Terrowin followed my lead and got up. He approached me and stared at me as tough I just grew a third eye.
“You have got to believe me. I’m not being irrational here!”
Terrowin folded his arms across his chest and gradually nodded.
Yup… he thinks I’m absolutely crazy… bonkers, nuts, berserk, absolutely out of my mind.
Just as Terrowin wanted to say something, someone caught him from behind, choking him with their arms folded around his neck.
Startled, I swung around.
Knew I wasn’t crazy!
It was a brawl to get loose, but at long last, Terrowin forcefully landed his elbow to the figure’s gut and he let go. Terrowin reeled away.
The shadowy figure was but a man hidden in the shadows of a black hood, a red cloth wrapped around his mouth and nose. All that could be seen was his dark brown eyes staring back at us with a certain kind of hate I had never seen before in my entire life.
Two swords hung by his sides. He was quick to withdraw them both, ready for a quick killing spree.
He wore black armour accompanied by a black cloak.
I guess cloaks must be in fashion right now, but I don’t blame him. I too just love those things. Anyway, back to the point: Yes, he is definitely an assassin... Time to start worrying.
The assassin was quick to lunge at Terrowin, threatening to strike him down with both his swords, but Terrowin was quick and stepped back. He ignited a flame in his one hand and it was game on.
The dark figure swiped at him with his one blade, but, using his ignited hand, Terrowin grabbed its edge as though it was nothing sharp, the flame playin a roll in the invincibility of his hand, and shoved the sword aside as quick as it came.
With the coming of another fatal attack, I leaped away, trying to get out of the way before Terrowin could bump into me.
All I saw were the swift movements and manoeuvres of the assassins’s sharp blades and a flash of burning flames as Terrowin fought back in attempt to save himself.
At some point the assassin knocked Terrowin down and pinned him to the ground. He brought his blade to Terrown’s throat, but Terrowin grabbed it with his bare hands, not a single flame ignited, for it came to quick to spark an indestructible fire. Blood seeped from his hands and he groaned in pain as he bit down on his teeth. The assassin showed no mercy and pressed down only harder. I’ve been absentmindedly staring for so long that I almost forgot to do something.
It was about time I helped and withdrew Cassius’ honourable sword.
Time to test this baby out.
Instantly, I threw myself at him, the assassin, but he was quicker and more skilled than I had hoped him to be at first. My sword clashed against his. I struck him full on, the fastest I could, trying to block his chance of giving his own few strikes.
Tactlessly, he swiftly moved out of my way when seeing the opportunity and sent me stumbling forward, almost falling to the ground as I gave that last blow.
When I recollected my balance, I saw nothing but a sharp blade heading my way.
I quickly blocked it with my own and pushed forward with a parry.
The assassin stumbled back for a change, proving that he was human after all.
He raised his sword, but a hardy punch to the face interrupted him and sent him falling to the ground.
It was Terrowin.
He rekindled the flames in his hand, ready to stop taking it easy. He was readying the big guns and blasted the guy with small vortices of flames but the assassin rapidly rolled out of harm’s way and deflected the blast with his sword. The flames ricocheted and grapbled to a tree. Slowly, flames started eating away at the bark and grew into a bigger blaze. The flames started to spread.
Wow. I guess Terrowin just gave a literal meaning to the phrase ‘playing with fire’.
Even I could see that there was no way Terrowin could win by only the use of his magic. He needed a weapon, but I knew he’d refuse that offer without even a second thought.
We’re dead meat.
I went in fort he attack and gave another swing with my sword, not exactly used to the feeling since I never fought someone with a real sword before…
Yet, despite my best efforts, the assassin was quick to notice, using those deadly senses of his, and gave way as though it was nothing but another day in rooky training.
He had very keen senses, just like Terrowin and his dad, that Rowan guy. Yeah, I noted. What? I don’t tell you everything. These people are good.
He swung his sword at me from the side, but coincidentally, I was lucky and ended up doing the same move, only from the opposite direction. Our swords clashed loudly, and yet again I fought like I have never fought before… I don’t think I ever did fight in my life, come to think of it.
I got one lucky swipe and gave him a nice gash to the arm.
I was somewhat chicken, and extremely hesitant. Despite the assassin trying to kill me, I still had that little voice deep inside me that was too afraid to even hurt the guy. Not to mention the other voice that screamed at me to run away. I had no skill with a sword compared to that of the figure’s. I repeated a phrase in my head like a mantra.
You’re going to die. You’re going to die. WOAH! SWORD! Watch out! Huh, not dead yet… Woop, here comes another one. And another. And another. Watch out for the next one. Yep, you’re going to die. Why aren’t you dead yet? Nah, that’s okay. You’re dying in the next minute, let’s time it and see what happens.
I had never panicked so much in my entire life.
Unfortunately, my mental please didn’t stop him from fighting back. Sure, he did hesitate for a moment, but I was foolish to stop and stare.
I needed to block his sword every five seconds. I was lucky when I could catch a split second breather.
