The Beast of Begmire

by Duane Gundrum

Tytus, the greatest kings Reagul has ever known.”

  The two men stared at him, not sure of what to make of his statement and then they responded as most drunk men with alcohol tended to do: They cheered and took another gulp from their drinks.

  As Helm looked around the room, he started to wonder if there was some kind of blacksmith convention happening, because another one was seated next to him, nursing a drink of his own.

  "I tell you," said the drunk smith. "That beast done taken a whole side of me' blade, and he not even flinch. If not for me' flameboy, I'd a been a meal for the creatures evil."

  Helm bought him another drink. "What kind of beast are you talking about?"

  The smith stared at him with eyes open wide. "A stranger you is? Not know of the beast? Seek a cleric, or seek your death." With that said, the smith moved on down the bar to find a familiar face, preferably one with a soft, feminine face.

  Helm was about to search out another source of information when he felt a tug on his cloak. He turned around to see two members of the Guardians of Begmire. "Are you the warrior Helm?" said one of them.

  He nodded his head yes, preparing to draw his sword. He had been in towns where the law didn't like warriors, and he wasn't about to be caught by surprise again.

  "Well met, friend,” said one of the Guardians. “The baron wishes to have your company.”

  "The baron? Are you sure he wants me?"

  The Guardian nodded. "Will you come with us?"

  "Of course," he said, standing up. "Why didn't you say so in the first place?"

  The Guardians led Helm to the keep on the southern edge of the city. The guards on the entrance let the small group into the stone fortress. Following the castle path deeper into the complex, they came to a check point that led to the baron's personal chambers. Once the chamber guards opened the massive doors,

  Helm was left alone in the heavily carpeted chamber.

  As the chamber doors slammed shut, Helm took a look around the place. There were embroidered tapestries on all of the walls, each one of them depicting a special battle during one of the many wars fought by the barons that inhabited the place. There were plush recliners throughout the room, one of which Helm chose and sat down on.

  Several minutes later, an inner door opened to reveal a tall man in a black cloak. He crossed the room to where Helm was seated. Quickly, Helm stood up and waited for instructions; he was not used to acting around royalty, and he didn't want to mess it up on his first time.

  "I am Baron Darius Pulcher," he said as he took a seat across from where Helm had stood up. "I have been wanting to meet you since my Guardian told me you were in my city."

  Slowly, Helm took his seat again. "Baron, it is an honor to be in your city, but I do not know why you would want to see me."

  A smile came to Baron Darius's face. "Your modesty is fresh, but not needed."

  Helm said nothing. He didn't know what the baron wanted from him, and he didn't want to disappoint him, but then again, he didn't want to offer something that was beyond his capabilities.

  "I understand that you travel with a woman," said the baron. "Is that correct?"

  "Yes, sir," he said, offering nothing more.

  "I also understand that she goes by the name Evina. Is that also correct?"

  He nodded his head yes. "That is her name."

  Baron Darius took a deep breath and held it for a couple of seconds before he let it out. "Is she the Evina that legends continue to tell us about?"

  "I do not know, sir," said Helm. "I have traveled with her for several years, but I have not had much time to listen to any legends."

  "Very careful, aren't you, young man? Well, the legends tell us that she once fought against the Dark One and won. She is also reputed to have been trained by Sarbonn himself."

  "From what I understand, those legends are true."

  "So, it is she?"

  He nodded his head again. "She is a remarkable woman."

  "But how can she still be alive? Sarbonn lived hundreds of years ago. Only sorcerors are known to live that long." He thought to himself for a moment. "Is that it? Is she a sorcerer?"

  "I can't even begin to explain the powers she has," he said.

  "But how can she be a sorcerer? I thought all sorcerers were men."

  A smile came to Helm's face. "I’m a pretty brave man, but I don’t think I’d ever imagine telling her that? You wouldn’t be the first, or last, man to regret making that statement to her."

  "How powerful is she?" said Baron Darius.

  Helm stared at the baron for a long time before speaking. "I know this is going to sound disrespectful, but why do you want to know?"

  Baron Darius stared at him before the smile became wider. "Any other man would have told me anything I asked him. Her power over you must be quite strong."

