by Adam Drake
Amazingly a footman had grabbed onto her leg with both hands, preventing her from moving.
Cool! I thought as I fell upon her, sword swinging.
With bizarre luck she sensed me near her and she spun about to block my attack. I collided with her and we both fell over the altar and into the mad crush around it.
Even as we landed, we still swung at each other although she was hampered by carrying her banner in one hand.
“Going somewhere?” I yelled as we both scampered to our feet.
“FILTERED!” she screamed, facing off against me. “Go return your banner! It's over there!”
“I may be a noob, but I'm not stupid,” I said. What did I care about my banner now? Going for it would guarantee she could get her own banner off the platform. Then this mess would start all over again.
A troll rider accidentally bumped his horse up against Amara. She spun around and slashed at him causing the mount to kick and split the skull of a troll grunt.
I lunged forward and stabbed her in the shoulder. But as I did so, an arrow hit me in the stomach and pierced deeply, all the way to its fletching.
Uh-oh.
Thirty Second Warning!
My health dropped to less than half within an instant.
Amara, for her part, didn't care. Instead, she was trying to push her way through the crowd. I realized she wanted to get to the edge of the platform over the water. Once there, her banner would be returned.
Despite my near fatal wound, I swung at her again and again. Each time she would parry while pushing her way slowly backwards through the crowd.
The noise was deafening with screams of the dying and the constant clashing of steel.
Twenty Second Warning!
So obsessed with getting the banner to the edge, Amara tried to pull away from me all together. She was scared. Not of me, but of losing.
As I attempted to step closer a troll grunt stumbled over to block me. Angered, I slashed at him, but he managed to parry the blow. Behind him Amara turned around and faced the direction of the river. She was going to try to throw the banner over!
I dodged the troll's lunge and slashed the tip of the spear off followed by his head, for good measure.
Ten Second Warning!
Amara suddenly threw the banner. But a cluster of cavalry riders, both human and troll, were directly in her way, fighting. The banner rose up but smacked against the side of a human rider and fell to the ground, standing up.
The Blue Banner Has Been Dropped!
I swung at Amara, and this time because her attention was on her banner, she was slow to block it. A bloody gash appeared across her right shoulder.
She was shouting, but I couldn't really hear her. It sounded like no, no, no, over and over again.
With a sword feint in my direction that I foolishly backed away from, she lunged at the banner and grabbed it again.
The Blue Banner Has Been Taken!
I suddenly found myself pushed from behind by a horse's flank and I crashed into Amara who yelped in surprise.
Five Second Warning!
But the horse didn't just push me, it fell over with a horrible cry and landed right on me and Amara.
The Blue Banner Has Been Dropped!
Four Seconds!
Amara and I were pinned from the waist down under the horse.
We were right near the edge of the platform. The blue banner stood upright on the very edge, almost teetering over.
Desperately, she stretched outward toward the banner with a painful scream, while locking swords with me via her other hand.
Three Seconds!
I grabbed at her outstretched arm, but the movement only served to help her touch the banner's wooden pole with the tip of her fingers.
With my sword arm I kept it pushed up against her own.
Two Seconds!
Amara ignored me completely and stretched all she could. The tips of her fingers nudged the banner. The banner moved several millimeters and began to teeter.
Frustrated, I quickly switched the sword with my bow, which remained pressed up against her weapon.
One Second!
I summoned my magma arrow. As it appeared in my quiver, I instantly reached back to snatch it then nocked and fired the molten projectile directly into Amara's face at point blank range.
Then the deafening sound around me suddenly stopped.
Everything froze, like pausing a movie. I blinked in surprise. The magma arrow, sticking out of Amara's eye, had just begun to boil its way through her skull.
I took a screenshot.
Then she vanished. The horse that held me down vanished. The soldiers and trolls around me vanished. And so did the rest of the world until all that remained was a white void.
Then a message appeared, the words hanging in the empty space before me.
Vivian Valesh is Victorious!
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
For several long moments, I stared at the floating message.
