Chapter 2: A Dark Night

After duelling, the two brothers left the sparring fields late in the afternoon the sun low in the sky over Dreasfjord. They entered the crowded streets making their way to the southern gate. As they approached the gate a guard waved them through just as the two large doors were about to close for the night. Once outside the city they continued down the cobblestone road across the stone bridge and took a right onto a small dirt path leading to their home.

They lived in a small house atop a hill which was constructed out of stone and wood positioned just outside the tree line of the forest. A small forge nestled to the right of the house where their father worked as a blacksmith. They heard the familiar clang of metal upon metal as they approached. As the boys walked up to the house from the path their father looked up from his work and called out to his sons.

"Ah you've returned! Hello!" he said cheerfully. "How was your day at the training field?" he took his gloves off and extended his arms.

"It was good father." said Xev "We're both tired." He hugged his father.

"We were to duel each other today and it was a draw. We both received a fair share of bruises." Exclaimed Zanir as he hugged his father.

"Ah, it seems the two of you are proving yourselves well then. Come, help me prepare dinner." He turned and walked towards the house his sons following.

Later that night Xev lay on his bed sore from the day and thought about his future. He knew that his training would end in a month's time and that he would then begin his career in the Elite Guard. The empire was not currently at war with any other faction meaning Xev and his brother did not have much to do. He had thought of going to school in Dreasfjord to practice reading and writing.

He continued pondering over the multitude of options that lay before him when he heard a piercing scream that cut through his thoughts. He instantly sat up unsure of what to do. He moved from his bed towards his bedroom window and peered outside. There was nothing but blackness surrounding the house and dim lights from Dreasfjord hundreds of meters away.

Xev heard his door open behind him and saw Zanir rush in.

"Did you hear that Xev, the scream? It was awfully close" He said with a look of confusion and horror on his face.

"Yes. It had to of come from Caldrin's house down the road." Xev turned towards the window again.

Zanir moved to the window beside his brother and looked out.

"I think we should wake father and go out to check. It sounded like a woman had been attacked. We have to make sure." Zanir said as he moved to the bedroom door.

"Wait Zanir I'm unsure of this. Maybe it's just a couple messing about." Xev said.

"That scream was horrifying Xev. There's no way you can believe that that was someone fooling around. Come, we must check, hurry." Zanir turned to leave down the hall towards their father's room.

Xev followed his brother but as they approached their father's door they found it already opened. They looked in and their father wasn't there. They turned and scrambled down the stairs to the main hall. Their father was standing next to the front window with a candle in one hand and a short sword in the other.

"You heard that too boys? Aedren said without turning around. He continued to look outside.

"Yes father. What do you think it was? Should we go check to see if someone needs help? Zanir said with worry in his voice.

"I don't think that sound was human Zanir." He paused for a moment. "Quickly grab your swords and follow me outside." said Aedren earnestly.

The boys armed themselves and they left the house. Their father lit a torch and they continued out into the thick night air. It was a clear night sky and everything was still and silent except for the whisper of the flowing river of in the distance. It took a few minutes for their eyes to adjust to the faint moon light. The silence was unnerving and it felt hollow, empty as if all time had stopped, surrounding them in darkness. It was extremely claustrophobic.

"We should check out Caldrin's house and see if they've seen any trouble." said Aedren quietly as they came to the dirt road.

Xev looked carefully past the torch light and into the darkness beyond. He could see faint outlines of trees and Caldrin's homestead off to the left of the dirt road some fifty yards away.

"Do you see that? There's fog hanging around Caldrin's home." said Zanir pointing with his sword.

"I can't see it from here." said Aedren. "Let's get up closer."

As the trio took a left off the main dirt road they followed Caldrin's path up to his home. Once they were in full view of the house they noticed a strange hanging shadow that flowed around the bottom of the house. The door was broken from its hinges. A sudden chill struck them all like a wave of ice cold water. They could see their breaths.

"Father what is happening?" said Zanir shivering.

Then they felt a strange energy in the air and they looked around frightened. They felt like something was there with them creating the bone chilling aura. Xev saw a shadowy figure dash from behind the right side of the house and it covered the ground with inhuman speed a trail of darkness behind it.

"Get behind me!" Aedren yelled.

The creature halted atop a small hill a dozen yards from the house and turned around to face the trio. The moonlight directly behind it hid the creature in a dark silhouette while a dense cloud hung close to the ground beneath it. Then came the same gut wrenching wail they had heard before stunning them in place. A second later it leaped through the air heading for the three men. As it came closer Xev saw that it had no legs but flew along the ground above its cloud of darkness. Its arms were outstretched with incredibly menacing fist weapons with long razor sharp blades.

Before anyone could move the creature was upon them. It slashed its blade through Aedren's upheld sword and into his chest and he fell motionless to the ground. Zanir yelled out and with great effort charged the monster slashing through one of its arms. His sword sliced clean through the monsters blade. It was about to strike Zanir with its other blade before Xev lunged forward and stabbed the monster in the back but it didn't seem to do any damage. It turned around and slashed at Xev. He blocked the attack but his sword exploded in two and he was thrown backwards to the ground.

Zanir quickly stabbed the monster twice in the back but before he could swing again the monster turned on him. Zanir sidestepped a blow but the second came too quickly and cut through his shirt and into his left side stopping at his ribs. Zanir yelled out in rage and counter attacked madly. He brought his sword down atop the creatures arm and cut through the fist weapon rendering it useless. The weaponless creature screamed and dashed by Zanir gliding off into the distance leaving Zanir panting.

Xev began to get to his feet and Zanir ran over to help him up. Then they both staggered over to their dying father lying on the ground clutching his wounded chest. Aedren was bleeding profusely and was unlikely to live.

"We must get him to the city quickly Zanir! He's lost a lot of blood and has gone pale!" said Xev anxiously.

"Help me lift him to his feet." Zanir said breathing heavily.

"Zanir! You're side! Let me stop the bleeding." said Xev. He tore off a piece of his shirt.

He quickly rapped a strand of his torn shirt around Zanir's torso tightly to stop the bleeding from his deep gash. Once he was finished they both picked up their father by his arms and raised him off the ground. Holding him up between them they started to head towards Dreasfjord their fathers limp feet dragging in the dirt.