Eroket Nightblade drew his sword in one motion, amber eyes narrowing
in hatred as he beheld the magnificent sight of Shadows Keep.
The structure was nestled in the mountains, rising to nearly their height as it seemed from where Ero stood. "We made it...there she is."
"Surrounded by an army of loyal fanatics who would lay down their lives in moments for her if she ordered it," Jald Nightson replied, viewing the structure. The place seemed to meld with the stone, a spire of pure shadow. This was the dwelling place of one of the darkest beasts in the underworld and certainly one of the deadliest. It was enough to suck the hope from a beasts' soul. But none of the companions were ordinary creatures.
A thin smile lit Deran's face, uncovered by his mask for one. "At last...I knew you'd make it this far."
Eroket's eyes flicked to his one-time best friend. "What?"
Deran shrugged lightly, "It was I who recommended you to Snowshadow of course. Why would I do so if I didn't believe you could get the job done? At any rate, your job is now complete."
"Complete? What do you-"
"You were never expected to make it inside Shadows Keep. You and the other mercenaries provided cover for us. Eroket, you were never this dense, think about it."
Jald frowned, apparently grasping what Deran was saying. The sapphire eyed stoat turned to Boneflower and Morik. "How's Cadion?"
Morik was supporting the mouse who was beginning to recover from the strangling ordeal, "He's getting better. Davrag didn't have time to form a proper noose...it's lucky the damn thing didn't unwind and send him plunging."
Boneflower sighed. "Patched 'im up best I could, Der. I don't think he'll be fighting fit, though."
Eroket, Jald and Deran exchanged looks and Deran shrugged, "Like I said; your job is done here."
"What happened to you, Deran?" Eroket hissed, taking a pawful of Deran's tunic and pulling the other stoat close, surprised as none of the others made a move to stop him. "You used us!"
"It was necessary. As my lord Snowshadow told you, he cannot appear to move against another power lest he is accused of attempting to expand his territory this far south. This was bigger than you at the start, Eroket. You were a fool for not realizing that."
"That was not what he asked you." Morik stood, "I don't know who you were or what you were like, but Eroket seems to think you were different. I come from the Academy so I think I can relate with loyalty but you were Eroket's best friend."
"Eroket got the Calpathions killed for a vendetta," Deran replied coldly, eyes glinting in the midday sun. Eroket took a step back, releasing Deran as he did so.
"How can you say that?! How can you call yourself Deran and say that of me!?"
"I speak the truth and nothing more, Eroket Nightblade. We were friends one but that was a long time ago. You pursued Visla relentlessly and you never stopped to think of the consequences. You allied with a beast like Jihal and never considered once he may have been aiding the Death Watch. You left us in a place where we could be destroyed. We were and it is on your head."
Eroket punched him. Deran's head snapped to one side and a paw gently touched the cut lip. "You are angry. I will make allowances. Normally that would result in a fight until one of us was dead."
"Don't get high and mighty on me, Deran." Eroket snarled at him, fists clenching, "Visla tortured me for days...we were in agreement to find him."
"None would have opposed you after Jald," Deran replied evenly. Here Jald turned away slightly, lips pursing as he kept his thoughts to himself . "Accept your failures. Now if you will excuse me."
Deran selected an arrow from his quiver, removing a piece of flint from his pack and tying his mask to the arrow. With some quick action with the flint, he had the mask burning before he nocked the arrow to the bow, raised it and fired into the sky. "Signal. Lord Skola will have seen it."
"We were your puppets..." Morik snarled, putting a paw on his sword.
"You were invaluable actually." Deran shrugged lightly, turning to leave. "Aren't you going to trying to kill me, Eroket?"
"Our old bond stops me...it buys your life, Deran but that is all it buys!" Eroket snarled, furious at the betrayal, "From this day forth our friendship is over! If I ever see you again I'm going to kill you."
Deran bowed lightly, "Goodbye, old friend." He turned and walked into the darkness, to rejoin the one he had chosen as his master.
He was glad for the darkness, really. Its comforting embrace shielded him from view as he paused to reach a paw to his eyes.
"Better you hate me...better you think I used you. If only I could tell you I lied now, Eroket, my dear friend...don't get caught up in this, I don't want you to die.
"Start a new life somewhere...forget about this world. It'll destroy you as it destroyed me. No, your will and stubbornness won't let you turn back now, my old friend. You'll press on...you'll fight to the death though it may be your own. Goodbye, old friend..."
In the darkness nobeast could see him wipe away his tears.
"We were pawns in a larger game...welcome to the merc world," Muttered Boneflower, paw clenching over the hilt of her blade.
"So, what do we do now? If we go against Vandashira now, we're caught between two armies. This is a power struggle between her and Skola Snowshadow. If we get involved, it could mean our deaths." Morik folded his arms, frowning. Cadion shrugged lightly.
Jald closes his eyes. "Eroket...decide."
"Me? Why me?"
"You're the leader, if any of us are. Haven't you noticed your skill has dramatically improved in the weeks we've trained? Have you any clue how you've nearly been able to match me? You have always shown good judgment. Show it now."
Eroket looked to the face of his mentor, once his great nemesis now his friend. He looked to the face of the one he loved, the faces of two new friends and raised his schianova. "None of you are bound to follow me. But if you do, we're going into Shadows Keep. I swear to all of you: We will bury Vandashira and Davrag Joris before we bury eachother!"
