Dian the Just

Disclaimer: I don't own Majesty or some of the hero's names.

The Golems all howled, a grating noise that made Dian wince. Their overlarge bodies shook the ground as they stamped. They knew that all four of them together were as bad as death. One reached down and flicked an Elf. He went flying, along with some blue shingles from his bungalow. Dian felt like she was helpless. Already, the Adepts had scattered when the two other Golems arrived.

Tearra swung the Minotaur axe. It crashed into the Golem with the arrow in its eye. The blade sheared through the Golems middle, sending sparks off in a torrent. Tearra's teeth were clenched together. Her normally tidy hair hung in lank, dark, strands across her face. The Golem fell, in two pieces.

Dian then stared. She saw the Black Phantom. It had evil, red eyes. The eyes caught and held Dian's gaze, holding her by her very soul. It stalked forward, without a sound, its cloak slowly waving, even though there was no breeze. It drew its smoking black sword, but it just held the sword.

Then Dian felt the strangest sensation. It was like a caress, but not exactly. It was touching her spirit. The touch grew harder, until Dian was kneeling from the exertion. Sweat profusely poured down her face, matting her hair, getting in her eyes. Her chest heaved with heavy breathing. The Golems had left Dian's thoughts; the only thing in her mind was the Black Phantom.

Then Dian heard the voice. It was inside, along with the caress. Except the caress had grown much more painful. She felt her body melting almost from the inside. The voice went on its soothing tones. Dian found her sword positioned awkwardly at her chest. It was like she was going to stab herself! She wondered why, but the voice quickly quelled her questions, urging her to proceed.

Slowly, Dian began to push on the blade. Then the Phantom hissed.

Dian was suddenly in control again. She saw the Phantom battling a Paladin! It was Tymara! She had seemed laid back, but her sword technique was truly a spectacle to behold. She moved with liquid grace, each stroke carefully placed. Each thrust bringing death. Except the Phantom was better.

Its sword moved like a serpent, striking in multiple places. It circled Tymara, its sword darting in and out with strokes barely matched by Tymara. Its cloak now whipped and snapped with each slash. The blade seemed to pulse, taking in light, in a rhythm of death.

Then Tymara's thrust went a little too deep. Off balance, she tried to block, but the Phantom ran her through! The Phantom began to twist the blade, relishing its win. Tymara's armor hissed and steamed as the sword cut through.

Dian felt hot tears on her cheek as she yelled, "Energies of Light!" But instead of the normal blue energy, red energy came up from the ground, enhancing every bit of her. Her sword felt like a dagger, her armor like silk. She came to the Phantom. And danced with death.

There was no way to describe it. Her sword flowed like water, striking again and again at the Phantom. Its black sword flicked in and out, her sword swept in to block. For each attack a counterattack, for each block, another attack. Dian's sword glowed blue as she clashed with the black blade. The Phantom seemed to realize that Dian was no easy challenge. It seemed to increase its speed. Its sword was a flickering black blur that whirled around Dian's. Dian thrusted upward. Her blade glanced of the Phantom's sending both weapons flying.

The black sword embedded itself in a Golem's forehead. Dian's sword, through its chest.

As the Golem crumbled, Dian and Phantom tensed. Neither wanted to retrieve the blade, putting their back to each other. Slowly, Dian sidestepped toward her sword. The Phantom flowed to its. Dian lunged, went into a roll, and grabbed her sword.

The Phantom's blade slashed where Dian just was. Pushing herself up, Dian went from a roll to a cartwheel, to the fighter's stance. The Phantom flowed in behind her, its sword pulsing. Dian spun around, throwing all her weight into the blow. Her sword hit the black metal, and broke it.

Shards of black metal flew out. The Phantom leapt backward, its sword a jagged stump. Dian flew in to attack. The Phantom leapt back, constantly moving to avoid Dian's vengeful barrage. The Phantom jumped and flew up to the edge of a cliff.

"Mark my words Phantom," Dian said through gritted teeth, "I will kill you."

The Phantom glided off, disappearing.

Dian rushed over to Tymara. Her eyes were glazed over, with death. Maybe the Sovereign would cast Resurrect on Tymara, but the Palace had been quiet as of late. Dian said a prayer to Dauros as she closed Tymara's frightened eyes. She cleaned the blood as best as she could. Dian put Tymara's sword over her body, with both hands on the hilt.

Dian stood. Instead of fewer Golems, there were more. Six Golems were trying to get at Tearra. She swung the axe defensively and kept the Golems back. Dian said a battle prayer and rushed in. Her spiral cut hit the first Golem above the hip, shattering the rock. The Golem bellowed and fell forward. Tearra leapt back, as the she was fighting Golem crashed to the earth. Red and blue feathered shafts poured onto the third Golem. Dian began hacking at the second Golem. The third Golem began to run around in a rage. Tearra's axe put an end to that.

Jellara was fighting the sixth Golem, swinging her sword. Her sword had to be chipped in a dozen places, but she fought on. She swung her sword and it glanced off the Golem's body. Dian saw the Golem's massive fists come at her. She barely dodged, feeling the fist's momentum. The earth gave way and erupted in a dusty crater. Dian fell backward and into the crater.

The Golem reached in and pulled Dian out. From up here, Dian could see everything. Elves on a ruined Bungalow, shooting at the fourth Golem. Some Rangers trying to get to the Elves. Jellara screaming as the Golem picked her up and squeezed. And Tearra drawing her sword as another Golem took away her axe.

Then there was the sound of steel on leather as swords were drawn. Kira the Righteous had finally arrived, and brought with her the Healers of Agrela! The Healers dipped their heads and Dian felt a clean, pure energy flow through her. She put the broadsword, point down, with both hands on the hilt. She plunged it into the rocky chest of the Golem. She began to twist the blade. The Golem roared, dropping Dian.

Dian fell and landed in a kneeling position. She reached up, grabbing her sword. She saw Kira slash at the Golem holding Tearra. The Golem's hand fell of. Tearra rolled free of the hand and stood up, drawing her broadsword.

After that, it was almost too easy for the warriors. As the last Golem fell with arrows protruding from its back, Dian sheathed her sword.

"Come, sisters, the enemy has been vanquished, we return," Tearra said.

Upon arriving at the Warrior's Guild, Tearra had to listen to a message an Adept brought.

"What is it, sister?" Dian asked.

"We patrol South District tomorrow," Tearra said with distaste.

"Is that a bad thing?" Dian asked. After all, Tymara and Jellara were from South District.

"Maybe not a bad thing, but very interesting," Kira said, with a grin.

"Dauros help us all," Tearra said.