Deathsworn Arc: 01 - The Last Dragon Slayer

by Martyn Stanley

Unseen to the room her eyes lit up and she headed straight for the sword, beckoning Korhan over her shoulder. When close enough she scanned her eyes over the elegant sword, reading the elvish writing carved onto the blade and the pommel. She chuckled softly as she did, then pointed to the benches where Brael, Votrex, Silus and Harald were seated, “Sit Ri§ine, eat... Remember - one ale and no meats.” With that she darted towards the steps. At that point Saul appeared at the top and gestured for the guards to let her pass.

  Korhan sat and looked at his companions, who were all giving him a bemused look. Brael was chewing on a roasted chicken leg; he pulled it away from his mouth, “How fare you, Avil? Has Vashni trained you in the art of mental defence?”

  “No... Though tis not for want of trying... Her lessons are hard, but I feel different, I am changing - she is changing me.”

  Harald smirked, “Into her hand maiden?” This brought a round of chuckles. Silus, busy chewing on a thick slice of pork paused, “If you ask me Northman, she is making a fool out of you, and she is doing so for her own perverse entertainment. You should cease fawning over her and following her instructions like a servant girl... Start acting like a man.”

  Votrex nodded, “Aye, she’s made fool enough of you Korhan, son of Brian.”

  Brael shook his head, “You are all correct, she is making a fool of him... But I do not believe she is not fulfilling her part of the deal - she is teaching him, I can tell... Korhan may look foolish now, acting like her servant, but if he can endure her service and learn her lessons, it will make him a far more formidable warrior than you can understand.”

  Korhan nodded, “The gravian speaks the truth...” As he spoke he reached over to fill his plate with some bread, fruit, vegetables and cheese. This of course caused more raised eyebrows, particularly from Harald and Votrex who had been riding with Korhan since they’d met in the capital, Cormaroth and had come to see Korhan as a man who was very fond of meat.

  Harald screwed his face up at Korhan, “Are you not feeling well Korhan son of Brian?”

  Votrex reached over with his knife and cut himself several thick cuts of pork, placing them on his plate, “The Bergers meat is a finer meal than any we’ve had since leaving Cormaroth - will you not partake of some?”

  Korhan looked at the meat longingly, it was cooked to perfection and dripping with juices, succulent and tender... The aroma alone, the salty, greasy aroma of perfectly cooked pork teased him further. He sighed deeply, “Alas, I cannot, Mir§a Vashni has forbidden me from eating meat...”

  Silus reached over and grabbed his arm firmly, “Korhan! She is trying to make you an elf, you are a man! This is good food! We will not eat this well again until we ride triumphantly through the gates of Cormaroth or if we are killed in battle, when we take our seat in Kirkfell, the banqueting hall of the dead! Do not waste this rare opportunity to eat a good meal.”

  Korhan looked longingly at the meat as he munched bread and cheese...

  Votrex pulled a tray of steaming chicken drumsticks towards him, “Here, just have one... She need never know, you would waste away not eating any meat! One drumstick won’t hurt? I would hate to see you starving, Korhan son of Brian.”

  Korhan looked at the others for approval, he saw Harald, Silus and Votrex nodding. Brael looked more... Uncertain. When Korhan’s eyes fell on him, Brael sighed deeply, “Do what you must avil, but beware, if she has commanded you thusly, and you disobey her, she will be angry with you.”

  Silus rolled his solitary eye, “Don’t listen to him, how can she even know? Have one, wash it down with a mug of ale, and some bread and cheese and she can never know!”

  Korhan’s mouth was watering. Harald pushed the plate of drumsticks towards him, “Have one, you can tell her we bullied you into it if she discovers your action and scolds you for it.”

  Korhan reached towards the plate and grabbed one drumstick, then without pausing took a big bite of it. They were right, it was cooked to perfection, it truly did ‘melt in his mouth’ Using both hands he rolled the leg and stripped all the meat and skin off it, when he spoke, his mouth was still full, “Just one can’t hurt can it?” The others smiled, and they continued eating and drinking, by the time Vashni would return Korhan had eaten a little more meat than the one drumstick he’d originally intended. Less than he normally would, given the fact that for many days he had been living on dried and cured meats, he considered himself to have shown great restraint...