Boneflower hesitated for a moment and then drew her sword. "We're with ye, Ero." Not a beast spoke out against her
Davrag lingered in bed quite a while after Vanda had left. Stretching luxuriously, he arose from the silk sheets, glad to have a proper resting place for the moment, pausing to inhale the fragrance of the room. Some odd spices, mixed with blood and steel; curious mix, not unlike Vanda herself.
Davrag dressed quickly, donning in a long dark cloak and fastening his favorite twin swords to his belt, walking from the bedroom to Vandashira's throne room.
Vandashira was seated elegantly upon the throne. Her eyes watched Davrag enter nds he bowed from the neck once reaching the center of the room, ignoring the guards stationed as usual, just the same as he ignored all the soldiers in Shadows Keep, "My lady..."
"Davrag." She replied smoothly, rising from the seat, striding towards him, cold smirk in place, making Davrag feel a bit uneasy. "My...partner if you will." She chuckled lightly.
Davrag's gaze was drawn to a pot near the center of the room, made of stone with a crimson liquid bubbling within. His gaze drawn also to a corpse being dragged from the room, cuts delivered over the body in a methodical, slow almost religious fashion. Davrag repressed a shudder and Vanda smirked.
"Once a servant ceases to be useful in this life, he can still serve me in the next. Do not worry, Davrag. I will not always require you here. That will not be your fate."
"Glad to hear it..." Davrag muttered lightly, turning to see Ren rush into the room, eyes widened, "Ren, what's wrong?!"
The normally laconic stoat was breathing heavily, eyes wide as he hissed, "Did I catch you two at a bad time, Davrag?" His tone almost sarcastic, Davrag noted.
"You will speak to Davrag with respect, Ren," Vandashira hissed coldly, obviously debating if Ren was more useful as he was or as a corpse. "He is now my partner."
Ren stared at the two of them and began to laugh. "You have chosen a perfect moment for that! We are under attack!"
"What?!" Davrag stepped forward, ignoring Vanda's shocked look. Here was a chance to prove himself to his new partner, "From who? Tilverin, would they dare-"
"No, not Tilverin..." Ren replied, a sardonic smile forming on his lips.
"Who?!" Vanda snarled, drawing a sword.
"Snowshadow." Ren no longer smiled."
Eroket's company had been found by Skola's in a remarkably short amount of time and things had gone in quite the opposite direction as expected for a discovery.
Skola had actually appreciated the five choosing to say, requesting they join his forces. A small conference had revealed a unanimous decision to remain with Skola's troops. Better to be with them then in their path.
Cadion had stayed behind with the group Skola left behind, the mouse judged as not fit to fight by the others.
Eroket looked to the side, seeing Deran looking back at him, "Hey..."
"What do you want?" Eroket replied coldly, looking away from him.
"Look. I know you feel betrayed-"
"That's a start."
"I wanted you to leave...Ero, I didn't want you caught up in this..."
"Too late." Eroket replied coldly.
"I wanted you to live! I didn't care what you thought of me! It would have been enough for if you were alive, Ero."
"Shouldn't you be worried I'd get this group killed just like the Calpathions?"
"I...I didn't mean that." Deran lowered his eyes, looking hurt.
"Sure."
"Eroket, I don't care what you think of me, but...I'll watch your back."
Eroket turned away and Deran opened his mouth to speak then stopped and turned away, "Hey, Deran?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
Morik was standing close to Jald and Boneflower, looking oddly controlled. "Academy training'n all that. We learned to discipline ourselves before a battle."
Boneflower smiled and squeezed his paw. "Stay close by me, Morik..."
"No dying. It's a pact."
"Aye, a pact."
Jald kept his eyes lowered. He didn't want to voice his thoughts. This would be a difficult battle, he was certain of it.
That had been an hour ago.
"Are they inside?!" Vandashira snapped at Ren.
The stoat shook his head, "Not now, but it's only a matter of time. Our forces outside tried to engage them and have been practically wiped out...just a matter of time."
Davrag frowned, "Ren, mobilize our forces and get them together...try to use the place to our advantage."
"Aye, sir." Ren saluted.
Vandashira looked horrified, "Snowshadow mobilizing against me...it's impossible!"
"Apparently it is not, my dear." Davrag replied in a voice dripping with sarcasm, eyes narrowing as he folded his arms. "Ren, do what I said! Then get our company, and as many others as you can and get them out of here! Get to Tilverin and I'll meet you there if things go wrong."
Ren nodded and ran from the room. Vandashira looked to Davrag, "You speak of losing?"
"We have been the victims of a surprise attacks...yes, we have a very good chance of losing! Does your anger require enemies, Vandashira? If it does, then go look from your battlements where you will assuredly find many waiting to receive you! I am going to deal with the author of this chaos!"
Drawing his swords, Davrag raced from the room, leaving Vandashira to ponder the fate of her empire.
Jald struck down another black uniformed guard, staining his fur and clothing with even more blood. The ferret was close to Morik and Boneflower, the three fighting as a team, having lost sight of Eroekt and Deran in the first moments of the fighting. Their first opposition at the gate had practically dissolved, allowing Snowshadow's forces into Shadows Keep with greater ease then Jald would have deemed possible.
Jald struck down another opponent who emerged from a corridor. "Boneflower, Morik! Vandashira should be in the throne room. Try to get there, I'll deal with things here!"
