"So, you'll follow their orders and end the life of your old friend, Jald?"

"Yes."

"Hah….hahaha….HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!" The fox threw his head back, laughter escaping from his mouth into the chill air of the winter.

The ferret's eyes were focused, determined; but sadness lurked beyond the stony façade. "Kirath…"

"Apologizing? You'd DARE apologize to me after coming to kill me?"

"It's an order."

"Damn orders." The fox replied, scorn in his voice. "They're afraid, they're all afraid! We fought to end the warlords' dominion of the north and what is our payment? The moment the war ends, our lives are worth nothing to them!" His sapphire eyes were wide, fangs bared in a grin, "Serion is dead, isn't he?"

There was a nod and the ferret's voice faltered. "His brother, the chieftain, found out he was helping us...He killed him…he ate him."

"Round and round the wheel turns," Kirath sneered lightly. "Well, you, Aleran and I bear the three greatest works of his legacy. I do love my sword, Jald. It's been my treasured companion for years now."

"Kirath, if things were different-"

"Damn that! A change of circumstances and it'd be me in your position! My soldiers depend on me..." He whispered, almost to himself.

"What?"

"Curian was an agent sent to steal swords so we could analyze their skills. He's grown to love those blades. The affection he shows polishing them would be the equivalent of a lover's kiss. When the war is over, will they take the swords he's adorned over his bed from him? Harkon, the child I saved from that cult…he's merciful, he's a skilled healer, but he's dangerous because he knows how to kill a beast with his bare paws. Will they 'erase' him too? Kallia, I took her from that camp where they used her as a whore. I killed them, took her with me and taught her to fight…can you look her in the eye and say you killed me! Jirik, who is losing his mind to the scent of blood…can you tell us to put away our swords when this is all over?! Can YOU put your sword away when it's over?!
The ferret had no answer save one question: "What is it you want?"

"It should be simple…I don't want to rule, Jald. I don't care about hierarchies…or powers. I don't even care to be the best, Manticore, have the title, I care not for it! I…just don't want to be useless when the war ends, Jald. Serion told us to find out purpose outside of war. You've done that…you and Aleran. But me? I was used as a killer. I was sent on job after job, ending the lives of so many. It's my life, Jald. I can't imagine another. I want to kill and kill and I want to keep killing until I die! I want to rip down the kings from their thrones! I want CHAOS! Anarchy; a world of perpetual, unending war where we soldiers are revered and never again thought useless."

"You're insane."

"They say that about every idealist. Come on, brother, cut me. Go on, why hesitate?"

The ferret's paws gripped his sword tightly, eyes closed, "Shut up…"

The fox laughed and withdrew a dagger. "You're too soft; you can't kill a beast you grew up with, a beast you called your friend and brother. Well, don't worry. I can see it in your eyes…just like Jirik, you'll be lost in the smell of blood and find your only meaning in the clash of steel on steel. Goodbye, Jald."

The ferret didn't cry out or try to stop him. He didn't nothing as the fox ran the blade across his wrist. He didn't stop to check the body for vital signs-maybe…he didn't want to know.

He just kept walking and soon he vanished into the night.

-------

Eroket Nightblade awoke with a gasp, wiping a crimson paw over his brow. "Dammit, not again!"

The ermine sighed and reached for his sword, moving into a sitting position and flinging aside the rough blanket and looked to the dwindling campfire. "Jald?"

"I'm awake…" Was the gruff response, followed by "Did you have another weird dream?"

"Yeah…" Eroket's eyes looked up to Jald, "He called you 'brother.'"

Jald's eyes closed, but he reacted in no other way. "Heh, well…you never did ask about his past."

"You knew him?"

"Very well," Eroket had never before seen Jald look like this: old, tired and sad.

"How?" The young ermine, shifted forward, curiosity alight in his amber eyes.

"I never knew where he came from."

"Jald, stop holding out on me, damn it!" Eroket snarled suddenly, standing up. "If we're taking this guy on, you're sure as hell going to tell me whatever you know!"

For a moment, Jald's eyes narrowed and Eroket feared he'd gone too far, but then Jald sighed again. "I told you the truth as far as it went. Kirathal's group, the Ice Wolves was formed during the war: An elite assassination team. Kirath, your father and I were the trainees of a master of the blade, known as Serion Redfletch…you remember, the master of the forge…made this sword and my past one. Kirath always followed his fighting style, but never his philosophies. Kirath's job put him in the center of everything, hiding among civilians. What he began to see changed him…and he hated the thought of a war ending and soldiers being disbanded. He couldn't imagine a life without his sword and it terrified him. The Ice Wolves he built around him were Curian Silak, a beast who specialized as a spy to capture our enemy's forge master's best blades so we could analyze their skill. He had a passion for blades himself and they paid him with the blades he loved best.

"Harkon, Kirath told me, was young when he was kidnapped by some cult that taught styles of paw to paw fighting and trained children as assassins. We wiped them out and Kirath took Harkon with him. Jirik Valrik was another skilled soldier who was an assassin. He wasn't as skilled though and he's a complete psychotic. He lives to kill, women, kids, doesn't matter to him. The last member I know of is Kallia. Kallia's family sold her to the army when she was a bit older than you when we found you…being female, though, you can guess what she went through. Kirath killed them all with Curian and Jirik and took her with him.

