Davrag Joris raced across Kolma as fast as his legs could take him,
which was a considerable speed. Small rocks and edges tore into his
footpaws but he brushed aside the pain in light of what he had to gain. He
knew pain, pain was his friend, pain was an obstacle to overcome and
overcome it he would.
A different sort of enemy nearly overcame Davrag that day. That enemy came in the form of fatigue, of thirst, of hunger and of the intense day's heat as opposed to the searing cold of night's chill kiss.
Davrag's speed slowed from a run to a jog as he glided over the harsh terrain, amber eyes half closed against the wind. He allowed his breath to come in ragged gasps as he reached to his black cloak and undid the fastenings before giving it to the wind. Dead weight and a generally constricting garment was completely unnecessary. Then the jog slowed to a walk which slowed to a stumbling pace.
It was luck that kept the ebony furred stoat alive. He didn't even know where he was going and it was a miracle then he hadn't managed to walk off a cliff yet.
He stumbled, tripping over a rock, falling to one knee. Davrag clenched a fist, raising it at the sky, howling with all his rage and pain. "I won't die here! I won't! I am Davrag Joris, greatest warrior of Calishan! I won't die to a land, a place!"
He drew his sword, dug it into the earth and heaved himself to his feet. "And Eroket...and Jald are alive. Because, because I will kill them." He laughed, almost madly, "Yes. It is my destiny to kill them. BY VULPUZ I WON'T DIE HERE!!!!"
No other worldly entity heard his scream and conviction-at least none that have given their opinions on the issue. And no entity came to his rescue.
He was going to die here! In this terrain, so far from his Calishan, from the sea that surrounded it. It wasn't supposed to end this way, it couldn't end this way! The world had a greater purpose for him yet. It had to!
Denial was a poor weapon against the elements, though.
"Won't...die..." His legs gave way, the sword slipping from his grasp. He sank to a knee, struggled to his feet and by some miracle, possibly the overwhelming hatred powering his life, managed three more steps before he crumpled to the ground and lay there like a broken doll.
But even though no deity or spirit had heard Davrag's scream, it did not mean a beast of flesh and blood hadn't.
"Sir!"
"What...? Where...am I?"
Amber eyes cracked open and forms came into focus. He recognized them, too. "Ren...Silter?"
"Don't try to talk, Davrag." A canteen was pressed to his mouth and he drank of cool, sweet water. His raised an ebony paw, moving from under a dark cloak to grip the canteen, drinking greedily.
A moment later, he couched, choking on the water and he felt a paw remove the canteen. "You must have been running without rest for at least a day, sir."
"I wasn't keeping score." Davrag struggled into a sitting position, reaching to his side instinctively. "My swords! Where are my-"
Silter interrupted him. "We got your swords, sir. It was easier to carry you separately. Lucky thing we heard you shouting or we'd never have found you."
Ren was next to reply. The poker faced stoat was flanked by several beasts, obviously for Silter's lack of trust. "Where're your Academy beasts?"
"Dead for all I know." Davrag growled. "We had a truce and some damn mouse broke it." He looked for a way to phrase it without looking like a coward in front of his troops. He knew his first slip up would be his last. "Yarel told me to find the rest of you while the Academy soldiers held 'em off."
Ren and Silter exchanged a small look. Ren shrugged lightly and Silter nodded. "What about Exles?"
"Dead. I saw him killed back in Tilverin by the ermine Eroket Nightblade."
Silter and Ren showed no emotion if they were surprised. Ren shrugged, "Go figure. He was a psychopath. It was bound to happen eventually."
Davrag shrugged and lay back, "Get me some food...I'm starving. Come to think of it, where the hell am I?"
Silter smiled slightly. "Without Exles and on your own, I'm shocked you made it this far, Davrag. You're in Shadows Keep, in the heart of Kolma."
Davrag's eyes widened as Ren continued, "In the home of the Living Darkness."
Davrag felt like laughing and crying at once. He had made it to his 'target's.' home. So what the hell was he supposed to do now?
"Right," he hissed, struggling out of the rough bed, trying to get to his feet. "Wonderful."
"She requested your presence for dinner, Sir." Silter replied, helping Davrag to his feet.
Davrag noticed he was dressed in his old Academy Master tunic and was pleased to see his swords, still in their scabbards, leaning against the wall. Davrag retrieved them and buckled them onto his belt. Smiling as he felt feeling coming back into his body, he flexed slightly and nodded to Silter. "Tell her Majesty I'll be there shortly...it is night, right?"