Boneflower and Morik gave a quick nod, moving down the corridor quick as possible.
Jald smirked lightly, feeling his bloodlust rise, facing another guard who leveled a spear at him. The ferret twirled his sword, a feral grin revealing his sharpened teeth. "So, how shall we do this?"
Davrag Joris left Vandashira in the throne room, uncaring about her fate now. Survival and the death of Eroket were at the top of his agenda now. Nothing else mattered to him.
The shadows provided cover for him, only needing to dispatch the occasional enemy with ease as he battled his way through Shadows Keep.
"There you are..." He whispered, sighting the ermine, close to another beast who Davrag knew instantly. That abominable Masked One...without the mask, now, Davrag had seen him without it, though.
The dark stoat crept through the shadows, stealthily as possible to Eroket's vulnerable back. A grin of sweet victory touched his mouth and he rose, raising his swords to plunge them into his enemy's back.
"Ero, get down!" That damned Masked One again! Davrag flung himself back as Eroket whirled, slicing at his midriff.
"Davrag!"
"You remember me, boy! I am honored! So, you did manage to beat Yarel and my other lackeys."
"Nowhere to hide now, Davrag!" Eroket swung again, aiming at Davrag's neck, snarling as the other stoat parried the blow with the raising of one blade.
"Who was planning on hiding, boy?"
Davrag exploded into action, whirling his swords at Eroket's stomach, finding it inexplicably parried. Eroket disengaged, and Davrag jumped back and forward, flinging himself to the side, his feet finding themselves at the wall and he kicked off, landing behind that Masked One.
"Deran, behind you!" Eroket yelled.
Deran tried to turn as Davrag's sword skewered him through the side, retracting in a quick motion, a kick flinging Deran to the ground.
"Deran!"
"Move and I'll kill him!" Davrag laid his sword edge at Deran's neck, smirking.
"You cowardly bastard!"
Davrag just sighed. "Poor little Ero...well, if you want me, I'll be in Kolma!"
Deran's blue eyes turned to Ero. "Ero...sorry..."
"By Vulpuz...even run through, he doesn't shut up. Stop yapping."
"I never...meant...what I said back there, Ero...just kill Davrag...that's all I ask..."
"Your time is up, my friend." The sword at Deran's neck was removed, the point turned down. With a quick motion, Davrag plunged it into Deran's chest.
"DERAN!" The scream was ripped from Eroket's throat as Davrag removed the blade from the other stoat. Eyes clouded by sudden tears, Eroket rushed forward.
Davrag laughed and sprang back, rushing back, vanishing down the corridor, "By the river! Come for me if you want to die!"
Eroket stopped, looking at Deran, whispering silently. "Apology accepted...and returned, my friend."
But Deran couldn't hear him.
Morik and Boneflower had soon realized they had no clue where they were going. The two, by some twist of luck, were by the throne room, however.
Morik swallowed. "No dying..."
"Count on it..."
Morik smiled lightly, "I love you..."
"Love ye too..." She smiled lightly before looking ahead. "Let's go."
Morik nodded and raced alongside her, rushing into the throne room, finding it oddly deserted.
"So, the conquering heroes emerge at last!" A sibilant cold voice called, tinged with hate. "The Academy whelp and the whore against the Living Darkness. Amusing, children."
"Vandashira!" Morik yelled, knowing the source of the voice instantly.
Vandashira emerged from behind the large throne, striding slowly to a stone pot, taking a look in the crimson liquid, "Skola Snowshadow grew a backbone, then...He had brought the fight to my doorstep, so to speak. I'm surprised only you two slipped through."
Morik rushed at her, sword at the ready, bringing it up in a sudden move.
Vanda moved suddenly, flinging her cloak at him, distracting him for a moment. The vixen darted forward, kicking him in the head and sending him into the wall. Stunned, Morik collapsed.
Boneflower withdrew a dagger, flinging it at the vixen. Vanda snarled in pain as it bit into her shoulder, showing a deal of self restraint as she removed it. "Nice one, little slut."
Boneflower's eyes narrowed, "No more cloaks t'throw."
"Very well. Die in torment." The vixen drew the pair of blade at her waist and lunged, stabbing at Boneflower's waist.
Boneflower managed to sidestep, slicing down at the vixen's neck. Vandashira managed to roll away swiftly, coming back in a ready position before spring, cutting at Boney's face.
Boneflower parried and Vandashira smiled harshly, twisting the blade to the side and kneeing Boneflower in the gut. "You'll die with Shadows Keep, me and my Darkness."
Boneflower felt her sword leave her paw as Vandashira disarmed her. With a quick motion, Vanda flung her on her back and advanced forward, smiling coldly, kicking her once in the stomach. "May your soul feed Vulpuz."
Vanda suddenly jerked, gasping, her face twisting in pain, "You...dare?"
Morik was standing behind her, paw outstretched as Vanda turned on him, dagger he had thrown buried in her back. With a move, Boneflower charged, slamming into the vixen's back.
Vandashira fell forward, over the pot of crimson liquid, landing on her side with a gasp. Boneflower reached out, taking one of the vixen's dropped swords and advancing forward slowly.
"Stop!"
Boneflower turned to see Skola Snowshadow framed in the doorway, bloodied sword in one paw. He was surrounded by a group of guards. "She is mine."
"Snowshadow!" Vandashira managed to choke out as Skola walked to her. Boneflower rushed to Morik's side, helping him stay on his feet.
