Legend of Fire and Ice

by Xaiver Morden

  He laid on the bed, exhausted, and fell asleep immediately. He woke up in the morning, relaxed, his wounds healing. The ointments had really worked and he could hardly feel the pain. He had a lot to do that day and could not waste any time. He grabbed the essentials and the treasure box, rushing to the dining hall to have breakfast. He jumped on Smokey and headed towards the town. He managed to sell the treasures from the box, to the merchants for good money. After long negotiation, he gained a hundred gold, which was a smaller fortune.

  He got his armor fixed by the blacksmith and bought a new crafted helmet. It had a T-shaped gap on the front and it provided better protection than the old one, since it was made of Terwaldian steel. This material was always in demand in Algaron, since it was more resistant than regular steel. He got some new clothes too; ash-colored pants, baize shirt and a black velvet cloak. He deposited the rest of the money in the Dukedom’s bank. He put the bank certificate in his pocket. Nobody could get access to the money but him.

  It was late in the afternoon, when he got back to the inn. He sat down to a free table and ordered a cup of wine, making himself comfortable as sipping the red drink. He looked around the guests of the inn. There were local soldiers, simple craftsmen, who finished off a hard day with a pint. Of course there were some troublemakers too, who only came in to make a scene. There were all kinds of folks, most of them were human, but other races could be found in here too.

  A big orc sitting at a table was constantly watching Corwen, who noticed this, but was not yet disturbed by the attention. The giant warrior soon got up from his table and headed towards the captain. His movements suggested confidence. He was obviously an experienced fighter. Everybody got out of his way. Nobody dared talk to him.

  He stopped at Corwen table. He wore a shirt of chain mail armor with metal arm and leg braces. The giant was nearly seven feet tall. A real husky creature. Across his back, he carried a two-hand battle-axe. His skin was mold-green. He had a big scar across his face at his left eye, his nose was flat and stubby and he had no hair. He stared at the captain with his small, deep, light brown eyes. His half-inch eyeteeth stuck out of the wide jaw. The one on the right had a metallic glow.

  He leaned over Corwen’s desk, pushing it down with his giant, muscled and hairy arms. The captain could feel the booze on his breath as he began to speak in a deep, rich voice, with a little bit of accent in human language.

  “You human, search fighter to dangerous mission?”

  “Yes it is me. My name is Venuri del Corwen. You want to apply?” the captain asked, completely calmly.

  “How much money, if I go with you?”

  “I’ll pay twenty gold if the mission is over. From this, you get five at the beginning, to see you can take me seriously. My only condition is that I only want experienced adventurers. You have to prove you are a master of your battle axe,” he pointed at the weapon on the orc’s back.

  “You want fight me?” the giant asked.

  “A fight until the first blood. What do you say?” he opened his arms with a calm expression on his face.

  “Alright. I am Iron Tusk from Blood Drinker clan. I do not quit any fight!” the warrior answered proudly, flashing his teeth as he burst into a smile.

  “After you, Iron Tusk from the Blood Drinker clan.” Corwen pointed at the door toward the yard.

  Meanwhile, he drank the last sip of wine and stood up from the table. He fought numerous fighters in his life and knew they hit hard, but they were slow and tired fast. He was curious, whether Tusk was a warrior like that.

  The orc approached the exit with huge steps. The crowd let him go.

  Wants fight? Gets fight! Just need to make sure not to kill him, Tusk was thinking carefully.

  A few curious eyes followed them from the inside. They wanted to see the fight.

  They faced each other. The giant took out his crafted, pale blue two-handed weapon and Corwen the Terwaldian steel twin blades. It was dawning outside. The sky was all colors of red, as the sun disappeared at the horizon. The fighters stood in starting position.

  “Until first blood, Tusk. Let’s do it!” he started to roll his weapons fast as the orc was approaching.