Silter nodded. "Aye. C'mon, Ren."
Ren nodded and signaled the other beasts who exited. Silter turned and gave Davrag a small, meaningful look and followed Ren outside. Davrag sat back on the bed and rubbed his temples, considering this strange turn of fate.
It was another ten minutes before Silter arrived. "She's ready for you, Davrag."
Davrag nodded and rose to his feet, dressed in his tunic and armed. For a moment he was surprised Silter was allowing him to keep his swords but on reflection, with the bodyguards and the legendary vixen's own skill, that probably wouldn't make a difference.
Davrag walked down the dimly lit corridors, eyes well used to seeing in gloom and thus he had no problem keeping Silter in his line of vision.
There were few doors in the place, Davrag noticed. The guards carried themselves with an air of fanaticism that Davrag almost respected.
He passed through an arch into a large, open room. A large table rested in the center with a large repast of food set upon it. His attention, despite his hunger, was drawn to the beast at the head of the table.
Vandashira was not what Davrag Joris had expected whatsoever. She reclined back in a majestic chair covered with crimson velvet. Her ebony black fur was well groomed and her cold eyes watched Davrag without blinking. "You are the hunter, then."
Davrag nodded, his amber eyes narrowing. "That is me, Lady Vandashira."
Vanda's cold eyes ran over his body, studying him. "A traitor and an opportunist who murders when it suits him is what I see you are. Though, you aren't unskilled with the blades you carry. Now," She smiled, though the gesture made her cold features fiercer rather then more comforting, "I have seen what you are capable of. I know what you are. Davrag Joris of Calishan, raised and trained by Gadric Kurion."
"I was there. I know the story of my life quite well." Davrag smiled coldly. Vandashira both repulsed and allured him at once. Every one of her motions and gestures both repelled and attracted him.
Davrag took a seat and eyed the food before he dared to pluck a small berry-he figured it was all imported or stolen, and didn't really care- and place it in his mouth, chewing methodically before swallowing.
No poison, his senses screamed at him. As if acting on the intense need to send away the maddening hunger, Davrag tore into his meal with savage hunger, not caring for poison any more.
Vandashira smiled. "Kolma can have this effect. Trust me, I know."
Davrag swallowed his meal and replied. "So you know what I am and you let me live?"
Vanda nodded, taking a bite out of a piece of some unidentified meat that Davrag was rather pleased he couldn't identify. She smiled coldly again, "Of course. You embody many qualities I find...admirable. I didn't rise to the top by brute force. Why would I when I could have implemented the many...talents we share?" She raised a goblet of wine to her lips and sipped delicately.
"So, kill me or offer me a job. I'm damn sick of led around on this hunt on a leash. First by Jald, then Tarl Argith, and if it's back to you, I'd rather die."
Vandashira laughed as the guards and Silter gave Davrag a look of disbelief. The dark furred fox waved a paw as a guard stepped forward and the beast backed down. "You mentioned Tarl. I heard about his death. The fool is unlamented."
Davrag sneered, "So, what do you want of me?"
"Davrag Joris was born to a family indebted to Gadric Kurion. When he was very young, Kurion sent a team of killers to murder his family. His parents died, his siblings were taken to be sold into slavery but young Davrag killed one of his attackers with an implemented weapon. Impressed, the others took him before their leader and Kurion took a liking to the boy's ruthlessness and cruelty.
"Young Davrag grew and Gadric trained him in the ways of the streets and young Davrag was educated in the fine arts of swordplay. Davrag became a killer and he was one of the best there was on Calishan. He began taking on more ambitious jobs and on one of those jobs, he met the barbarian weasel Hallic and the poisoner Verria. He took them back with him to Calishan where he met the ferret torturer Arithia and the orphan Arredon Toroth. After five years of training and organizing, Davrag Joris formed the Five.
"Together they became the most feared team of mercenaries. And two years ago Geras Iridanis, a splinter from the Death watch arrived. He launched a brutal takeover against Crimson Tears."
"And I killed my mentor and former master Gadric Kurion." Davrag waved a paw. "Like I said, I was there. What do you want?"
"I want you, Davrag Joris...as an ally in Calishan, ruling Crimson Tears. I want to see you standing over the corpses of your enemies."
Davrag smiled, "I'm honored...here I thought it was because I was handsome."
Vanda chuckled lightly, setting aside her empty plate and nodded to Davrag as she rose. "Come with me tonight, Davrag. I do believe we could arrange something."
