I was wrong all those years ago.
My true doppelganger, the true reflection of evil I stared at, the beast whose beliefs were an absolute perversion of my own was Davrag Joris.
I cannot say I'll ever forget him, and never will I cease to despise him. Despite all of what Boneflower told me, I cannot help but hate Davrag Joris for what he is.
Perhaps this is hypocritical; however, I too, was a killer at one point in my life, taking the lives of others for a bagful of gold. I cannot remember a single time I slew an innocent or a beast who did not deserve the cold kiss of my blade...and now I make an excuse for a life lived in darkness, excuses to ease my guilty conscience and soothe my soul.
Boneflower seems to know what she speaks of...telling me the simple truth I needed to hear. I realize now to hunt Davrag Joris would place me on that killer's moral level, to hunt others simply for the sake of killing without a thought to the money or morals involved in it is an act of unbridled cruelty and to hunt a beast even as vile as Davrag Joris for what he is would make me no better then him.
But am I better then him? I'd like to think so. Even now as I arrive at the great city of Meridian the doubts gnaw at me...and what of Jald Nightson, the famed Manticore? I'd gladly cut Davrag down should we meet in combat but does my old teacher, my father's greatest friend deserve to die in the same manner?
I think of Kalis Deiran and I say yes...I think to all the years of humiliation and cruelty from him and I say yes...and I can't help but pity him. He is what his life has made him. Jald Nightson isn't evil, not in the way Davrag Joris is...he gains satisfaction and perhaps pleasure from slaying his foes but I know Jald honestly thinks he's never killed anybeast who has not deserved to die. Davrag does not care about innocence...
May the fates help me if the rumors of Meridian are true...may the fates help me...I don't know what I am anymore...
-Eroket Nightblade.
The Academy of Meridian...located nearly a mile away from the great city...a great structure made of pure marble stone, in a towering formation above the trees themselves. Nobeast remembered how the Academy even came to be...it was simply...there.
The Academy was where the greatest warriors in the Meridian military were trained, to devote themselves to their weapons and to leave their hearts and souls behind. One would submit to the conformity or one died. It was simple as that.
Terrlin liked it just fine.
Vanda's chief agent smirked, noting his flanking guards' unease and gave a small sneer, binding his black cloak tighter.
"Is this the famous 'Academy,' creature?"
The masked figure standing between two of Terrlin's six guards nodded once, sapphire eyes focused well, cold, but slightly youthful voice was strong and carried the weight of a creature sure of himself, even though his weapons had been confiscated when he had come across Terrlin and his group merely five hours ago.
"It is the Academy indeed, Terrlin," The Masked One replied, informality present in his tone. Terrlin didn't like the insolence.
"How do I know y'ain't got a trap set up fer us, slytongue?"
The Masked One shrugged, smart enough to have pointedly not mentioned who he was working for when he had been encountered by Terrlin's group.
"Fyric, Aldon," Terrlin nodded to a pair of stoats, dressed as he was: A black cloaked marked with the insignia of a crimson dagger, Vandashira's symbol, "Take a rap on that there door...see who answers..."
"You fear for no reason. The lord of this academy isn't an enemy to your mistress...quite the contrary indeed, my cautious friend," the Masked Figure chuckled.
"One more word and I'll have ye run through! That'll shut yer waggin' tongue, eh?" Terrlin's voice had a sharp edge to it.
Fyric and Aldon swallowed hard, walking to the Academy's greaten oaken doors. Fyric, the larger of the two looked at the great brass knocker, lifting it slowly and releasing it, letting it slam into the doors with a reverberating, very loud sound.
For a few moments not a thing happened...and then the sounds of nocked longbows could be clearly heard...and the longbows could be seen from window slits on a higher level of the structure.
Terrlin's first impulse was to hurl himself from harm's way, until a voice, cold and commanding ran out through the still evening air: "Why do you intrude upon the Academy?"
The Masked One was the only beast who seemed unaffected; Terrlin swallowed and called out, "I am Terrlin of Vandashira the living Darkness's service! We seek an audience with Master Tarl Argith!"
There was silence for a moment, a long moment before the voice replied, "What is your reason?"
Terrlin decided to tell the truth, "Jald Nightson has returned and the son of Aleran Nightblade is with him!" That was stretching the truth a bit, but there'd be time for fancy elaborations later.
The effect was startling. The whispers ran through the air like a breeze through stalks of grain, then the voice replied, "Stay there...you shall be allowed inside without fear of harm."