  To his surprise the giant did not attack immediately. He waited for the opponent to come closer. He swayed the axe, which the captain could avoid, but then he unexpectedly tried to hit him in the stomach with the long handle. He could ward that off too. Corwen noticed that Tusk was a good fighter, despite his size and he moved the axe fast and furiously.

  He tried to cut the column-like legs of the giant, but he was not successful. After the initial attempts, he began to make the giant very angry. He was waiting for the orc to miscalculate a move and that moment arrived soon.

  He began a fierce attack, lifting the axe above his head. The captain would not have been able to counter the hit, so he rolled on the side. The missed weapon landed an inch deep in the ground. That was the orc’s first mistake during the fight and it did not remain unanswered.

  Corwen struck with his sword like lightning cutting the opponent’s hefty leg, but careful enough not to make a deep wound. The orc bared his teeth on him, plucked his weapon out of the soil and put it back on his back, gasping.

  “You win human!” he moaned angrily.

  “Yes, but you are an excellent fighter too. You can use that giant weapon skillfully. I can see now that you are an experienced fighter, so my offer stands if you accept it.” he offered his hand to the mold-green colored giant, who shook it fiercely.

  “Me accept!”

  Corwen flinched, when the giant clenched his hand. He could have easily broken his wrist if he wanted to.

  “We are leaving the morning after tomorrow from the inn. Don’t go too far,” he informed his new fellow.

  The orc nodded, turned his back to the champion and went back to the inn to continue drinking. He returned to his table at the inn. Many were nodding at him appreciatively, showing their respect. He ordered another cup of wine, after that he was planning to go to bed, but suddenly he noticed a familiar female figure approaching. Larianna was walking toward him with steady steps in her white tunic. The dance of her hips was admired by many male eyes. Arriving to his table, she smiled at the captain with a glass of wine in her hand.

  “Can I sit down my champion?”

  “Please, Larianna.” he offered her a seat.

  “I saw the fight too. You are indeed an excellent warrior like everybody said,” meanwhile she drank the rest of her wine.

  “Can you give me some of yours? Mine is empty,” she smiled.

  “Of course. I had many great masters, who taught me these excellent techniques,” he poured some wine to the glass of the woman.

  “How are your wounds?”

  “Thanks to you, I feel much better and they are healing quickly.”

  “Happy to hear that. So, you are satisfied with my healing abilities?” she inquired.

  “Yes. Next time I have serious injuries, I’ll ask you again to heal me,” he complimented the girl who played with her hair cheerfully.

  “I heard you were looking for experienced warriors and magicians for a dangerous mission. I want to go with you, if you’d accept my company,” she looked at her with her poison-green eyes.

  “Dear Larianna. I don’t think you are an expert of weaponry or magic and could be useful during the fights.” he drank from his cup.

  If you would know my talents, pretty boy. I am not just good at seducing men, now I will show you a little of my skills. Just see your face as you look at me amazed, the girl decided.

  “You are very wrong, my captain,”

  She pulled out a small ash stick, from her tunic.

  “Please, examine this carefully.” She handed it to him.

  He took it and observed it carefully, touching its surface.

  “I don’t see anything special about it. It is just a wooden stick,” he replied firmly.

  “If you say so, but look!”

  She
touched the stick with her left index finger and after murmuring some magic spell, the stick turned into a black poisonous snake. It immediately spiraled on the arm of Corwen.

  “What the hell! I never thought you are capable of something like that,” the captain admitted with shock on his face.

  “Magic, my dear. I know a few tricks and I could be useful to you.”

  “Fine. I see you are as dangerous as beautiful. You convinced me. Just get this animal off me!”

  He looked at the snake cautiously. It was waiting for the command of the woman. She smacked and it turned right back into a simple stick.

  “I have the following offer. If you come with me for this dangerous journey, you will get twenty gold by the end. I pay you five at the beginning, the rest at the end of the mission. If it is fine for you too. I want to leave the day after tomorrow morning from the inn. Arrange your affairs until then,” the captain informed the girl.

  “My affairs?” she asked playfully.