My heart still pounded in my chest, my breath heavy and near gasping.
I won.
The realization didn't click in right away, but the Battle Field was gone and the fighting was over.
I won!
Astonished, I pushed myself up from the nonexistent ground to stand.
I defeated Amara. Better yet, I defeated Amara in my very first Battle Field gaming session.
Somewhere out past the white void, in the real world, the player who controlled Amara was cursing up the mother of all filtered storms.
I laughed until tears rolled down my face and collected at the bottom of my view-screen.
Beautiful.
The void dissolved into a swirl of colors and I found myself standing back in the cavern chamber on its middle rise, where this mess had all started.
As I looked around, I shouted in surprise and summoned my sword.
All the skeletons in the chamber who had been laying on the ground, now stood facing me. Each one pointed at me with an outstretched arm.
What was this? Another final fight?
Rumbling laughter made me turn about.
Y'Godda's spirit stood beside me, resplendent in his bright white armor.
“Don't worry, adventurer. They will not harm you. They only wish to congratulate you on your victory over such a skilled opponent.”
“Yeah, okay,” I said trying not to sound doubtful. Funny way to congratulate someone. But if they weren't going to attack, I'd take it.
“And, I too, wish to offer my congratulations,” Y'Godda said, grinning from ear to ear.
“Thanks,” I said. “It was tough, but a fun learning experience.”
Learning experience was an understatement. Trial by fire would be a better analogy.
Y'godda nodded, his long red beard rasping against his armor. “Yes, I know this was your very first Battle Field. You performed well. Especially considering the experience of your opponent.”
“Oh?” I said, curious. “How experienced is she?”
“According to the records, Amara Frostwalker has never been defeated in over 118 Battle Field conflicts. This would be her first.”
I burst out laughing, again. Oh, fantastic! I wish I could see Amara's face right now.
“Speaking of my opponent,” I said looking around the chamber. “Where did she go?”
Y'godda frowned. “Unfortunately, your opponent left the world before the final message of her loss could be given to her.”
“Left the world?”
“I believe you mortals refer to her action as 'Rage-quit'.”
My laughter echoed off the cavern walls for several long moments. Knowing Amara rage-quit was even better than seeing her face after the fact.
Eventually, I picked myself up off the ground and gave Y'godda my full attention again.
“Sorry,” I said. “Couldn't help myself.”
“Hmm,” said the dead general. “So, Vivian Valesh, it is time for your reward. The one you fought ever so vali
antly for.” He waved a hand.
Upon the rise a banner appeared. It was neither red nor blue, but a brilliant white.
“Cool,” I said. Looking at the Lost War Banner of Y'Godda made me feel a little weak-kneed. Before, it had been a simple item to obtain after a long quest-chain. Now, it was a symbol of my victory over my own self-doubts while trying to win it.
It also symbolized my defeat of Amara, which made it all the more special.
Reaching forward, I grasped the banner's wooden handle and lifted. It came free easily.
Quest Update: Y'Godda Be Kidding Me.
You have found the Lost War Banner of Y'Godda after many trials. Return it to the quest giver for your final quest reward.
“Nice,” I said. Suddenly, the surrounding chamber changed, and I found myself standing in a clearing.
I was outside the cavern, its huge stone door now shut and sealed with a magical barrier again, ready for the next adventurer to come.
“Well, goodbye to you, too,” I said with a shrug. Y'Godda must not have believed in adventurers lingering in his dank cavern for longer than necessary.
I summoned Smoke and jumped into his saddle. With the banner over one shoulder, we rode through the Forest of Dreams. There was one final destination to be reached.
After crossing through several travel-gates, I stepped into a blighted realm, full of black mountains and dead forests.
I followed a crooked path along the shores of a blood red lake which waters were still as glass. The path ended at the front gate of a ruined castle, its walls decimated and crumbling.
As I dismounted a chat request appeared at the lower part of my view-screen.
I looked at the caller's name in shock.
It was Amara.