  Vashni meanwhile had stormed up the stairs and barged past Saul. The guards parted for her when she entered the Bergers apartments. The Berger and his wife had stayed with their daughter who appeared to be sweating profusely and did not look in a good way, the swelling had gotten worse if anything and her flesh looked red and raw where it was swollen. Vashni beckoned Saul in, then closed and barred the door behind her. The Berger looked up, “Who are you?”

  Saul introduced her, “This is, hmmm, Vashni... She may...”

  Vashni pulled back her hood causing the Berger and his wife to gasp, “Elf!” Vashni gestured for them to give her some room, which they did. She then examined the girl, the bite wound, her limbs her torso. After several minutes she turned to the Berger, “She is dying... I can save her, but I have my price.”

  The Berger looked at her, “Name it... I would pay you a thousand go...”

  “Pffft! I am not interested in your coin... I want Harbinger...”

  The Berger formed a puzzled look on his face, “Harbinger? What do you mean?”

  “The elvish great sword hanging up in the main hall... Give it to me and I will ensure she lives.”

  The Berger spat, “Hah! That sword is useless anyway; none can wield it due to some enchantment placed upon it. Many mighty warriors have attempted to wield it without success.”

  “Then we have a deal? I need to know your daughter’s name... And I would like some time alone with her, how long I cannot say - it will take as long as it takes.”

  The Berger looked worriedly at his wife, then to Saul who simply shrugged, suggesting that the choice was theirs.

  Elaine seemed to take the initiative, she stood, “Come Karras, she will die if we do nothing... We have nothing to lose... Her name is Angela.”

  Vashni unbarred the door and gestured for them to leave, “Good... Now shoo, I have work to do.” The Berger and his wife cast uncertain glances at the diminutive, leather and suede clad elf as they left, then Vashni beckoned Saul towards the door too, “You too wizard... To remove the venom, cure the sepsis, heal the infection and repair all the tissue is going to be a long and difficult task... I need to be able to concentrate and you hanging around prying and analysing what I am doing will hinder me... Go!” Saul bowed slightly to her and scurried out after the Berger. Vashni pushed the door shut after him and threw the bar.

  Quietly then she retreated to Angela’s bed, sitting herself on the side of the bed. The girl was beyond communication. So Vashni pressed her fingers on the girl’s temples and entered her mind. What met her was terrible, a world of pain, fear and sorrow. Angela for her part was unconscious, enduring a nightmare of pain and suffering... When a silken, almost hypnotic voice entered her head, “Shhhh, my name is Vashni... I am here to help you... Try to relax and listen... If you hear what I say, embrace it, cherish it... And you will make my work all the easier.”

  Her voice was calm and soothing; when she exited the girls mind the girl already looked slightly better. Vashni then leaned closer and placed her lips to Angela’s ear and began whispering, after some time she moved her lips down to the point of the bite and whispered some more.

  The process was long and tiring, Vashni alternating between whispering into Angela’s ear and whispering to various parts of her body. As time drew on foul smelling ichor oozed out of the bite wound, venom, infected blood, dead cells... By the time Vashni was satisfied it was safe to close the wound the bed sheets were stained a browny red and smelled foul. It took over two hours to complete the task, when she had finished she u
ttered a final whisper into Angela’s ear commanding her to sleep for twelve hours.

  Tired and weary, Vashni rose and took a final look at the patient. The sweating had stopped; she looked healthy and happy... But asleep... Vashni unbarred the door and pulled it open. The Berger, his wife and Saul sat were sitting outside. They looked up, when the door opened, their faces full of concern. Vashni shrugged, and let out an exhausted sigh, “She will live, she will sleep until lunch time tomorrow and she will be weak for many days - but her life is no longer in danger... Now Berger, I am tired... I will collect ‘Harbinger’ and my Ri§ine, then retreat to my bed... Tell nobody of my presence here Berger. I do not wish the presence of an elf in Torea to become common knowledge, particularly one that is skilled in the art of healing. I do not care for the thought of every hapless individual in the land chasing around looking for me, finding me, then pleading with me to tend to their ailing relatives...”