  “You know the one affair I’m interested in,” she put her finger in the cup and licked the wine off it sensually.

  Oh God! I just want to have you right here until you scream for mercy, the captain thought. His forehead was sweating, but he could control his powerful desire.

  “I cannot execute this demand, beautiful. We are fellows now. I could not take advantage of you,” he replied, clenching his cup.

  “Well I have to find fun elsewhere!” the girl said with disappointment.

  You will be mine. No man can resist me. One way or another, I will get you captain, she was thinking.

  She turned her head away, shrugged her shoulders and jumped up from the chair. She sat down at the table of a handsome elf nearby. She started flirting with him, but kept one eye on the captain the whole time. He rather ordered one more drink, then getting bored of the evening, drank it and left, going to his room to have a good night’s sleep. The wine went straight to his head. He had trouble going up the stairs and had to use the handrail not to fall. He took off his armor uneasily, and fell on the bed, falling into a deep, drunk sleep.

  Chapter Three

  As he woke up the next morning, his head was aching form yesterday’s drinking. After a big breakfast and a few glasses of water, he felt much better. He spent the rest of the day relaxing. He declined several applicants, because of their lack of experience. Hustlers. He thought about what he was going to do, when he caught the assassins and got the map back. What next? Who can I trust enough? he asked himself.

  He finished his lunch around noon, when a strange couple entered the inn. One of them was a tall, thin, dainty elf warrior. He wore a starched leather mail, embroidered with silver scale plates for better protection. He had a crafted white birch bow on his shoulder and a curved saber on his side. His steps were airy, his shoulder-length golden hair in a ponytail. His face (since he was an elf), was like a perfectly shaped marble statue. His ocean-blue eyes quickly ran over the people of the inn.

  His companion was shorter than he was. His face was like a black panther, with big, bright yellow cat-eyes and pointy ears. He was a ‘rour’, commonly known as a catman. These creatures were rarely seen in the North, because they were from the Southern lands of Rakashara, next to the sea. His face was covered in short dark hair. His age was hard to estimate. He wore a baggy-sleeved dark chestnut caftan and held a large staff in one hand that ended in a unicorn horn. The staff was covered in red ruin writing. The strangest thing about him, however was the little dragon sitting on his shoulder. It did not have wings and its body was covered in marble scales. It had tiny horns on its head and its eyes sparkled in a pale yellow light.

  The appearance of the sorcerer suggested confidence and inner peace to the captain. His elf fellow examined the room carefully. He was searching for potentially dangerous individuals and the advantageous places in case a fight occurred.

  The audience of the inn was staring at the strange new guests, who headed to the bar and exchanged a few words with Red Beard. A few moments later, they turned towards Corwen, headed towards his table and greeted him warmly.

  “Greetings! I am Mergoth Al Sarran, a member of the Inner Circle magician order. This is Dergo, my servant dragon.” he nodded toward the strange creature on his shoulder.

  “Greetings!” the little dragon said unexpectedly in a clear, deep human voice.

  The captain could not believe his eyes and ears, as he had never seen a dragon before, especially not one that could speak.

  Now the elf archer started talking.

  “I am Ulren Lowarien at your service, a warrior and tracker from Ertonfell. Arriving to the city, we heard you are in need of experienced adventurers for a dangerous mission. We are interested in your proposal, if you accept our help.”

  “Greetings to you too! I am Venuri del Corwen, a former guardian captain. The mission I am recruiting people for is indeed dangerous. I want to track down a group of assassins from the Night Blade clan. They murdered my men and my lord, Jahren Galdara, the merchant. I swore revenge for them and I am looking for fighters, who are not afraid of death. I can offer twenty gold in exchange, if you accept it.

  "It sounds like a substantial reward, please continue," Al Sarran replied.

  “I will pay five in advance upon departure and the rest after the mission. I usually have to make sure the applicants are experienced enough, but I can see that you have a bow made of elloro on your back, which only the best fighters deserve to receive among your people. The bow only obeys your will, nobody else can use it.” he looked into the fighter’s ocean-blue eyes.