"Yes, Darkness. Me. We've practically taken the Keep...some continue to fight, but they won't last long."
"I'm defenseless..." She groaned out, trying to raise her paws, palms up.
"I don't care. So was my brother. So was my father. He lost his mind after your torments, you know. I had to kill him myself...you know what that's like?! To be forced to kill your own father to protect your own life?!"
Skola's blue eyes flare and his teeth clenched in rage as he looked to the crimson liquid. "I've heard of this interesting concoction...acidic, is it not? Your creation, I take it?"
Vandashira's eyes widened as she understood his intentions. "No..."
Boneflower flinched, no pity for Vandashira finding its way into her heart, but she didn't want to watch this. Morik hugged her gently and she buried her head in his shoulder.
"Yes. Goodbye, Vandashira. May you rot in all the hells that ever were." A kick overturned the stone cauldron and the crimson liquid was powerless to resist as gravity pulled it upon its creator's face.
Vandashira's scream pierced the air as the first of the concoction touched her flesh, burning its way through, her body thrashed and twisted as her howls rose and then faded slowly as the liquid burned her tongue away. Skola stood there, watching the death of his enemy with cold, passionless eyes.
Vandashira's body twitched still, after she was dead. When one of Skola's guards reached out with a spear shaft and nudged her body onto its back, all that remained of her face was the skeletal grin of a bare skull.
Eroket had exited Shadows Keep, pursuing Davrag through Kolma as fast as he could. The ermine kept Davrag in view. Which he knew Davrag was allowing him to do.
Davrag eventually stopped, standing on a large hill, swords at his side. "Come on then..."
And Eroket came on, running to the top and swinging at Davrag. The stoat countered the blow with a raised sword, stepping back, allowing Eroket to strike at him, but allowing no blow through.
The river was at their back, but neither took noticed as the blades clashed against one another, skill for skill, and move for move.
Davrag was impressed and a bit shocked at how far the ermine had come. He decided to try a taunt. "You fight better'n that other stoat, kid! But I think you die just the same!"
Eroket snarled in rage and overextended a swing, springing back as quick as he could, but not soon enough to avoid the sword slicing a red line in his stomach. "First blood..."
Davrag smirked, "Not so important as the last, though..."
"True. Ready!"
"So am I!"
They lunged at one another, Davrag slicing at his skull, snarling as Eroket ducked swiftly. Davrag jumped as Ero swung at his leg, kicking the ermine in the face, throwing him back, coming down with a stab, growling as Ero rolled away, coming up with a slash to Davrag's side. Davrag parried it swiftly, backing away. "Not bad..."
With a grin, Davrag turned and ran, nearly vanishing into the shadows of the night. Night...it seemed like only a short time ago it was still midday...had he been pursuing Davrag that long?
Eroket advanced cautiously into the shadows, dimming his mind and letting his instincts take over, not sparing a glance at the rushing waters of the river.
Did a shadow just move? Eroket slashed at it, feeling his blade meet empty air.
Something by the lake! It was gone though. Davrag was playing with him, stalking him. Ero's breathing quickened and his eyes narrowed.
He turned his back on one patch of shadow too long, saw a motion out of the corner of his eye and whirled to parry a slash at his throat.
Davrag wore a smirk, frowning as he saw his strike fail. Eroket backed up, parrying, on the defensive again. Parry and block, parry and dodge. Just like his training sessions.
Eroket lunged to the side and slashed down, finding the attack block, doubling over as Davrag kicked him in the gut. Davrag sliced down as again, expecting the dodge and wasn't disappointed as Ero sidestepped, pivoting and slicing at the ermine's gut, finding his blade blocked again, He brought the other sword up moving the tip at Ero's neck.
Ero moved again and sliced at the outstretched arm.
Davrag's eyes bulged and he restrained a scream as his arm was cut deeply, his sword dropping. Eyes blazing hatred he lunged, pinning Eroket up against a rock face, sword pressing to Ero's, biting into the young ermine's chest. With a growl, Ero manged a slash with his claws at Davrag's face, but the ebon stoat moved back.
Eroket frowned, feeling the killer had a trick left to play yet. He was proven right as Davrag stepped back and spat water into his eyes.
Eroket, blinded, staggered back, slashing wildly, finding Davrag's blade lock around his, twisting to fling both swords away. He barely had time to breath as Davrag flung himself on Eroket, paws locking around the young ermine's throat.
"How much grander this hunt shall be when Eroket Nightblade's life becomes my prize!"
Eroket gasped for breath as it was cut off, his vision dimming as a crimson paw snaked out, feeling pain as something pricked his paw...a sharp rock.
"Ghhh..." He struggled to speak, paw clutching the rock, feeling it dig into his paw painfully.
"What is that?! The final words of Eroket Nightblade?" The grip eased an inch.
"Not...quite!"
The rock swung up into Davrag's face. The killer screamed in pain as half his face was suddenly mutilated by the rock, skin ripping away, grip loosening. Ero took the chance, flinging the rock into Davrag's face with all his might.
Davrag screamed no more as the rock hit him full in the face. The stoat fell back into the river, mutilated face covered in blood, eyes closed.
Eroket turned away as Davrag was borne away by the waters. It was over...Davrag Joris was dead. He spared his enemy one more look, barely caring as Davrag was snagged upon a rock by his cloak. He turned, picked up his sword and started back to Shadows Keep.