  The Berger thought about questioning her, could he trust her? But when he he rushed to the door and peered in, it was clear she spoke the truth and he let out a great sigh of relief. As Vashni walked wearily away, pulling her hood up as she went, Saul pressed a palm on the Bergers shoulder, “Berger, will you reconsider executing Gedric?”

  Karras turned to Saul as Elaine rushed past crying tears of joy. “Saul... I could reconsider executing Gedric - but for what purpose?”

  “To save a man’s life?”

  “Hah! What life? Did you not see the expression on his face? There is nothing behind those eyes now, he seems unable to fathom the simple task of walking, what kind of life has he to look forward to? Are his wife and son likely to thank me for bestowing this burden upon them? Ask yourself this Saul Karza, if it were you, a mindless shell... Essentially a lump of meat, what would you prefer? To wile away your days sitting in your own excrement, being spoon fed by your carer, unable to speak, or communicate, unable even to think - only able to suffer... Or to have your life ended swiftly, and not by your own hand, thereby giving you safe passage into the next life, keeping you fit for Avanti’s judgement?”

  Saul listened, and sighed... The man had a point, it was despicable to think it, but it was the truth. True mercy lay not in withholding the axe, but in allowing it to fall... At least on this occasion. Saul looked at the Berger, “Would you at least allow his wife and son to visit him before his execution?”

  “Hah! And would you, were you in his position desire that? For your family to see your empty shell... Hmmm, actually - you may be right. They have suffered enough at Gedric’s failures and under his whip that I believe they at least have the right to decide whether they wish to visit him before his time has come.”

  “And if they wished for him not to be executed?”

  “I would not offer for them to change his fate, in doing so I would place his fate in their hands and guilt may force them into a decision that is bad for him and bad for them. Better, that I relieve them of that responsibility.”

  Saul sighed, “You are a wise man Karras, cold... But wise... Thank you for considering my requests... And may your daughter recover well... I believe she will.”

  At this point Vashni was trudging down the stairs wearily; healing the Berger’s daughter had been tiring... It always was, when trying to fix old injuries; it had taken a great deal of energy and concentration to complete. As she neared the bottom of the stairs her eyes drifted over to where Korhan and the others were sitting, looking a little sheepish. She strode quickly over, examining the table in front of them. She saw the nibbled chicken bones on Korhan’s plate and scowled at him, “Hmmph! I see you’ve chosen to disobey me Ri§ine!”

  Silus looked up, “Leave him be elf! A man cannot sustain himself on bread and cheese, he needs meat!” She placed her hands on the table and leaned close to Silus, “You are wrong dragon slayer... And besides which, tis none of your business what he eats and doesn’t eat. He is my Ri§ine, he is under my care - he will eat what I deem fit and nothing else!”

  Korhan felt terrible, he looked pleadingly at her, “Mir§a Vashni, I am sorry, I - “

  “Silence Ri§ine! We shall discuss your insubordination back at the inn, remove the sword from the wall, carry it by the blade, do not touch the handle.”

  “But...”

  “I have acquired it from the Berger for services rendered, pick it up and follow me... Now!”

  He stumbled quickly up, shying away from her due to the venom in her voice. As he took the sword down the Berger appeared at the top of the stairs with Saul and waved to his men that it was okay for the sword to be taken.

  Soon Vashni was storming down the street, her face twisted in a vision of rage. Korhan was stumbling and ambling along behind, the elven blade in his hands. She didn’t pause at the inn, she walked straight in and straight to their room, closing and barring the door behind them. Immediately she approached Korhan and whispered to him, “§ara Shoriuda di§airm §uisquira shom..” without thinking, helpless to resist he knelt down and kissed her boot. Then rose, but before he could straighten up she whispered to him again, “§ara Shoriuda di§airm §uisquira shom..” and again he grovelled on the floor and kissed her suede boot.

  “You are pathetic Ri§ine! You have no willpower or fortitude of mind... I give up, I release you from my service - your training has ended!”