Terrlin allowed himself a sigh of relief...well, part one of this mission complete. Thankfully, all the years since Jald and Aleran had attended the Academy had done nothing to diminish the animosity the Masters held towards them.
The door opened some time later. An armed compliment, more then twice that of Terrlin's own awaited, a tall weasel at their head, holding a well used scimitar at the ready, his one good eye focusing on Terrlin and when he spoke, Terrlin recognized the voice that had commanded the longbow troops, "I am Master Jast of the Academy...High Master Argith wishes to speak to you..."
Terlrin nodded in relief and signaled his entourage, the Masked One remaining with them wordlessly, proceeding by as if he was one of Vanda's soldiers.
Jast led them through the great Academy, up several flights of stairs, where they beheld rooms and offices, several gyms and training rooms where groups of younger beasts were led in drills by their Masters, all the way up to nearly the top floor where Jast stopped in front of a carved door with the symbol of an eagle rising above a sun, the Academy's symbol...and marking the room of the mightiest warrior within its walls.
Jast knocked on the door twice, paused, and rapped another three times before stepping back quickly and waiting.
Seconds later the door creaked open, held by a tall figure that had the look of a bodyguard around him. The true attention of Terrlin and his array was on the beat sitting at a desk at the far end of the room.
Argith had come to power nearly fifteen years ago, after being made a master, graduating top of his class after Aleran Nightblade and Jald Nightson, becoming the chief graduate by default after the 'traitors' had left the Academy.
The previous master Ulrich had been challenged. Ulrich had lost and been dispatched by his successor Tarl Argith.
Argith was a fox, tall and muscular even for his species, dressed in the tight tunic afforded his rank, a dark blue that contrasted with his dark red fur, and carrying a broadsword at his side, Argith looked every inch the warrior and killer he was meant to be.
Setting aside, several forms, The Master of the Academy's dark eyes turned to Terrlin and his group, "Vandashira sent you..."
"She did."
Argith smiled, "My dearest mate has never ceased to let me down..."
"Your...mate?" Terrlin failed to restrain his surprise and even the Masked One looked a bit put off guard.
"Indeed." Argith replied without a change in expression, "My mate and my partner, despite we rarely see one another...I take it hunters are after her head again?"
Terrlin wondered if Argith had been Vanda's mate before or after he had become master of the Academy...probably before. It'd explain quite a lot about how Argith defeated a supposedly better warrior such as Ulrich in single combat...it explained it perfectly at that...and Argith must have been Vanda's one contact who knew her location
"I suppose it is Jald Nightson and Eroket Nightblade," Argith practically spat the names out, "That are after her head...and I doubt Jald Nightson will want to sit idly by this Academy...we were such good friends..." The sarcasm and vitriol were greatly evident in the fox warrior's voice.
"Yes, milord," Terrlin replied, adopting extreme respect for Tarl Argith...he doubted Vanda'd trouble herself for him over her mate.
"I never thought he'd come back...not after he betrayed us and set off with the Calpathions..." Argith was merely musing, a claw pressed to his chin thoughtfully before he smiled coldly, "He was always a dutiful student when he was here...me, him and Aleran were classmates...until they got selected as partners for the Graduation...ended up killing their instructor and running off together..." He snarled angrily before composing himself, "Anybeast else with our erstwhile hunters?"
"Boneflower Windlass goes with Eroket Nightblade and Davrag Joris with Jald Nightson...both are warriors of no small skill."
Argith dismissed them with a wave of a paw. "Never heard of them...Eroket Nightblade, Aleran's son, is not an ally of Jald Nightson's?"
Terrlinr restrained a grin as he realized his advantage over Vanda's mate, "They have been enemies for years..."
"Oh, this is rich..." Argith grinned ferally, showing gleaming fangs, his dark eyes practically gleaming. "I'll need to remake Jald's acquaintance...before I kill him anyways...Vanda may whine about me spoiling her fun, but she'll deal with it."
The Masked One restrained a small flinch, noticeable to Argith's eyes, but he ignored it and nodded to Terrlin. "Please sit...I'll call for food and drink for you and your group, quarters will be prepared...and you can tell me the entire news...I hope our hunters get far though...maybe to us," Argith smirked, his predatory gaze traveling over the seven in front of him as he nodded to Jast, "Because this is shaping up to be a most interesting endeavor...most interesting indeed."
