Seasons Greetings!!
Yes, I'm back! (Finally) Well, let's get things started!
Thanks to:
Whispering hope, linky2, midnight-lord, Xyverz, darkangel (well, as to your comment on basilisks being rare, well yes, but I personally think that the only reason why basilisks are rare is because they are illegal. I mean, with ol' Voldie as ruler, I think they'll start breeding basilisks like normal pets. Considering all they need is a toad to sit on a chicken's egg etc. *grin* Well, no, sorry I can't add you to my msn list…sorry), MidnightStar11(Oops, I forgot to add you onto my mailing list, don't worry, you're on now. I've updated Awakening btw.), Virusgod, misty43, star estrella, linky2, Jess16, SmacksKiller, PheonixMan, AC/DC, Lois Lane, D, wanderingwolf, PheonixPadfoot89, Garfish (The basilisk killed the shopkeeper, *grin* you know, if you look directly into the eyes of a basilisk you die…hehe), HAZZAGRIFF and gaul1.
Thanks for the support everyone!
The ShadowKeepersBy Skysong1
Chapter 14: Balatro*******************
'Thoughts'
[Letters/writing/text etc.]
^^ShadowKeeper sign language^^
~Parseltongue~
*******************
Daggyr, Venom and 'the basilisk' sat around/on top of Daggyr's dinning table.
They had returned just a short while ago, and had returned straight to the den, but not before buying a pair of "ShadowKeeper prescription" sunglasses, shrunk so it fitted the snake. Unfortunately, this also boosted the serpent's already oversized ego even more. Currently, despite the strange glances from two of the most powerful assassins in the ShadowKeeper community, the 3 metre long (that's roughly 10 feet to those who want to know *grin*) (Average miniature basilisks are at least 4 metres long) stripped black and pearly green basilisk (think green, but silvery white when it catches the light. Plain green and silver is too boring.) with amber eyes covered in a rather snazzy pair of miniature sunglasses, was currently giving itself some close scrutiny after spending years squinting.
~Nope, these must go…~ The jewelled beads attached to the end of its fangs popped off and rolled around on the glass table like marbles. "The basilisk" opened and closed its mouth experimentally. It gazed at itself critically.
Venom frowned, "What are we going to do with it?"
The basilisk snapped 'its' head up at her, ~Who are you calling IT? I'm a male thank you very much!~
Venom's face remained blank, "What did it just say?"
Daggyr snickered, "IT said that IT is a he…why don't you use the G.C. I gave you, there's a language translator in it…"
"Oh, that's right!" Venom flicked her glasses on, "So, little snake," hearing the indignant hiss, "err…little basilisk…I mean, big basilisk, yes, what's your name?"
There was a brief silence before, the basilisk posed dramatically, tail aloft, ~What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet…fine…I don't have a name…~
Venom raised an eyebrow at Daggyr, a "Shakespeare-reciting-mentally-vertically –and-intellectually-challenged-basilisk"? She struggled to find an appropriate term for this strange creature. Daggyr's face remained perfectly impassive.
"How about Balatro?"
The basilisk considered for a second. ~Yeah, I like it! BalatroooooOOOO! Has that distinctive ring to it. What does it mean~
Daggyr's face remained perfectly calm and serious, "It means a fool, buffoon or a jester."
Balatro let the words sink in.
~HEY!!! THAT"S NOT FAIR!! You tricked me!~
"Sorry… Balatro."
Venom and Daggyr said at the same time.
'Balatro' sulked.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dusk slowly crept in, and settled around a battle scene. Surprised at the closeness of this attack with the previous, Fort Hogwarts was not well enough prepared. No one would send troops in to attack so close to the previous attempt unless they were desperate - or they had plenty of troops to spare.
Daggyr stalked through the Forbidden forest, Venom somewhere behind, and Balatro or "Tro" trailing along behind her. They had all sensed the death and destruction westwards towards Hogwarts. And although they can surely defend themselves when the need arises. Attacking out in the open simply made them uncomfortable. It was to rash, to unplanned. Why spin around crazily with a battle axe when one could engage in the arts of subterfuge and deception, fleetingly dart out from behind them and pierce them through their ribs from behind. It was, far more definite…deadly.
Viridian eyes remained icy cold as they surveyed the scene. Although the battle is close, it is quiet easy to see that the light was slowly fading. As he watched, another soldier fell screaming as three bullets and a 'Crucio' curse streamed at him.
Daggyr continued watching with mild interest, and from within him he essentially turned into the "true" Daggyr, not Harry Potter, but Daggyr Bloodsong with the unhappy past, unsatisfied present and uncertain future. Like he had done a million times, he drew in all his positive emotions, feelings and thoughts and all that remained was an icy hard graceful killing weapon. An assassin.