To be honest, I was somewhat embaressed. Here they were, Terrowin and the assassin, fighting like old time pro’s. And me? I was fighting sloppily like the sword was too heavy for me to even hold, and as though I was too afraid risk breaking a freaking nail.
“Jeez! Give me a break already!” I called exhaustedly.
The times I got to swipe my swords were exceptionally hard since I never had any practice fighting with a real sword unless you count spoon fighting with Olaf over the last remaining cream donut as one. Ah… good times. Ones I will probably never have again since I quit.
Note to self: I didn’t get fired, I quit.
With one final thrust of my blade, the assassin leapt out of the way, seemingly already fed up with the battle and moved in behind me. Just as I swung around, a fist hit me in the stomach. I doubled over, clutching my aching stomach. Wearily raising my head, the assassin brought a fist up to my chin and it was lights out Carlaylin.
CHAPTER 16
ABLAZE
TERROWIN
“SHIT!”
Carlaylin collapsed, not looking like she’s about to get up anytime soon. It only meant one thing: If I do manage to fend off the assassin, then I’ll have to be the one to carry her all the way to the Village of Water. There wasn’t much of a choice. We had to make a stop at the village, whether I liked it or not.
But for now, I tried pushing all needless thoughts aside and to the very back of my mind as I rather focused on the battle at hand.
The cutthroat swung his sword at me, but I gave way. I gathered myself just in time to land another punch to his person
He tried striking me down with his blade again, but I leaped out of the way, manoeuvring my way behind him and kicking him forward. I bought myself time by getting the assassin on his knees.
As he was busy trying to get to his feet, I created a small wall of fire.
Now the real fun can begin.
I focused and raised my hand just as the assassin was up and stormed at me. He held his two swords at a ready. A great wall of fire emerged from my small flames and blocked his way.
Bits of his clothing caught fire and he reeled away
, batting at his cloak to free himself from the ever-hungry infernos.
See what good a cloak does you now.
As soon as he was distracted, I shot my hand out to him. The wall of fire came crashing down on him. I spread my hands out and the fires immediately extinguished. The ill-fated assassin was seered and his clothing was masked with burn marks. He struggled lightheadedly to get back to his feet. I thought for surely that this was the end of it and I had won.
Who ever said you needed weapons to win?
I shot a glance at the tree that had caught fire. The flames had already spread across a vast area of forest.
A stomach twisted and I felt a pebble of guilt stuck in my throat as my victory was most surely short lived.
It was a forest fire.
The flames were feral, hungry, fast... There was no stopping it. I couldn’t stop it. The fire was far out of my area of control. It was all up to Carlaylin to use the power of water to stop it and put it down for good, but… she couldn’t, for, as you can see, she was unconscious!
She’s never around when you need her most.
In my daze, the assassin had finally gotten up to his feet and leapt at me with a blazing hatred dancing in his murderous eyes, knocking me off my feet. The force sent us both stumbling back and rolling downhill.
And here I am thinking it was all over.
Opening my eyes, I found myself lying on my back at the foot of the slope. I tried to get up, but couldn’t. I looked at my right arm and it left me wondering: Are arms supposed to bend that way?
I grunted, trying to find a way to rid myself of the anger that so engrossed me.
This is just great, wonderful and absolutely spectacular! I broke my arm!
I tried to move, but a web of pain burst through my whole arm whenever I did.
Not only that, but I was also left breathless as all my breath had left my lungsThere I lay, breathing heavily and trying to catch some air.
I felt so hopeless.
The assassin was, as I had guessed, back on his feet, pinning me to the ground, not that it was even necessary. I was graced with a menacing glare.
“Do you ever give up?”
No answer.
This is it. End of the line.
I knew it as soon as he pressed the tip of his blade to my throat.
CHAPTER 17
A LITTLE RESEARCH
NEVER HURT ANYONE…
MURRAY WANTS TO HAVE
A GO AT THIS
IT WAS A LOVELY SUNNY AFTERNOON and I was sitting at my desk with a quill at hand, still in the same study after my two apprentices left.
I could hear the birds outside and rays of sunlight shone in through the open window, the open window that allowed a cool breeze to enter my tower.
The breeze did me a great favour since it was somewhat tepid inside.
No matter how hard I tried not to, I just couldn’t help but think about my two apprentices. I was worried about them. If anything ought to happen to them, I would know that it was entirely my fault. I would be responsible. I was the one who sent them in the first place.
I would never be able to forgive myself. But, yet again, it was their destiny, not mine.
I needed to try and focus on the work at hand. I needed to try and get these doubts and qualms off my mind. I looked at the piece of parchment infront of me. I was busy writing a letter to the king. It was a letter that was bound to help this whole war... Terrowin perhaps?
Dear your Majesty:
This is urgent!
“No, no, no, no.” I took the parchment and crumpled it up, only to thoss it into the wooden wastebasket under the table. I grabbed another parchment from my stack of empty parchments and pursed my lips in thought of my next approach.
