They began the long walk up the hill in silence.
Pfeiffer opened his mouth to say something when a lone figure stepped out in front of them holding a wicked looking laser pistol.
Artemis froze, "Who are you? Identify yourself!"
A light hearted laugh echoed from the figure, "Why, Artemis, you don't remember me? That strikes me to the heart it does."
A bolt of recognition hit him, "Briar Cudgeon." He breathed.
"See, now that wasn't so hard was it? I was hoping that you would recognize me before my job was finished."
"Job?" asked Artemis, fearing that he already knew the answer.
"I'm surprised that you haven't figured it out yet. I'm here to kill you."
Pfeiffer looked at Cudgeon closely, "I don't think I like him, Artis. Make him go away."
Artemis pushed Pfeiffer behind him, "Stay behind me Pfeiffer."
Cudgeon gestured with the laser pistol, "On your knees, Artemis. I want you to grovel and beg for your life."
Artemis glared fiercely, "I don't think so Cudgeon. You forgot to factor in one small detail."
"Oh, really? What might that be? Perhaps you are referring to your ignorant buffoon of a bodyguard? He is no more aware of my presence here than you were a moment ago. Face it, Artemis. You've lost. Now on your knees before I execute your small cousin behind you."
Artemis hesitated, "Let him go before you do this to me. He means nothing to you."
Cudgeon laughed, "And let him tell your family that I'm out here? Not likely."
Artemis simply stood there, shielding Pfeiffer.
Then Cudgeon sighed, "Always the optimist, eh Artemis? This still hasn't sunk in yet, has it? You still don't realize that you are going to die."
Artemis held his head higher, "I fear nothing and no-one. Not even you shall deprive me of that dignity."
Cudgeon started to say something, but, Artemis continued, "Nothing that you could ever do will diminish my presence. Not even my death shall hinder what I have accomplished. So, do your worst. There are fates worse than death, you traitorous scum."
Cudgeon faltered momentarily, then played his wild card, "You know, Artemis, the council doesn't even know that I'm here. You see, I have my own friends in the council and I knew full well of your fate to be." He built up steam, continuing in his rightous fervor, "When they see that I have destroyed their most dangerous enemy, they will grant me re-entry into the Fairy relm. None will dare oppose me in my power!"
Artemis snorted, "Come off it, Cudgeon. Do you honestly believe that they will take you back just because you assasinated a mud person?"
"Ah, you underestimate your importance to the fairies. They will gladly pay almost any price to be rid of you."
Artemis spat at Cudgeon's feet, "You insult me with this foolish boasting. Either do what you came to do or leave me."
Cudgeon's eyes flared with his temper as he raised his gun, "Just for that I shall kill your cousin as well. The little brat is as arrogant as you!"
Artemis closed his eyes as Cudgeon aimed the pistol.
'I've led a good life' thought Artemis, 'I'm ready to go. I only wish I could have saved you too, Pfeiffer.'
A high-pitched whine pierced Artemis's ears as Cudgeon fired.
A split second later, Artemis realized that he was still alive.
'Oh no! He shot Pfeiffer instead of me!'
Pfeiffer opened his mouth to say something when a lone figure stepped out in front of them holding a wicked looking laser pistol.
Artemis froze, "Who are you? Identify yourself!"
A light hearted laugh echoed from the figure, "Why, Artemis, you don't remember me? That strikes me to the heart it does."
A bolt of recognition hit him, "Briar Cudgeon." He breathed.
"See, now that wasn't so hard was it? I was hoping that you would recognize me before my job was finished."
"Job?" asked Artemis, fearing that he already knew the answer.
"I'm surprised that you haven't figured it out yet. I'm here to kill you."
Pfeiffer looked at Cudgeon closely, "I don't think I like him, Artis. Make him go away."
Artemis pushed Pfeiffer behind him, "Stay behind me Pfeiffer."
Cudgeon gestured with the laser pistol, "On your knees, Artemis. I want you to grovel and beg for your life."
Artemis glared fiercely, "I don't think so Cudgeon. You forgot to factor in one small detail."
"Oh, really? What might that be? Perhaps you are referring to your ignorant buffoon of a bodyguard? He is no more aware of my presence here than you were a moment ago. Face it, Artemis. You've lost. Now on your knees before I execute your small cousin behind you."
Artemis hesitated, "Let him go before you do this to me. He means nothing to you."
Cudgeon laughed, "And let him tell your family that I'm out here? Not likely."
Artemis simply stood there, shielding Pfeiffer.
Then Cudgeon sighed, "Always the optimist, eh Artemis? This still hasn't sunk in yet, has it? You still don't realize that you are going to die."
Artemis held his head higher, "I fear nothing and no-one. Not even you shall deprive me of that dignity."
Cudgeon started to say something, but, Artemis continued, "Nothing that you could ever do will diminish my presence. Not even my death shall hinder what I have accomplished. So, do your worst. There are fates worse than death, you traitorous scum."
Cudgeon faltered momentarily, then played his wild card, "You know, Artemis, the council doesn't even know that I'm here. You see, I have my own friends in the council and I knew full well of your fate to be." He built up steam, continuing in his rightous fervor, "When they see that I have destroyed their most dangerous enemy, they will grant me re-entry into the Fairy relm. None will dare oppose me in my power!"
Artemis snorted, "Come off it, Cudgeon. Do you honestly believe that they will take you back just because you assasinated a mud person?"
"Ah, you underestimate your importance to the fairies. They will gladly pay almost any price to be rid of you."
Artemis spat at Cudgeon's feet, "You insult me with this foolish boasting. Either do what you came to do or leave me."
Cudgeon's eyes flared with his temper as he raised his gun, "Just for that I shall kill your cousin as well. The little brat is as arrogant as you!"
Artemis closed his eyes as Cudgeon aimed the pistol.
'I've led a good life' thought Artemis, 'I'm ready to go. I only wish I could have saved you too, Pfeiffer.'
A high-pitched whine pierced Artemis's ears as Cudgeon fired.
A split second later, Artemis realized that he was still alive.
'Oh no! He shot Pfeiffer instead of me!'