"Kirath is the most dangerous of them all. I can't even tell you if the others are still alive…it just…I don't know what he's doing with Geras. He's clearly using him, but Kirath…he hates beasts like Geras who deprive swordsbeasts of honor. And as for Kirath being alive…he probably using the snow to keep the bleeding down until the other found him…wrist cuts aren't always fatal…I guess I didn't want him to die then. It was before I lost myself to The Manticore name."

"Seems to achieve our dreams, we make some sacrifices." Eroket replied. "If Kirath is such a stone cold killer, Jald, why did he let me live?"

"You think I have any clue, Ero? Maybe he was honoring some debt to Aleran, maybe he thought he could use you later-Jirik only joined after Kirath beat him in a duel. In any case, I don't know. I can train you more, but you think you're capable of beating him?"

"I…" Eroket looked down, brow furrowing, "What if he's right? He worked for them and they backstabbed him. I saw things too…when I was in the Calpathions, warring with the Death Watch I saw homes destroyed, dreams crushed, lives devastated…My family died because of a war…and he may have the right idea, wanting us to always be recognized, but I can't approve of the methods. To answer your question, Jald: If it means even one beast never goes through what I did, I WILL kill him."

There was no masking the steel in Eroket's voice as he continued. "I sympathize, I really do…I can understand as one warrior to another. But he's in my way to Geras for one and he's proven himself my enemy." Eroket's eyes gleamed in the dying firelight. "It's not about getting stronger to me now, Jald, that's a means to an end…I am going to kill Kirathal Frostclaw and I'll do it for free."

Jald had to keep himself from smiling. "Are we mercenaries or heroes?"

"Remember what I said about the anonymous guys who make history?" Eroket smiled, "I'm not a hero, I don't want to be…we're just the guys acting behind the scenes."

---

Davrag Joris tensed amazingly as Arredon removed the stitches from his back. "That hurts, you little wretch!"
"Please stay still, Lord Davrag, I've almost got it.'

Davrag snarled, grinding his teeth together as Arredon finished. "You could have given me something to drink first!"
Arredon's youthful face smiled at him as he turned, adjusting his shirt and folding his arms, a light grin-or what passed a grin- appearing on his mutilated features. "How's the situation with Geras?"

"Bad. Arithia and Verria won't even look at me. Hallic's left on some expedition. I'm the only one left who's loyal to you…the Five have broken."

Davrag's golden eyes shut, breathing heavily for a moment. Concern flickered upon Arredon's features but Davrag waved him off and sat on the bed. "Silter and the others?"

"Loyal. She sent a scout to see what happened. I met with him a few hours back."

"Good work..." Davrag replied a bit numbly, looking down. "It's all falling apart, Arredon…what I built…My whole damn LIFE!"

"Lord Davrag!" Arredon's paws flew to his shoulders, "Calm down…"

Davrag shook his head, "Look at me, Arredon…I lost a fight for the first time ever. I lost to that kid…I believed always the strong could do whatever they wished…if I lost, what does it make me? What can I do if I've lived a lie?!"

"Calm down!" Arredon growled lightly. Davrag looked up and Arredon frowned, "Are you…?"

"No." Davrag replied quickly, moving a finger to his eye. "Some dust, nothing more…how'd Geras save face?"

"He brought no name thugs with him. Kirathal dispatched them almost instantly, which just led to more questions. If not for Kirathal and his group, there would definitely be an uprising against Geras. Few have respect for him anymore and he's not daring to bed Arithia anymore."

Davrag nodded once, sighing to himself. "Eroket Nightblade, what word of him?"

"No word, yet…some say Kirathal killed him, others say Kirathal let him live….you considering vengeance, Lord Davrag?"

Davrag shook his head numbly once more. "No…I don't want vengeance…I should hate him but...I feel nothing but a sense of response and I hate that. I'm not even sure if I want to kill him..."

"You're saying strange things, Sir."

"I feel strange, Arredon..."

"Too strange," A voice growled lightly. Both looked up to see Verria standing in the doorway, arms folded. "I'd never have believed it if I hadn't seen it!"

"Verria."

"You…lose a fight after all that preaching about the strong!" She snarled at him angrily, disgust cloud her features. "Look at that hideous mask…and now that talk…you're not Davrag! You're a shell of him. I should ki-"

Arredon's eyes narrowed and he stood. "Miss Verria, you're crossing some lines."

Verria's eyes narrowed, "Shut up, kid, or you'll be getting some tainted meat for break-"

Davrag's amber eyes bore into hers, the single cold look stealing away her taunts and anger. "There is nothing worse than dying alone. Take it from me, Verria! Davrag Joris as you knew him may be dead, but I find it uneasy to rest in my grave. Make no mistake, while my feelings confuse me, I WILL defend myself from you. Get out of my sight."

Verria tried to retain her dignity and stormed out with a snarl. Davrag sighed. "Glad I can intimidate still."

Arredon clapped lightly, "Bravo, sir!" He smiled charmingly and Davrag rolled his eyes.

"You stop patronizing me," He scolded lightly and leaned back, a smile spreading over his features.

"Eroket Nightblade…are you the strongest? Stay alive, damn you…I'll know whether to thank you or kill you when we next meet…So stay alive and don't let Kirathal beat you…"

He smirked and it was hard to tell with such ruined features what the gesture was intended as, even to Arredon. "I'll be waiting."