Davrag hid a smirk and stood, following the ebony furred vixen. Looks like that little 'kill her or join her' question was answered.
A different sort of enemy nearly overcame Davrag that day. That enemy came in the form of fatigue, of thirst, of hunger and of the intense day's heat as opposed to the searing cold of night's chill kiss.
Davrag's speed slowed from a run to a jog as he glided over the harsh terrain, amber eyes half closed against the wind. He allowed his breath to come in ragged gasps as he reached to his black cloak and undid the fastenings before giving it to the wind. Dead weight and a generally constricting garment was completely unnecessary. Then the jog slowed to a walk which slowed to a stumbling pace.
It was luck that kept the ebony furred stoat alive. He didn't even know where he was going and it was a miracle then he hadn't managed to walk off a cliff yet.
He stumbled, tripping over a rock, falling to one knee. Davrag clenched a fist, raising it at the sky, howling with all his rage and pain. "I won't die here! I won't! I am Davrag Joris, greatest warrior of Calishan! I won't die to a land, a place!"
He drew his sword, dug it into the earth and heaved himself to his feet. "And Eroket...and Jald are alive. Because, because I will kill them." He laughed, almost madly, "Yes. It is my destiny to kill them. BY VULPUZ I WON'T DIE HERE!!!!"
No other worldly entity heard his scream and conviction-at least none that have given their opinions on the issue. And no entity came to his rescue.
He was going to die here! In this terrain, so far from his Calishan, from the sea that surrounded it. It wasn't supposed to end this way, it couldn't end this way! The world had a greater purpose for him yet. It had to!
Denial was a poor weapon against the elements, though.
"Won't...die..." His legs gave way, the sword slipping from his grasp. He sank to a knee, struggled to his feet and by some miracle, possibly the overwhelming hatred powering his life, managed three more steps before he crumpled to the ground and lay there like a broken doll.
But even though no deity or spirit had heard Davrag's scream, it did not mean a beast of flesh and blood hadn't.
"Sir!"
"What...? Where...am I?"
Amber eyes cracked open and forms came into focus. He recognized them, too. "Ren...Silter?"
"Don't try to talk, Davrag." A canteen was pressed to his mouth and he drank of cool, sweet water. His raised an ebony paw, moving from under a dark cloak to grip the canteen, drinking greedily.
A moment later, he couched, choking on the water and he felt a paw remove the canteen. "You must have been running without rest for at least a day, sir."
"I wasn't keeping score." Davrag struggled into a sitting position, reaching to his side instinctively. "My swords! Where are my-"
Silter interrupted him. "We got your swords, sir. It was easier to carry you separately. Lucky thing we heard you shouting or we'd never have found you."
Ren was next to reply. The poker faced stoat was flanked by several beasts, obviously for Silter's lack of trust. "Where're your Academy beasts?"
"Dead for all I know." Davrag growled. "We had a truce and some damn mouse broke it." He looked for a way to phrase it without looking like a coward in front of his troops. He knew his first slip up would be his last. "Yarel told me to find the rest of you while the Academy soldiers held 'em off."
Ren and Silter exchanged a small look. Ren shrugged lightly and Silter nodded. "What about Exles?"
"Dead. I saw him killed back in Tilverin by the ermine Eroket Nightblade."
Silter and Ren showed no emotion if they were surprised. Ren shrugged, "Go figure. He was a psychopath. It was bound to happen eventually."
Davrag shrugged and lay back, "Get me some food...I'm starving. Come to think of it, where the hell am I?"
Silter smiled slightly. "Without Exles and on your own, I'm shocked you made it this far, Davrag. You're in Shadows Keep, in the heart of Kolma."
Davrag's eyes widened as Ren continued, "In the home of the Living Darkness."
Davrag felt like laughing and crying at once. He had made it to his 'target's.' home. So what the hell was he supposed to do now?
"Right," he hissed, struggling out of the rough bed, trying to get to his feet. "Wonderful."
"She requested your presence for dinner, Sir." Silter replied, helping Davrag to his feet.
Davrag noticed he was dressed in his old Academy Master tunic and was pleased to see his swords, still in their scabbards, leaning against the wall. Davrag retrieved them and buckled them onto his belt. Smiling as he felt feeling coming back into his body, he flexed slightly and nodded to Silter. "Tell her Majesty I'll be there shortly...it is night, right?"
Silter nodded. "Aye. C'mon, Ren."