Hopefully, he'd find a good reception
The structure was nestled in the mountains, rising to nearly their height as it seemed from where Ero stood. "We made it...there she is."
"Surrounded by an army of loyal fanatics who would lay down their lives in moments for her if she ordered it," Jald Nightson replied, viewing the structure. The place seemed to meld with the stone, a spire of pure shadow. This was the dwelling place of one of the darkest beasts in the underworld and certainly one of the deadliest. It was enough to suck the hope from a beasts' soul. But none of the companions were ordinary creatures.
A thin smile lit Deran's face, uncovered by his mask for one. "At last...I knew you'd make it this far."
Eroket's eyes flicked to his one-time best friend. "What?"
Deran shrugged lightly, "It was I who recommended you to Snowshadow of course. Why would I do so if I didn't believe you could get the job done? At any rate, your job is now complete."
"Complete? What do you-"
"You were never expected to make it inside Shadows Keep. You and the other mercenaries provided cover for us. Eroket, you were never this dense, think about it."
Jald frowned, apparently grasping what Deran was saying. The sapphire eyed stoat turned to Boneflower and Morik. "How's Cadion?"
Morik was supporting the mouse who was beginning to recover from the strangling ordeal, "He's getting better. Davrag didn't have time to form a proper noose...it's lucky the damn thing didn't unwind and send him plunging."
Boneflower sighed. "Patched 'im up best I could, Der. I don't think he'll be fighting fit, though."
Eroket, Jald and Deran exchanged looks and Deran shrugged, "Like I said; your job is done here."
"What happened to you, Deran?" Eroket hissed, taking a pawful of Deran's tunic and pulling the other stoat close, surprised as none of the others made a move to stop him. "You used us!"
"It was necessary. As my lord Snowshadow told you, he cannot appear to move against another power lest he is accused of attempting to expand his territory this far south. This was bigger than you at the start, Eroket. You were a fool for not realizing that."
"That was not what he asked you." Morik stood, "I don't know who you were or what you were like, but Eroket seems to think you were different. I come from the Academy so I think I can relate with loyalty but you were Eroket's best friend."
"Eroket got the Calpathions killed for a vendetta," Deran replied coldly, eyes glinting in the midday sun. Eroket took a step back, releasing Deran as he did so.
"How can you say that?! How can you call yourself Deran and say that of me!?"
"I speak the truth and nothing more, Eroket Nightblade. We were friends one but that was a long time ago. You pursued Visla relentlessly and you never stopped to think of the consequences. You allied with a beast like Jihal and never considered once he may have been aiding the Death Watch. You left us in a place where we could be destroyed. We were and it is on your head."
Eroket punched him. Deran's head snapped to one side and a paw gently touched the cut lip. "You are angry. I will make allowances. Normally that would result in a fight until one of us was dead."
"Don't get high and mighty on me, Deran." Eroket snarled at him, fists clenching, "Visla tortured me for days...we were in agreement to find him."
"None would have opposed you after Jald," Deran replied evenly. Here Jald turned away slightly, lips pursing as he kept his thoughts to himself . "Accept your failures. Now if you will excuse me."
Deran selected an arrow from his quiver, removing a piece of flint from his pack and tying his mask to the arrow. With some quick action with the flint, he had the mask burning before he nocked the arrow to the bow, raised it and fired into the sky. "Signal. Lord Skola will have seen it."
"We were your puppets..." Morik snarled, putting a paw on his sword.
"You were invaluable actually." Deran shrugged lightly, turning to leave. "Aren't you going to trying to kill me, Eroket?"
"Our old bond stops me...it buys your life, Deran but that is all it buys!" Eroket snarled, furious at the betrayal, "From this day forth our friendship is over! If I ever see you again I'm going to kill you."
Deran bowed lightly, "Goodbye, old friend." He turned and walked into the darkness, to rejoin the one he had chosen as his master.
He was glad for the darkness, really. Its comforting embrace shielded him from view as he paused to reach a paw to his eyes.
"Better you hate me...better you think I used you. If only I could tell you I lied now, Eroket, my dear friend...don't get caught up in this, I don't want you to die.
"Start a new life somewhere...forget about this world. It'll destroy you as it destroyed me. No, your will and stubbornness won't let you turn back now, my old friend. You'll press on...you'll fight to the death though it may be your own. Goodbye, old friend..."
In the darkness nobeast could see him wipe away his tears.
"We were pawns in a larger game...welcome to the merc world," Muttered Boneflower, paw clenching over the hilt of her blade.
"So, what do we do now? If we go against Vandashira now, we're caught between two armies. This is a power struggle between her and Skola Snowshadow. If we get involved, it could mean our deaths." Morik folded his arms, frowning. Cadion shrugged lightly.
Jald closes his eyes. "Eroket...decide."
"Me? Why me?"
"You're the leader, if any of us are. Haven't you noticed your skill has dramatically improved in the weeks we've trained? Have you any clue how you've nearly been able to match me? You have always shown good judgment. Show it now."
Eroket looked to the face of his mentor, once his great nemesis now his friend. He looked to the face of the one he loved, the faces of two new friends and raised his schianova. "None of you are bound to follow me. But if you do, we're going into Shadows Keep. I swear to all of you: We will bury Vandashira and Davrag Joris before we bury eachother!"