  "It is not power," said Helm. "It is love."

  "Love?" said Baron Darius. "But I thought sorcerers couldn't perform the act. So how is love possible?"

  "Sorcerers cannot perform the act with mortals," said Helm. "However, she can love another sorcerer."

  Baron Darius's eyes opened wide. "You? You are a sorcerer?"

  He nodded his head yes.

  "But you're a swordsman," he said. "Sorcerers have no use for weapons. How can you be both a swordsman and a sorcerer?"

  "Evina found me while I was learning to be a swordsman. She had fought the Dark One for the first time and was exhausted. When I took her into my home, she discovered there was a trace of the power within me. Since then, she has been trying to drag it out of me. I have been her eye whenever she has exhausted herself. In return, I have been her apprentice in all things magic."

  "So, you’re an apprentice," said Baron Darius. "I know very little about those who wield magic. I always thought sorcerors were born, not found."

  "That is how the legend speaks," said Helm, "but as mortals we've never experienced sorcery to know what any type of sorcerer is. However, in my short time as an apprentice, I have learned to do things that you wouldn't believe. Plus, my experience as a swordsman has served as a great weapon whenever my training has fallen short."

  "This is wonderful," said Baron Darius. "I have been looking for someone with the power for so long."

  Helm's eyes turned suspicious. "Why?"

  "I am sure that you have heard stories of the beast that has been attacking our city," said Baron Darius.

  "I've heard rumors," he said. "Not stories."

  "The rumors are real," said the baron. "Many of my knights have died in mortal combat against this evil beast. Only one of my knights has lived, but he was driven insane by the battle." He bowed his head and closed his eyes. "He was my greatest knight, the champion of the baroness."

  "What kind of beast is this?" said Helm.

  "It is a vicious creature that comes out of nowhere and destroys anything out in the open. It sucks the blood from its victims and rips the man's limbs from his body. It is a creature of pure evil, surely an ally of the Dark One."

  "Why do you want someone with the power?"

  "My greatest warriors have failed," said the baron. "I believe that it is a creature of magic. Therefore, a creature of magic is needed to destroy it. Evina, being such a wizard, could do it."

  "Well, actually, she's not a wizard. She is a sorcerer."

  "What's the difference?" he said, a wearied look on his face.

  "A wizard works simple magic. A sorcerer is aligned with the world, and uses the world against his or her enemies. I can tell you that Evina is very personal about such distinctions."

  "Do you think she would help?"

  He thought about it for a moment. "Evina is on her rest stage. She must rest for at least a week before she will be able to perform sorcery again."

  "A week?" said the baron. "We don't have that much time. I need her now."

  "You cannot ask her to fight now," said Helm. "When Fireme f
ell to the Dark One, she used every bit of her magic to hide the escape of the citizens. The Dark One knew she was there, and he is looking for her. If she uses her magic before her rest, he is sure to find her and destroy her. She cannot face him unless she is at full strength."

  "Then we are lost," said the baron.

  "What do you mean?" said Helm. "Surely the beast has been attacking for longer than a week. I'm sure another week won't hurt. Evina would probably be glad to help once she is back to full power. And you’ll have my sword as well."

  He shook his head slowly. "Unfortunately, when the beast fought the baroness's champion, it gave Begmire two days of freedom. That was yesterday. Tomorrow, the beast is to destroy the city."

  "Tomorrow?" said Helm. "Why so soon?"

  "I think my knight injured it. The beast is no longer content with scaring the people. It wants to destroy us, and it is no longer satisfied with taking peasants on the outskirts of the city."

  "I can talk to Evina, but I don't think she will reconsider. While Begmire might be important to you and your people, she is of a different order. It is sometimes hard to get her to even recognize that mortals need assistance, too."

  The baron thought about it for a couple of seconds. "I would understand if she did not help us. As the enemy of the Dark One, she cannot afford to be defeated before defeating him. If he is left alone without any balance, he will destroy the entire realm."

  Helm nodded slowly. "I will talk to her."

  "I cannot," she said. "If I should use my powers against this beast, the Dark One is sure to come and challenge me. I cannot possibly handle the Dark One without being defeated. You know what that would