Ren nodded and signaled the other beasts who exited. Silter turned and gave Davrag a small, meaningful look and followed Ren outside. Davrag sat back on the bed and rubbed his temples, considering this strange turn of fate.
It was another ten minutes before Silter arrived. "She's ready for you, Davrag."
Davrag nodded and rose to his feet, dressed in his tunic and armed. For a moment he was surprised Silter was allowing him to keep his swords but on reflection, with the bodyguards and the legendary vixen's own skill, that probably wouldn't make a difference.
Davrag walked down the dimly lit corridors, eyes well used to seeing in gloom and thus he had no problem keeping Silter in his line of vision.
There were few doors in the place, Davrag noticed. The guards carried themselves with an air of fanaticism that Davrag almost respected.
He passed through an arch into a large, open room. A large table rested in the center with a large repast of food set upon it. His attention, despite his hunger, was drawn to the beast at the head of the table.
Vandashira was not what Davrag Joris had expected whatsoever. She reclined back in a majestic chair covered with crimson velvet. Her ebony black fur was well groomed and her cold eyes watched Davrag without blinking. "You are the hunter, then."
Davrag nodded, his amber eyes narrowing. "That is me, Lady Vandashira."
Vanda's cold eyes ran over his body, studying him. "A traitor and an opportunist who murders when it suits him is what I see you are. Though, you aren't unskilled with the blades you carry. Now," She smiled, though the gesture made her cold features fiercer rather then more comforting, "I have seen what you are capable of. I know what you are. Davrag Joris of Calishan, raised and trained by Gadric Kurion."
"I was there. I know the story of my life quite well." Davrag smiled coldly. Vandashira both repulsed and allured him at once. Every one of her motions and gestures both repelled and attracted him.
Davrag took a seat and eyed the food before he dared to pluck a small berry-he figured it was all imported or stolen, and didn't really care- and place it in his mouth, chewing methodically before swallowing.
No poison, his senses screamed at him. As if acting on the intense need to send away the maddening hunger, Davrag tore into his meal with savage hunger, not caring for poison any more.
Vandashira smiled. "Kolma can have this effect. Trust me, I know."
Davrag swallowed his meal and replied. "So you know what I am and you let me live?"
Vanda nodded, taking a bite out of a piece of some unidentified meat that Davrag was rather pleased he couldn't identify. She smiled coldly again, "Of course. You embody many qualities I find...admirable. I didn't rise to the top by brute force. Why would I when I could have implemented the many...talents we share?" She raised a goblet of wine to her lips and sipped delicately.
"So, kill me or offer me a job. I'm damn sick of led around on this hunt on a leash. First by Jald, then Tarl Argith, and if it's back to you, I'd rather die."
Vandashira laughed as the guards and Silter gave Davrag a look of disbelief. The dark furred fox waved a paw as a guard stepped forward and the beast backed down. "You mentioned Tarl. I heard about his death. The fool is unlamented."
Davrag sneered, "So, what do you want of me?"
"Davrag Joris was born to a family indebted to Gadric Kurion. When he was very young, Kurion sent a team of killers to murder his family. His parents died, his siblings were taken to be sold into slavery but young Davrag killed one of his attackers with an implemented weapon. Impressed, the others took him before their leader and Kurion took a liking to the boy's ruthlessness and cruelty.
"Young Davrag grew and Gadric trained him in the ways of the streets and young Davrag was educated in the fine arts of swordplay. Davrag became a killer and he was one of the best there was on Calishan. He began taking on more ambitious jobs and on one of those jobs, he met the barbarian weasel Hallic and the poisoner Verria. He took them back with him to Calishan where he met the ferret torturer Arithia and the orphan Arredon Toroth. After five years of training and organizing, Davrag Joris formed the Five.
"Together they became the most feared team of mercenaries. And two years ago Geras Iridanis, a splinter from the Death watch arrived. He launched a brutal takeover against Crimson Tears."
"And I killed my mentor and former master Gadric Kurion." Davrag waved a paw. "Like I said, I was there. What do you want?"
"I want you, Davrag Joris...as an ally in Calishan, ruling Crimson Tears. I want to see you standing over the corpses of your enemies."
Davrag smiled, "I'm honored...here I thought it was because I was handsome."
Vanda chuckled lightly, setting aside her empty plate and nodded to Davrag as she rose. "Come with me tonight, Davrag. I do believe we could arrange something."
Davrag hid a smirk and stood, following the ebony furred vixen. Looks like that little 'kill her or join her' question was answered.