Boneflower hesitated for a moment and then drew her sword. "We're with ye, Ero." Not a beast spoke out against her
Davrag lingered in bed quite a while after Vanda had left. Stretching luxuriously, he arose from the silk sheets, glad to have a proper resting place for the moment, pausing to inhale the fragrance of the room. Some odd spices, mixed with blood and steel; curious mix, not unlike Vanda herself.
Davrag dressed quickly, donning in a long dark cloak and fastening his favorite twin swords to his belt, walking from the bedroom to Vandashira's throne room.
Vandashira was seated elegantly upon the throne. Her eyes watched Davrag enter nds he bowed from the neck once reaching the center of the room, ignoring the guards stationed as usual, just the same as he ignored all the soldiers in Shadows Keep, "My lady..."
"Davrag." She replied smoothly, rising from the seat, striding towards him, cold smirk in place, making Davrag feel a bit uneasy. "My...partner if you will." She chuckled lightly.
Davrag's gaze was drawn to a pot near the center of the room, made of stone with a crimson liquid bubbling within. His gaze drawn also to a corpse being dragged from the room, cuts delivered over the body in a methodical, slow almost religious fashion. Davrag repressed a shudder and Vanda smirked.
"Once a servant ceases to be useful in this life, he can still serve me in the next. Do not worry, Davrag. I will not always require you here. That will not be your fate."
"Glad to hear it..." Davrag muttered lightly, turning to see Ren rush into the room, eyes widened, "Ren, what's wrong?!"
The normally laconic stoat was breathing heavily, eyes wide as he hissed, "Did I catch you two at a bad time, Davrag?" His tone almost sarcastic, Davrag noted.
"You will speak to Davrag with respect, Ren," Vandashira hissed coldly, obviously debating if Ren was more useful as he was or as a corpse. "He is now my partner."
Ren stared at the two of them and began to laugh. "You have chosen a perfect moment for that! We are under attack!"
"What?!" Davrag stepped forward, ignoring Vanda's shocked look. Here was a chance to prove himself to his new partner, "From who? Tilverin, would they dare-"
"No, not Tilverin..." Ren replied, a sardonic smile forming on his lips.
"Who?!" Vanda snarled, drawing a sword.
"Snowshadow." Ren no longer smiled."
Eroket's company had been found by Skola's in a remarkably short amount of time and things had gone in quite the opposite direction as expected for a discovery.
Skola had actually appreciated the five choosing to say, requesting they join his forces. A small conference had revealed a unanimous decision to remain with Skola's troops. Better to be with them then in their path.
Cadion had stayed behind with the group Skola left behind, the mouse judged as not fit to fight by the others.
Eroket looked to the side, seeing Deran looking back at him, "Hey..."
"What do you want?" Eroket replied coldly, looking away from him.
"Look. I know you feel betrayed-"
"That's a start."
"I wanted you to leave...Ero, I didn't want you caught up in this..."
"Too late." Eroket replied coldly.
"I wanted you to live! I didn't care what you thought of me! It would have been enough for if you were alive, Ero."
"Shouldn't you be worried I'd get this group killed just like the Calpathions?"
"I...I didn't mean that." Deran lowered his eyes, looking hurt.
"Sure."
"Eroket, I don't care what you think of me, but...I'll watch your back."
Eroket turned away and Deran opened his mouth to speak then stopped and turned away, "Hey, Deran?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
Morik was standing close to Jald and Boneflower, looking oddly controlled. "Academy training'n all that. We learned to discipline ourselves before a battle."
Boneflower smiled and squeezed his paw. "Stay close by me, Morik..."
"No dying. It's a pact."
"Aye, a pact."
Jald kept his eyes lowered. He didn't want to voice his thoughts. This would be a difficult battle, he was certain of it.
That had been an hour ago.
"Are they inside?!" Vandashira snapped at Ren.
The stoat shook his head, "Not now, but it's only a matter of time. Our forces outside tried to engage them and have been practically wiped out...just a matter of time."
Davrag frowned, "Ren, mobilize our forces and get them together...try to use the place to our advantage."
"Aye, sir." Ren saluted.
Vandashira looked horrified, "Snowshadow mobilizing against me...it's impossible!"
"Apparently it is not, my dear." Davrag replied in a voice dripping with sarcasm, eyes narrowing as he folded his arms. "Ren, do what I said! Then get our company, and as many others as you can and get them out of here! Get to Tilverin and I'll meet you there if things go wrong."
Ren nodded and ran from the room. Vandashira looked to Davrag, "You speak of losing?"
"We have been the victims of a surprise attacks...yes, we have a very good chance of losing! Does your anger require enemies, Vandashira? If it does, then go look from your battlements where you will assuredly find many waiting to receive you! I am going to deal with the author of this chaos!"
Drawing his swords, Davrag raced from the room, leaving Vandashira to ponder the fate of her empire.
Jald struck down another black uniformed guard, staining his fur and clothing with even more blood. The ferret was close to Morik and Boneflower, the three fighting as a team, having lost sight of Eroekt and Deran in the first moments of the fighting. Their first opposition at the gate had practically dissolved, allowing Snowshadow's forces into Shadows Keep with greater ease then Jald would have deemed possible.
Jald struck down another opponent who emerged from a corridor. "Boneflower, Morik! Vandashira should be in the throne room. Try to get there, I'll deal with things here!"
Boneflower and Morik gave a quick nod, moving down the corridor quick as possible.