Mr. Lanfred:
Please accept my following opinions.
“No. This will never work.” Only moments after, I looked at the newly placed parchment in front of me. I never expected it to be so hard.
My lord:
Please listen to my plea.
“This isn’t right!” I felt hopelessand wrote the first thing that popped into my head.
Hey, Kingy!
Listen up!
I heaved a loud sigh.
“Ah, this isn’t helping!” I stroked my beard thoughtfully, staring at the ceiling and trying to think of something that sounded not too bold neither too weak. Also something that most likely wouldn’t lead to me ending up in the Haylian dungeons. I crumpled up the parchment and threw it away. I quickly grabbed a new one and slipped it onto the blank space in front of me, resting my head on the palms of my hands. Miserably, I blew a strand of white hair from my face and sent it swinging aside. All of a sudden, it hit me! An idea.
I think I might have something here.
Your highness:
I have urgent matters to discuss with you.
“Yeah, that sounds a little bit better than the last ones.” I gave a smile of approval and carefully tried to think of my next sentence when a loud noise interrupted me. I went to the window and saw that someone had thrown a rock at it since there was a minor web of fine detailed cracks on the glass. I was furious, swung opene the window and leaned outside. My eyes scoured the outside area. My office resided only on the second floor, which made it quite easy to notice anything out of place.
“Hey! Come back here!” I chided.
It was those blasted goblins again. They’re always throwing rocks at my tower.
Those green-skinned bastards!
“How many times do I have to tell you to stop throwing rocks at my tower?” I bellowed, absentmindedly a swinging a scolding fist. I pulled away from the window, eyes narrowed, lips pursed into a thin line. With the snap of my fingers, the power of wind was under my control and blew my broom to my side. It’s quite a shame I don’t have any bow and arrows... It would’ve been quite useful.
I folded my hand around the grip of the broom and held it up like an Olympic spear-thrower, a Zeus ready to strike the land in ferocity with his sweeper lightning.
The goblins started scampering away and it was game on. I aimed at one and threw.
Bullseye!
My broom had hit him right on his a – um… rump.
“That’ll teach ya!” Ending my rampage with a single livid huff, I returned back to my desk, probably mourning the sudden loss of my ill-fated broom.
Oh well, everything that comes, has to go eventually.
I kept mumbling to myself about those green fools.
“Now, where was I?” I asked myself as I sat down.
“Oh, yeah, busy writing the letter. Let’s see here...”
Please take my word for it. I might have an idea to stop this war, once and for all, but I require your assistance.
“Wait, should I write that?” I sighed deeply and sat back in my chair. I turned my head and looked at the stack of books placed on my desk.
“Perhaps if I just take my mind off this for a while I’ll think of something eventually.”
Before I had started this letter, I was busy trying to figure out Carlaylin’s case, to try and see if there was some sort of solution to her extraordinary, and most surely odd and unordinary, powers to heal, and perhaps even save a soul from the dead if it’s not too late…
I must say, I was quite to find out.
The strange case of Mistress Carlaylin. Maybe I even start a book on that… hmmm.
I grabbed the top book from the stack and opened it on a random page.
The book was old and survived many centuries. All the pages were already tinted with a faint brown, and very fragile with age.
And so I started turning the pages in search for an answer. I tried to find an answer on numerous random pages. Ineptness caused me to mostly look at the pictures, not concentrating as well as I normally did. I was just about fed up with my schedule and merely wanted to get things over with, and most probably even off my shoulders as well.
>
I stopped on an unspecific page and stared at the map on the wall for a long and silent moment.
What could it possibly be?
I looked out the window and tried to clear my mind, to make sense of it all, but then something caught my eye. Far from the tower in the distance, a few puffs of smoke emerged from the forestry. I couldn’t quite make out what it was since it was as small as a toothpick top from here. It was probably just my imagination.
Anyway, I was just sitting there and trying to think. A possibility suddenly hit me as I recalled the days of old, referring to the myths and legends of ancient Ysellian, times long since past.
“Hmm… perhaps if-”
I immediately looked at the open book once more and started to wonder. I slammed it close and searched through the stack, switching between numerous books before I finally found the title I’ve been looking for. I quickly paged through in search for something that could help prove this possibility.
It’s… it’s a possibility. One hipotheses I’m willing to take into concideration. This book might just contain the information I need… But I should know that this won’t be quick. It will take lots of patience and perhaps years of research before I can find anything useful, before I can come across but even the singlest of answers... Hey, I found something!
I quickly scanned the page and tried to make sense of what I was reading. I also took some time to think about it too.
“No, this can’t be.” I read the page once more just to make sure I didn’t misconstrue it. I narrowed my eyes.
“But perhaps it could.” I jumped up from my chair and started to do some investigation of my own.
It took me hours of research and hard work to see if what I thought and read could be true. To see if all the facts were factual and all the legends were accurate. That maybe, just maybe, it could be so, but this hadn’t happened in centuries... How could this be now? So suddenly? How can it be? It doesn’t make any sense.
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