there.

Author's note: If I were Goldman (I'm not…) I would now say something like –

Here my father would put down the book, sigh and without one more word walk out of the room leaving me to contemplate all the possible things that could happen next. Needless to say, my dreams were filled with chases and sword fights and at last sweet revenge…

Yep that's what I would do but no… Goldman has to focus on Fezzik, Buttercup, and Westley because Fezzik's his favorite character and Buttercup and Westley are the "Main characters" blah. Blah. Blah. Well not so in this version. In this version I will give you the suspense you disserve, time to think about Inigo and all the feelings of revenge, all the years he spent becoming the greatest fencer in the world…. Then hit you with this little piece.

Inigo felt a cold dagger enter his body like a bullet. The speed of it surprised him. He grabbed the hilt of the long knife and felt warm blood seeping from his side. His back slammed against the wall but he didn't feel it. The blood continued to pour out of his body and the billiard room went white. He knew he was too late. He, Inigo Montoya, the Wizard from Arrabella Spain was going to die at the hand of his father's killer. "I'm s.. sorry father" He could almost bare the pain of the wound if it wasn't for the pain of loosing to this poor excuse for a man. Rugen stepped towards the dying Spaniard with an evil glint in his eye, some sick satisfaction at his pain, both physical and of the heart. "You must be that little Spanish brat I taught a lesson to all those years ago. Simply incredible, you've been chasing me your whole life only to fail now. I think that's the worst thing I ever heard…. How marvelous"

The thought that Inigo had wasted his life searching for the count sent a shiver down his spine and he sunk to the ground as if Rugen's words had pierced him even deeper. He closed his eyes and he himself prepared to die, the horrific irony was inescapable. He thought of his father, the concept of never having his revenge was enough to kill him, but he also thought of a promise he made a very long time ago to a young Italian girl…

"Giulietta…" Inigo whispered softly in her ear.

"My love?" She replied equally as soft. They had lain in the bed all night together simply talking. They talked for hours all the time. Giulietta delighted in his smooth voice as much as Inigo loved hers.

"I will always come for you…" he spoke this meaning every word and knowing that some day he would have to leave her to find the six-fingered man. Inigo was young yes, but even he knew that death could not stop true love. "Even if I never get my revenge," the words stung him a bit but the look in her eyes made it worth while, he would always keep his promise to her. As they held each other that night, it felt as if nothing could ever separate them. Until the shred of doubt entered Giulietta's mind and threatened to break the peace.

"But how can you be sure?" She wasn't sure she was saying it. She didn't want to believe it but Giulietta knew that there was a good chance the six-fingered man would in fact kill Inigo but the thought ripped her apart.

"This is true love… you think this happens every day?" There was a smile in his voice and his eyes glimmered…

Inigo, now sitting on the cold floor at the feet of his father's murderer knew that he had to find Giulietta before he died. He simply could not leave this world until he heard her voice and danced with her at least once more. The count had said something but Inigo's ears were ringing and he didn't here it. He grew determined and opened his eyes seeing the smiling face of the one he wanted dead. Inigo clenched the dagger with all his remaining strength and pulled it from his body hastily covering the wound with his hand to help stop the bleeding. He was no dumb Spaniard. He began to slowly ascend the wall the life had visibly left his eyes but something kept him going. The count furrowed his dark brow, trying to understand what was going on in the dying man in front of him. Rugen had very little experience with love, much less true love. Sure he had married but love never even crossed his mind. Money, power, and perhaps an heir or two. That's what his marriage was for, nothing more.

"Are you still trying to win?" Always…. Inigo thought to himself because he had no voice. He shouldered his way up into a standing position and pushed of the wall towards the count. The room spun around him and he was forced to fall back against the wall holding his wound tighter. The count plunged his sword towards Inigo's heart but he blocked it so it only went through his left shoulder. Inigo felt absolutely nothing as more blood soaked his shirt, his other agonies were so much worse. The count, mildly surprise, went in for the kill yet again but this time Inigo blocked Rugen's sword to his left arm even farther from the target. Inigo's dark eyes were glinting again. A wild fire only made stronger by the likelihood of burning out. He once more pushed off the wall scarcely aware that he was rapidly bleeding to death. He spoke, quietly, slowly, painfully

"Hello… my name is Inigo Montoya… you killed my father…. Prepare to die." A sharp stab of pain made him collapse onto a nearby table and his hair fell forward against his face. He quickly recovered and held out his sword just in time to block one of Rugen's frightened attempts at killing him. He repeated his line once more stronger yet, an air of confidence in his voice. To him it was like telling an ice chip it would melt, no doubt, no way out of it, it was simply fact. The two crossed swords. Rugen was filled with panic which only made Inigo all the more contented. Rugen attacked, Inigo blocked then Inigo was on the attack. He shouted his line with more zeal then Rugen thought possible for a half-dead man. Rugen flicked his sword at Inigo but Inigo blocked it and ran through Rugen's right shoulder in the precise fashion that Rugen had stabbed his. Then onto his left arm. Inigo went through his strategy in his mind, two down three to go he thought. He was killing Rugen the same way Rugen had killed him. He backed Rugen into a table, there was no doubt now that Inigo was going to win. The count's eyes were wide with terror.

"Offer me money!" Inigo sliced the count's cheek, mimicking his own scars.

"Yes"

"Power too, promise me that!" the other slice.

"All that I have and more please!" The count hissed an evil sound. Inigo stepped back keeping his sword close the count's throat. He pulled his hand from his first wound for dramatic effect; the blood on it glinted and reflected in the count's glassy eyes.

"Offer me everything I ask for" He was going to humiliate the count.

"Anything you want" the count gritted his teeth and tried to attack. Inigo grabbed Rugen's right arm and ran him through, same as when the count almost killed him. The count was already half scared to death and with such a cold heart he had nothing to live for. The count died on Inigo's sword. Years of torturing innocent people, months of degrading Westley, a broken life all ended by one smooth cut. The years drained from his face.

Inigo pushed the dead man of unceremoniously with his boot and watched as this father's murderer crumpled to the floor. Pasty skin, lifeless eyes and features frozen in eternal fear. A wonderful sight indeed.

Inigo was feeling weaker then ever. He replaced his hand and stumbled off back towards Fezzik and Westley, hoping that they weren't in any danger…