Jald smirked lightly, feeling his bloodlust rise, facing another guard who leveled a spear at him. The ferret twirled his sword, a feral grin revealing his sharpened teeth. "So, how shall we do this?"
Davrag Joris left Vandashira in the throne room, uncaring about her fate now. Survival and the death of Eroket were at the top of his agenda now. Nothing else mattered to him.
The shadows provided cover for him, only needing to dispatch the occasional enemy with ease as he battled his way through Shadows Keep.
"There you are..." He whispered, sighting the ermine, close to another beast who Davrag knew instantly. That abominable Masked One...without the mask, now, Davrag had seen him without it, though.
The dark stoat crept through the shadows, stealthily as possible to Eroket's vulnerable back. A grin of sweet victory touched his mouth and he rose, raising his swords to plunge them into his enemy's back.
"Ero, get down!" That damned Masked One again! Davrag flung himself back as Eroket whirled, slicing at his midriff.
"Davrag!"
"You remember me, boy! I am honored! So, you did manage to beat Yarel and my other lackeys."
"Nowhere to hide now, Davrag!" Eroket swung again, aiming at Davrag's neck, snarling as the other stoat parried the blow with the raising of one blade.
"Who was planning on hiding, boy?"
Davrag exploded into action, whirling his swords at Eroket's stomach, finding it inexplicably parried. Eroket disengaged, and Davrag jumped back and forward, flinging himself to the side, his feet finding themselves at the wall and he kicked off, landing behind that Masked One.
"Deran, behind you!" Eroket yelled.
Deran tried to turn as Davrag's sword skewered him through the side, retracting in a quick motion, a kick flinging Deran to the ground.
"Deran!"
"Move and I'll kill him!" Davrag laid his sword edge at Deran's neck, smirking.
"You cowardly bastard!"
Davrag just sighed. "Poor little Ero...well, if you want me, I'll be in Kolma!"
Deran's blue eyes turned to Ero. "Ero...sorry..."
"By Vulpuz...even run through, he doesn't shut up. Stop yapping."
"I never...meant...what I said back there, Ero...just kill Davrag...that's all I ask..."
"Your time is up, my friend." The sword at Deran's neck was removed, the point turned down. With a quick motion, Davrag plunged it into Deran's chest.
"DERAN!" The scream was ripped from Eroket's throat as Davrag removed the blade from the other stoat. Eyes clouded by sudden tears, Eroket rushed forward.
Davrag laughed and sprang back, rushing back, vanishing down the corridor, "By the river! Come for me if you want to die!"
Eroket stopped, looking at Deran, whispering silently. "Apology accepted...and returned, my friend."
But Deran couldn't hear him.
Morik and Boneflower had soon realized they had no clue where they were going. The two, by some twist of luck, were by the throne room, however.
Morik swallowed. "No dying..."
"Count on it..."
Morik smiled lightly, "I love you..."
"Love ye too..." She smiled lightly before looking ahead. "Let's go."
Morik nodded and raced alongside her, rushing into the throne room, finding it oddly deserted.
"So, the conquering heroes emerge at last!" A sibilant cold voice called, tinged with hate. "The Academy whelp and the whore against the Living Darkness. Amusing, children."
"Vandashira!" Morik yelled, knowing the source of the voice instantly.
Vandashira emerged from behind the large throne, striding slowly to a stone pot, taking a look in the crimson liquid, "Skola Snowshadow grew a backbone, then...He had brought the fight to my doorstep, so to speak. I'm surprised only you two slipped through."
Morik rushed at her, sword at the ready, bringing it up in a sudden move.
Vanda moved suddenly, flinging her cloak at him, distracting him for a moment. The vixen darted forward, kicking him in the head and sending him into the wall. Stunned, Morik collapsed.
Boneflower withdrew a dagger, flinging it at the vixen. Vanda snarled in pain as it bit into her shoulder, showing a deal of self restraint as she removed it. "Nice one, little slut."
Boneflower's eyes narrowed, "No more cloaks t'throw."
"Very well. Die in torment." The vixen drew the pair of blade at her waist and lunged, stabbing at Boneflower's waist.
Boneflower managed to sidestep, slicing down at the vixen's neck. Vandashira managed to roll away swiftly, coming back in a ready position before spring, cutting at Boney's face.
Boneflower parried and Vandashira smiled harshly, twisting the blade to the side and kneeing Boneflower in the gut. "You'll die with Shadows Keep, me and my Darkness."
Boneflower felt her sword leave her paw as Vandashira disarmed her. With a quick motion, Vanda flung her on her back and advanced forward, smiling coldly, kicking her once in the stomach. "May your soul feed Vulpuz."
Vanda suddenly jerked, gasping, her face twisting in pain, "You...dare?"
Morik was standing behind her, paw outstretched as Vanda turned on him, dagger he had thrown buried in her back. With a move, Boneflower charged, slamming into the vixen's back.
Vandashira fell forward, over the pot of crimson liquid, landing on her side with a gasp. Boneflower reached out, taking one of the vixen's dropped swords and advancing forward slowly.
"Stop!"
Boneflower turned to see Skola Snowshadow framed in the doorway, bloodied sword in one paw. He was surrounded by a group of guards. "She is mine."
"Snowshadow!" Vandashira managed to choke out as Skola walked to her. Boneflower rushed to Morik's side, helping him stay on his feet.