My true doppelganger, the true reflection of evil I stared at, the beast whose beliefs were an absolute perversion of my own was Davrag Joris.
I cannot say I'll ever forget him, and never will I cease to despise him. Despite all of what Boneflower told me, I cannot help but hate Davrag Joris for what he is.
Perhaps this is hypocritical; however, I too, was a killer at one point in my life, taking the lives of others for a bagful of gold. I cannot remember a single time I slew an innocent or a beast who did not deserve the cold kiss of my blade...and now I make an excuse for a life lived in darkness, excuses to ease my guilty conscience and soothe my soul.
Boneflower seems to know what she speaks of...telling me the simple truth I needed to hear. I realize now to hunt Davrag Joris would place me on that killer's moral level, to hunt others simply for the sake of killing without a thought to the money or morals involved in it is an act of unbridled cruelty and to hunt a beast even as vile as Davrag Joris for what he is would make me no better then him.
But am I better then him? I'd like to think so. Even now as I arrive at the great city of Meridian the doubts gnaw at me...and what of Jald Nightson, the famed Manticore? I'd gladly cut Davrag down should we meet in combat but does my old teacher, my father's greatest friend deserve to die in the same manner?
I think of Kalis Deiran and I say yes...I think to all the years of humiliation and cruelty from him and I say yes...and I can't help but pity him. He is what his life has made him. Jald Nightson isn't evil, not in the way Davrag Joris is...he gains satisfaction and perhaps pleasure from slaying his foes but I know Jald honestly thinks he's never killed anybeast who has not deserved to die. Davrag does not care about innocence...
May the fates help me if the rumors of Meridian are true...may the fates help me...I don't know what I am anymore...
-Eroket Nightblade.
The Academy of Meridian...located nearly a mile away from the great city...a great structure made of pure marble stone, in a towering formation above the trees themselves. Nobeast remembered how the Academy even came to be...it was simply...there.
The Academy was where the greatest warriors in the Meridian military were trained, to devote themselves to their weapons and to leave their hearts and souls behind. One would submit to the conformity or one died. It was simple as that.
Terrlin liked it just fine.
Vanda's chief agent smirked, noting his flanking guards' unease and gave a small sneer, binding his black cloak tighter.
"Is this the famous 'Academy,' creature?"
The masked figure standing between two of Terrlin's six guards nodded once, sapphire eyes focused well, cold, but slightly youthful voice was strong and carried the weight of a creature sure of himself, even though his weapons had been confiscated when he had come across Terrlin and his group merely five hours ago.
"It is the Academy indeed, Terrlin," The Masked One replied, informality present in his tone. Terrlin didn't like the insolence.
"How do I know y'ain't got a trap set up fer us, slytongue?"
The Masked One shrugged, smart enough to have pointedly not mentioned who he was working for when he had been encountered by Terrlin's group.
"Fyric, Aldon," Terrlin nodded to a pair of stoats, dressed as he was: A black cloaked marked with the insignia of a crimson dagger, Vandashira's symbol, "Take a rap on that there door...see who answers..."
"You fear for no reason. The lord of this academy isn't an enemy to your mistress...quite the contrary indeed, my cautious friend," the Masked Figure chuckled.
"One more word and I'll have ye run through! That'll shut yer waggin' tongue, eh?" Terrlin's voice had a sharp edge to it.
Fyric and Aldon swallowed hard, walking to the Academy's greaten oaken doors. Fyric, the larger of the two looked at the great brass knocker, lifting it slowly and releasing it, letting it slam into the doors with a reverberating, very loud sound.
For a few moments not a thing happened...and then the sounds of nocked longbows could be clearly heard...and the longbows could be seen from window slits on a higher level of the structure.
Terrlin's first impulse was to hurl himself from harm's way, until a voice, cold and commanding ran out through the still evening air: "Why do you intrude upon the Academy?"
The Masked One was the only beast who seemed unaffected; Terrlin swallowed and called out, "I am Terrlin of Vandashira the living Darkness's service! We seek an audience with Master Tarl Argith!"
There was silence for a moment, a long moment before the voice replied, "What is your reason?"
Terrlin decided to tell the truth, "Jald Nightson has returned and the son of Aleran Nightblade is with him!" That was stretching the truth a bit, but there'd be time for fancy elaborations later.
The effect was startling. The whispers ran through the air like a breeze through stalks of grain, then the voice replied, "Stay there...you shall be allowed inside without fear of harm."