  Korhan looked at her desperately, “Mir§a Vashni please! The others, they... They bullied me into having meat! I - “

  She cut him off by stepping forwards and clamping her fingertips onto his temples. She then forcibly entered his head. He could sense her entering and he tried to build false memories, emphasizing the coercion of his comrades, but her voice echoed out in his head, ‘Do not try to conceal anything from me barbarian! If you put up barriers to the truth in your mind, I shall tear them down... Painfully if needs be! Relax and allow me to examine your memories lest I leave you in a similar state to poor Gedric!’ It seemed harsh, but she seemed sincere. Begrudgingly he lowered his mental barriers and allowed her to probe his memories. He felt the conversation at the table being replayed, over and over again, he could almost sense her considering the implications of what was being said. It felt invasive, more so than before, he found himself cringing and finding it hard not to resist her mental probe.

  Eventually having examined his memories thoroughly, she exited his head, leaving him feeling somewhat violated and disorientated.

  “Hmmph! You speak a modicum of truth Ri§ine... You did make... a rather half hearted attempt to resist your temptation... Though, hmmph... I am still disappointed in you... Hmmm, I do not know what to do with you Ri§ine, should I release you from my service and end your training? Or should I punish you and continue our relationship?”

  Korhan looked at her, she looked slightly triumphant, but at the same time, her anger had faded somewhat. He thought about being ‘locked in’ and shuddered... It was possibly the most horrible experience of his life... At the same time he couldn’t shake his infatuation with her, and the monopoly on her company this arrangement seemed to promote. He also felt like despite his evident failure to succeed at her ‘tasks’ he was becoming better somehow... More aware of himself? It was early days yet, mere hours since he’d embarked upon this endeavour... Yet he felt a change in himself...

  “Mir§a Vashni, what punishment had you in mind?”

  “Hah! Tradition would dictate that I should take you over my knee and beat your rebellion out of you... But I do not feel like wasting precious energy and tiring myself out giving you corporal punishment.... Hmmmm, what to do with you....”

  She paused deep in thought then a subtle smile grew on her thin lips and her facial expression softened. “I think I have a solution Ri§ine... I have set myself the task of improving you, so that is what I shall do. I have to look after my Ri§ine, not punish him! Here is what is my condition to continue our relationship is, you shall allow me to place a ‘resonating whisper’ upon you. This is much like any other whisper, except all whispers to people w
ill wear off in time. The cells in your body are constantly renewing themselves and dying, so eventually any whisper that is given to an individual will fade as the cells die...

  A resonating whisper is different, it constantly reinforces itself to ensure it is permanent and stays with you for life.... Or until such time as you can resist a whispering....”

  “What do you intend to do to me?”

  “Do to you? I wish to give you a great gift, placing a resonating whisper upon someone is a tiring, difficult task - only possible by the most skilled whisperers. The function I have in mind, is a whisper that will cause you to... Hmmm. ‘dislike’ meat... No more than that... The thought of eating meat will make you feel ill, a little sick... If you do partake of any meat, fish or poultry - then you will vomit it back up... You will no longer be physically able to eat meat, the only exception is bivalves, oysters - which I deem appropriate to consume... Anything else will cause you to be violently ill... This will save you the trouble of having to test your willpower at the dining table. It will do you good Ri§ine - Do you accept my condition?”

  Korhan looked uncertain, “Permanent? And if our relationship for whatever reason ends, before such a time as I am able to resist whispering... You will remove this whisper?”

  “No, it will do you good to remove meat from your diet regardless of whether you continue as my Ri§ine or not. Meat is heavy and full of protein, it slows you down and dulls your senses. If our relationship ends, then I will have left you with one thing which has improved you at least and my time with you will not have been wasted.”

  Korhan sighed... Permanent... He thought about the meal he’d just been eating, never being able to enjoy such a feast again... He’d always been fond of meat, eating it at every opportunity, at the same time he could understand why she felt so strongly about this. He’d touched his horses mind, or what it had of a mind, and though it was not able to think in a coherent way, it suffered, it feared, it trusted. The minds of beasts which he’d so often consumed would probably be similar... Cows, chickens, sheep, pigs... He was finding himself torn, he understood why she wanted to enforce this rule, but his love of meat pulled at him, urged him to refuse.