"Yes, Darkness. Me. We've practically taken the Keep...some continue to fight, but they won't last long."
"I'm defenseless..." She groaned out, trying to raise her paws, palms up.
"I don't care. So was my brother. So was my father. He lost his mind after your torments, you know. I had to kill him myself...you know what that's like?! To be forced to kill your own father to protect your own life?!"
Skola's blue eyes flare and his teeth clenched in rage as he looked to the crimson liquid. "I've heard of this interesting concoction...acidic, is it not? Your creation, I take it?"
Vandashira's eyes widened as she understood his intentions. "No..."
Boneflower flinched, no pity for Vandashira finding its way into her heart, but she didn't want to watch this. Morik hugged her gently and she buried her head in his shoulder.
"Yes. Goodbye, Vandashira. May you rot in all the hells that ever were." A kick overturned the stone cauldron and the crimson liquid was powerless to resist as gravity pulled it upon its creator's face.
Vandashira's scream pierced the air as the first of the concoction touched her flesh, burning its way through, her body thrashed and twisted as her howls rose and then faded slowly as the liquid burned her tongue away. Skola stood there, watching the death of his enemy with cold, passionless eyes.
Vandashira's body twitched still, after she was dead. When one of Skola's guards reached out with a spear shaft and nudged her body onto its back, all that remained of her face was the skeletal grin of a bare skull.
Eroket had exited Shadows Keep, pursuing Davrag through Kolma as fast as he could. The ermine kept Davrag in view. Which he knew Davrag was allowing him to do.
Davrag eventually stopped, standing on a large hill, swords at his side. "Come on then..."
And Eroket came on, running to the top and swinging at Davrag. The stoat countered the blow with a raised sword, stepping back, allowing Eroket to strike at him, but allowing no blow through.
The river was at their back, but neither took noticed as the blades clashed against one another, skill for skill, and move for move.
Davrag was impressed and a bit shocked at how far the ermine had come. He decided to try a taunt. "You fight better'n that other stoat, kid! But I think you die just the same!"
Eroket snarled in rage and overextended a swing, springing back as quick as he could, but not soon enough to avoid the sword slicing a red line in his stomach. "First blood..."
Davrag smirked, "Not so important as the last, though..."
"True. Ready!"
"So am I!"
They lunged at one another, Davrag slicing at his skull, snarling as Eroket ducked swiftly. Davrag jumped as Ero swung at his leg, kicking the ermine in the face, throwing him back, coming down with a stab, growling as Ero rolled away, coming up with a slash to Davrag's side. Davrag parried it swiftly, backing away. "Not bad..."
With a grin, Davrag turned and ran, nearly vanishing into the shadows of the night. Night...it seemed like only a short time ago it was still midday...had he been pursuing Davrag that long?
Eroket advanced cautiously into the shadows, dimming his mind and letting his instincts take over, not sparing a glance at the rushing waters of the river.
Did a shadow just move? Eroket slashed at it, feeling his blade meet empty air.
Something by the lake! It was gone though. Davrag was playing with him, stalking him. Ero's breathing quickened and his eyes narrowed.
He turned his back on one patch of shadow too long, saw a motion out of the corner of his eye and whirled to parry a slash at his throat.
Davrag wore a smirk, frowning as he saw his strike fail. Eroket backed up, parrying, on the defensive again. Parry and block, parry and dodge. Just like his training sessions.
Eroket lunged to the side and slashed down, finding the attack block, doubling over as Davrag kicked him in the gut. Davrag sliced down as again, expecting the dodge and wasn't disappointed as Ero sidestepped, pivoting and slicing at the ermine's gut, finding his blade blocked again, He brought the other sword up moving the tip at Ero's neck.
Ero moved again and sliced at the outstretched arm.
Davrag's eyes bulged and he restrained a scream as his arm was cut deeply, his sword dropping. Eyes blazing hatred he lunged, pinning Eroket up against a rock face, sword pressing to Ero's, biting into the young ermine's chest. With a growl, Ero manged a slash with his claws at Davrag's face, but the ebon stoat moved back.
Eroket frowned, feeling the killer had a trick left to play yet. He was proven right as Davrag stepped back and spat water into his eyes.
Eroket, blinded, staggered back, slashing wildly, finding Davrag's blade lock around his, twisting to fling both swords away. He barely had time to breath as Davrag flung himself on Eroket, paws locking around the young ermine's throat.
"How much grander this hunt shall be when Eroket Nightblade's life becomes my prize!"
Eroket gasped for breath as it was cut off, his vision dimming as a crimson paw snaked out, feeling pain as something pricked his paw...a sharp rock.
"Ghhh..." He struggled to speak, paw clutching the rock, feeling it dig into his paw painfully.
"What is that?! The final words of Eroket Nightblade?" The grip eased an inch.
"Not...quite!"
The rock swung up into Davrag's face. The killer screamed in pain as half his face was suddenly mutilated by the rock, skin ripping away, grip loosening. Ero took the chance, flinging the rock into Davrag's face with all his might.
Davrag screamed no more as the rock hit him full in the face. The stoat fell back into the river, mutilated face covered in blood, eyes closed.
Eroket turned away as Davrag was borne away by the waters. It was over...Davrag Joris was dead. He spared his enemy one more look, barely caring as Davrag was snagged upon a rock by his cloak. He turned, picked up his sword and started back to Shadows Keep.
Hopefully, he'd find a good reception