Terrlin allowed himself a sigh of relief...well, part one of this mission complete. Thankfully, all the years since Jald and Aleran had attended the Academy had done nothing to diminish the animosity the Masters held towards them.
The door opened some time later. An armed compliment, more then twice that of Terrlin's own awaited, a tall weasel at their head, holding a well used scimitar at the ready, his one good eye focusing on Terrlin and when he spoke, Terrlin recognized the voice that had commanded the longbow troops, "I am Master Jast of the Academy...High Master Argith wishes to speak to you..."
Terlrin nodded in relief and signaled his entourage, the Masked One remaining with them wordlessly, proceeding by as if he was one of Vanda's soldiers.
Jast led them through the great Academy, up several flights of stairs, where they beheld rooms and offices, several gyms and training rooms where groups of younger beasts were led in drills by their Masters, all the way up to nearly the top floor where Jast stopped in front of a carved door with the symbol of an eagle rising above a sun, the Academy's symbol...and marking the room of the mightiest warrior within its walls.
Jast knocked on the door twice, paused, and rapped another three times before stepping back quickly and waiting.
Seconds later the door creaked open, held by a tall figure that had the look of a bodyguard around him. The true attention of Terrlin and his array was on the beat sitting at a desk at the far end of the room.
Argith had come to power nearly fifteen years ago, after being made a master, graduating top of his class after Aleran Nightblade and Jald Nightson, becoming the chief graduate by default after the 'traitors' had left the Academy.
The previous master Ulrich had been challenged. Ulrich had lost and been dispatched by his successor Tarl Argith.
Argith was a fox, tall and muscular even for his species, dressed in the tight tunic afforded his rank, a dark blue that contrasted with his dark red fur, and carrying a broadsword at his side, Argith looked every inch the warrior and killer he was meant to be.
Setting aside, several forms, The Master of the Academy's dark eyes turned to Terrlin and his group, "Vandashira sent you..."
"She did."
Argith smiled, "My dearest mate has never ceased to let me down..."
"Your...mate?" Terrlin failed to restrain his surprise and even the Masked One looked a bit put off guard.
"Indeed." Argith replied without a change in expression, "My mate and my partner, despite we rarely see one another...I take it hunters are after her head again?"
Terrlin wondered if Argith had been Vanda's mate before or after he had become master of the Academy...probably before. It'd explain quite a lot about how Argith defeated a supposedly better warrior such as Ulrich in single combat...it explained it perfectly at that...and Argith must have been Vanda's one contact who knew her location
"I suppose it is Jald Nightson and Eroket Nightblade," Argith practically spat the names out, "That are after her head...and I doubt Jald Nightson will want to sit idly by this Academy...we were such good friends..." The sarcasm and vitriol were greatly evident in the fox warrior's voice.
"Yes, milord," Terrlin replied, adopting extreme respect for Tarl Argith...he doubted Vanda'd trouble herself for him over her mate.
"I never thought he'd come back...not after he betrayed us and set off with the Calpathions..." Argith was merely musing, a claw pressed to his chin thoughtfully before he smiled coldly, "He was always a dutiful student when he was here...me, him and Aleran were classmates...until they got selected as partners for the Graduation...ended up killing their instructor and running off together..." He snarled angrily before composing himself, "Anybeast else with our erstwhile hunters?"
"Boneflower Windlass goes with Eroket Nightblade and Davrag Joris with Jald Nightson...both are warriors of no small skill."
Argith dismissed them with a wave of a paw. "Never heard of them...Eroket Nightblade, Aleran's son, is not an ally of Jald Nightson's?"
Terrlinr restrained a grin as he realized his advantage over Vanda's mate, "They have been enemies for years..."
"Oh, this is rich..." Argith grinned ferally, showing gleaming fangs, his dark eyes practically gleaming. "I'll need to remake Jald's acquaintance...before I kill him anyways...Vanda may whine about me spoiling her fun, but she'll deal with it."
The Masked One restrained a small flinch, noticeable to Argith's eyes, but he ignored it and nodded to Terrlin. "Please sit...I'll call for food and drink for you and your group, quarters will be prepared...and you can tell me the entire news...I hope our hunters get far though...maybe to us," Argith smirked, his predatory gaze traveling over the seven in front of him as he nodded to Jast, "Because this is shaping up to be a most interesting endeavor...most interesting indeed."