  “You are very familiar with elf traditions, captain! You judged my bow well. Only a few people have a weapon like this in the world.”

  “I once visited your land, Horeldien. It is unbelievably beautiful. It has the highest trees in the world and everything is bright green,” the captain said.

  “He ran Zandiel. We protect all the tree fathers. I am happy you like my homeland.”

  “I will hire you. I will be in great need of a tracker, but I still have to make sure your friend is also suitable for the task.” He turned towards the panther man.”

  “I have never seen a dragon servant before. It is a strange little creature.”

  Al Sarran patted the dragon with his paw-like hand.

  “Yes, everybody is astonished by him, especially when he starts to talk, although he does not do that very often.”

  “Correct me if I’m wrong, but sorcerers can sense magic objects around them. Is that right?” the captain asked.

  “You are right, we can sense the energy every object made with magic omits and therefore we can detect them,” the rour explained.

  “Tell me. Do I have any magic object with me now?”

  “Yes. I can detect a medallion omitting magical energy.”

  “That is right. I can see now that you really do have magical abilities. You can be a member of my team. We leave tomorrow morning here from the inn. Be at the bar. An orc warrior and a healer woman familiar with magic will accompany us.”

  “Captain, what do you know about these Night Blades? I have only heard a few words about them,” Lowarien asked.

  “I survived their attack. Those bastards use poison. They are average fighters, but against an experienced fighter like yourself, they don’t stand a chance,” Corwen replied, rubbing his chin.

  “What’s the plan after we find them?” the rour asked.

  “Whomever surrenders, we will take hostage. Whomever resists, will be killed. They didn’t have mercy for my people either,” the captain said firmly.

  “I completely agree with you. I think we got everything we need to know. See you tomorrow captain. Early in the morning,” Al Sarran replied, stood up, and left the table, together with the elf.

  Corwen said goodbye too. He was thinking about his team and his possibilities. He had an experienced orc warrior, an attractive healer, who is familiar with magic, an elf tracker who was a veteran fighter and a rour sorcerer, whos
e knowledge could be valuable during the fights. It would probably be enough to take revenge and get the map back, he thought.

  After his satisfying lunch, he was walking around the city for the rest of the day, collecting all the necessary equipment for the journey. Purchasing a tent, a sleeping bag, change of clothes, torches, alimentation and all the necessities.

  Arriving back to the Pilgrim Inn, someone was waiting for him in his room. There was a short woman in a cloak sitting at the table.

  “Who the hell are you and how did you get in my room?” he asked angrily, clenching his sword.

  It was a slim, young girl with olive skin. Her dark brown, waist-long hair was braided. Her ocean blue almond-shaped eyes were glowing. She wore a light blue lace shirt under her cloak and he did not see any weapons. Despite her young age, she had a confident appeal.

  “Calm down captain! I am not here to hurt you. On the contrary. I heard you were looking for adventurers for a dangerous journey and I want to apply,” the girl replied with a thin, pretty voice.

  “My name is Rawoldien Everly and I am a master of thievery. There is no lock or door I cannot open, but I can also defuse traps,” the little thief listed her skills.

  “It explains how you could get into my closed room!” the captain answered, still upset. “I am sorry but you’re too young for a dangerous mission like this, we might not come back alive. The Night Blades are hefty killers. I would not like to be responsible for the death of such a young girl.”

  “I am almost eighteen and I can take care of myself! I have got out of so many dangerous situations!”

  She got out a pack of cards, and threw two cards in the air. They were not even halfway down, obeying gravity, when she pinned them to the wall with her daggers.

  “Impressive trick, but the team is complete and I do not want to hire anybody else. Go and live your life, do not get in trouble. Please, leave now! I have to get ready for tomorrow,” the captain answered firmly, pointing at the door.

  “I could be useful for you. Trust me!”