Chapter 2 Cowardice
And so the group entered the cold and dreary castle. The air inside was stale and rusty but they moved on. Formed in a circle they were, with the priest in the middle, walking past the rusted chandelier hanging on the ceiling and up the cold marble stairs leading to the second floor of the dreaded castle.
'On...on they went to their death...' a sagewurm recited as it followed the humans.
The stench was more defined as the group explored the dark corridors in the second floor of Glast Heim Castle. An eerie silence met them. The only sound they could hear was their own footsteps. Their sight went as far as the lighted torch's radius.
"Is it supposed to be this quiet?" Petula said with false calmness. Cold sweat was beading out of her forehead and upper lips.
"Don't fret Lady Petula... one of them monsters will surely take a liking to you. You're going to be our bait."
Petula drew the tip of her sword against Malfoy's vulnerable neck.
"Stop this, right now!" Burris whispered angrily while bringing Petula's sword down.
Skuld listened to the silence.
That was when they heard it… a woman's shriek. It was so high-pitched that the knights were momentarily deafened because the shriek had resounded inside the helms they were wearing. The priest had covered both his ears with his hands.
"Wha-what i-is it?" The priest asked anxiously.
"Sush..." Skuld strained to hear movement.
Another shriek... Skuld frowned. That was no woman's shriek as he had first thought. It sounded...metallic. He guessed it was a sword being scraped against the marble floor.
Thud... thud... thud...
Heavy footsteps... and a glint of red… Out of nowhere, Malfoy earned a large gash on his chest. Blood spurted out of his damaged breastplate. He went down on his knees with his hands vainly trying to stop the flow of blood.
Everyone was taken by surprise. A khalitzburg was in front of Malfoy, ready to take another swing. Skuld suddenly came to his senses. He grabbed the priest.
"For Odin's sake you're a priest! Why the heck are you not doing anything? Cast safety wall, stupid!"
Confused and terrified [for this was the first time the priest has entered Glast Heim, worse, any dungeon], the priest mistakenly cast Kyrie Eleison on Malfoy. The khalitzburg struck at Malfoy's dying body, but the barrier held on.
Petula went in front of Malfoy, guarding him and the others.
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"Where in Hel's underworld did you recruit this priest, Burris?"
"May I remind you Sir Skuld that the priest is not yet in our guild? But I suggest we have this argument after we finish this. If I am not mistaken, that -" points to somewhere in the dark"- is the Abysmal Knight," Balder said with apparent cool.
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This is the moment. If I kill this monster, I might be able to earn everyone's respect and be the pride of this guild. She raised the sword over her head and struck the khalitzburg's body.
Unfortunately, the khalitzburg was only pushed back a step. Its upper body bent backwards but sprang back instantly. It still had both its swords on the ground as if it had no strength to carry it.
"Hey, bonehead! Are your swords too heavy for yah?" Petula provoked. She drank an awakening potion. She summoned up her skills to better fight the decomposed creature. She raised her sword for another strike.
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The sound of hooves and strike of metal against metal penetrated through the arguing knights. They readied for the fight that was about to ensue.
"Lady Petula, stay close!" Skuld yelled.
"What of Malfoy?"
"The barrier is still working."
Petula turned her back on the khalitzburg and hurried back to the group. A grave mistake is what she will call this for a second after she turned the khalitzburg took a swing that sliced through her neck. The helm was no protection. The khalitzburg made its way to the remaining group.
At this point, even the Abysmal Knight has arrived and was menacingly looking down at them. It raised its bloodied sword and brought it down the priest. Burris was able to block it with his own two-handed sword.
The priest cowered with fright. "I… I… I'm sorry!"
With these parting words the priest cast teleport and disappeared.
"Well if it isn't Loki himself! The stinkin' priest abandoned us!" Skuld said disgustedly.
The khalitzburg was attacking Balder now. The Abysmal knight was joining in.
Burris was rooted to the spot. He was getting cold. He was starting to feel dread coming out from the deepest recess of his heart. His hand felt clammy and his concentration was faltering. He saw Balder being ripped to shreds by the khalitzburg. And Skuld, he was fighting for his dear life with the Abysmal knight with only a shield for protection.
This is not supposed to happen. We were supposed to come here and kill this damn thing, not the other way around! I should have gotten a better priest. That damn priest acted like a cowering chiken! I—
'You will never be a great leader, Burris. You are a pathetic and selfish being. You've always thought of yourself. You bring disgrace to our clan!' a dark voice from his past reminded him.
No… NO! No no no no no!
Fright crept through the man's heart. It spread throughout his whole body. And so, he did what he had always done when he was still a child --- he fled.
He fled for the safety of his life. When he reached the steps outside Glast Heim Castle, he paused.
I've proven them wrong again. Just like the last time.
Tears of shame welled up Burris' eyes. He ran back to the bloodshed.
What he saw revolted him. The Abysmal Knight was still there, a pool of blood surrounding it. Blood was still dripping down its sword. Down at the horse's hooves was a contorted heap of human flesh. It was beyond identifying. The limbs were tangled together, with the head facing the floor. He saw the shield lying beside it, Skuld's shield to be precise.
He was ready to vomit but he checked himself. Taking his two-handed-sword, he ran up to the beast with his sword pointing towards it while yelling curses. Before he could reach his target, an object hit him in the head. Burris lost his consciousness.