Why ShadowKeepers are such good spies, thieves and assassins are only because of their ways to control emotions. Many untrained murders will almost always wallow away in guilt. Emotion is like water, it can be nurturing, but it can also destruct metal, rock and ice.
Pulling up his hood, and securing it with an unspoken charm, Daggyr molded himself into the shadows. Dusk provided ample cover as he stabbed, spun, ducked and slashed. Like a wraith, he spun and dived, he stabbed an unsuspecting archer in the back and disappeared before the victim himself realised he was attacked. Using his other lesser-favoured daggers to pivot around, he swept one of the generals off his feet with his leg and slashed him deeply from shoulder to waist; blood and guts literally fell out.
Dancing through the shadows of the trees, he sneaked out from behind a line of soldiers awaiting their orders, pulling out another dagger, he stabbed each in the back at precisely the same spot in rapid succession and watched with hidden glee as they toppled down like dominoes.
'This is for all the torture you put me through Voldie…although I doubt that you care if your entire army dies'
By now, the enemy had started suspecting they were being attacked by someone hidden from plain view. Paranoid, many of the dark soldiers started casting "Lumos" charms and peering out around them.
'Time for a tactic change.'
He stood in the middle of a Lumos, and thinking that he was a general in the Death Eaters by his well-tailored cloak, many of the soldiers paused and gave hasty salutes.
'Fools.'
Raising an arm, he controlled the metal in every sword, spear, gun, axe and dagger held by the assembled. Spinning around, all the blades and bullets obediently followed Daggyr's command and imbedded themselves into the chests of their owners. Daggyr would have complimented the army for quick reactions as he was suddenly faced with 30 arrows, shame he didn't give compliments then.
Fire sprouted from each of the ends of each arrow, and ran joyously down their lengths, forcing the archers to drop their weapons, panic and apparate off.
Daggyr waited till the battlefield was silent once more. "Yes, go and run off to your ickle master."
A crack of an unused arrow, and a hissed curse.
Instinctively, his eyes snapped up and spun towards the sound. With a swirl of a cloak, Venom found a switchblade pressed hard against her throat and a pair of emerald coals boring into her. Venom shivered, this side of Daggyr was definitely very scary. The hold relaxed and finally let go, the glare softened.
"Ahh, did you deal with the back ups in the clearing?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Venom surveyed the littered dead, "You've done a good job."
Daggyr gave a nonchalant shrug.
"I'll hate to clean up this mess tomorrow though."
Tro slithered up to them, teeth stained; he gave a belch then grinned sheepishly.
~What a smorgasbord! I mean, someone should keep the rodent population in check. Sorry, I decided to have a snack on the way here.~
"I see."
~Oooo! Can I have this? Can I? Can I?~
Tro picked up a small hand axe with his tail and waved it around experimentally. He stood with the axe in a tragic hero's pose then hissed, ~Hey, can you take a picture?~
Shaking his head wondering why he ever bothered to buy Tro in the first place, Daggyr turned and tapped the side of his glasses. A bright flash went off as the G.C took a "Kodak Moment".
~I'm Bliiiiinnd!!! Can you take the picture again? I think I blinked…~
"Shut up!" Venom thumped him hard on the head.
"Harry! There you are! Where have you been? I've been looking for you all afternoon!"
Daggyr pulled down his hood, 'I guess I have to deal with Sirius now'
~Whoa, that guy talks a lot!~
Daggyr raised an eyebrow at Tro.
~And you don't?~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A low ranking Death Eater stumbled as he timidly hurried into his Master's lair. He almost sprinted to the throne and kneeling he kissed them hem of his master's robes a few times, and one more for good measure.
It was never good to bring bad news to "The Dark Emperor". But he had to do the same thing twice.
"Yesss? Speak."
"M-m-master…"
"Hurry up, I don't have all day!" Voldemont expertly spun his wand through his fingers.
"The p-potion has failed!"
Voldemont hissed and slammed his fist against the polished obsidian of his throne, he then hissed again in pain, pointing his wand at the Death Eater.
"Crucio" he spat.
The Death Eater screamed, sure he had felt the cruciatis curse many times before, but unfortunately this curse was one of the many fuelled by emotion. Finally, Voldemont lifted the curse.
"Anything elsssse?"
Screwing his eyes shut, the Death Eater said out in one go, "I'msorrymylord,theattackfailed…"
Red eyes flashing, and in speed, which could almost rival that of a well trained, master ShadowKeeper, the wand flicked back to the unfortunate messenger.
"Crucio."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Yes, that was the long awaited fight scene. Its not the only one of course. I hope its up to expectations. Well, there are certain clues in this chapter one what will happen in the future. Read and Review! Merry Xmas!