I blinked in confusion. What could she possibly want to 'chat' with me about? How much she hated me? Or how much I didn't deserve to win?
The image of her angry, screaming face filled my mind's eye.
Any communication with her would be packed with filtered words. I decided to not give her the pleasure of swearing at me ever again.
Instead of accepting the chat, I dismissed it. Then I went into my chat settings and placed Amara Frostwalker on my Blocked Players list. Now she'd no longer have the ability to communicate with me in any way.
There, I thought. Defeated again.
With a laugh, I entered the ruined castle.
There, sitting upon an ancient throne, was a dark figure. My quest giver. Above his head was a name tile. Togish the Sullied.
“You have returned,” said Togish as he watched me approach. “I am... surprised.”
I stood before Togish and bowed my head slightly. “I did not want to disappoint you, oh great one.”
Hey, I might not be the best role-player in the game, but it didn't stop me from trying.
Togish nodded. He was clad in burnt armor which had been melted to his blackened skin. According to lore Togish died in this very castle by dragon fire. Dragons sent by Y'Godda.
“I see you have the banner.”
“Yes, great one.”
He held out a blackened hand, with burnt flesh hanging from its fingers.
I presented the banner to Togish and the undead king snatched it from my hands.
Quest Completed: Y'Godda Be Kidding Me
You have returned the Lost Banner of Y'Godda to Togish the Sullied. Please take your quest reward.
Togish grinned at the banner, his melted lips making the expression ghoulish. “Very good, adventurer. It has been a long time coming. With this, I am now one step closer to conquering the Realm of the Dead.”
Uh-huh, I thought. Good luck with that, buddy. Just gimme my dang reward!
I kept my mouth shut and my head bowed.
Togish placed the banner onto a skeletal altar almost identical to the ones from the Battle Field. A bony hand grabbed the wooden handle.
Immediately, the banner's brightness faded and dulled to nothing. The magical wind that kept its banner flowing stopped as if whatever essence had been inside it died.
“And now for your reward,” Togish said, drawing my attention away from the sad-looking banner.
He held out a burnt hand which gripped a quest scroll.
Bowing my head again in a gesture of thanks, I carefully took the scroll into my possession.
Togish looked down at me. I tried not to stare at the hole in the middle of his face where his nose used to be. “You will find this particular quest... difficult. I know of no one who have survived its trials.”
Neither had I, which made me all the more excited to finally have the chance to take a crack at it.
“I will endeavor to do my best, great one.”
“If you do obtain its reward, see me again. We may have further business to do together.”
I bowed one last time and backed away. Looking up I saw that Togish had turned from me, forgotten. He stared at the limp banner, nodding with satisfaction.
Hastily, I left the destroyed castle and got back on Smoke. Turning him to the path we made our way back to the travel gate.
I was happy beyond words. In my hands I had the quest. Not any old quest, but the quest. Its final reward was the single most sought after item for players of my class.
And I was determined to be the very first to complete it.
As I moved along the path to take my leave of this dead realm, my mind was no longer on banners or Battle Fields or even Amara.
I became consumed with the quest contained in the scroll:
The Quest for the Shadow Blade.
END.
Watch for the next Shadow For Hire title:
Shadow Blade
BONUS BOOK
The Big Bag Of Infinite Cats
An ancient weapon versus a magical bag of cats.
When a strange case of a detective being turned to stone baffles local police, retired investigator Mayra Beeweather is asked to assist. One of her tools of the trade is a magical bag which contains an infinite number of cats. Very special cats – each with a unique ability to aid in her investigation.
Yet, even with their help, Mayra may not solve the case in time, for she may be the next victim turned to stone!
CHAPTER ONE
I sat on my favorite park bench, perusing the newspaper when someone said, “Excuse me, Miss Beeweather, but might you help me, please?”
Bleary-eyed from reading small print, I looked up at the speaker, and squinted against the morning sun. “Beg pardon?” I said.
It was Penny, a frazzled looking red headed woman, who stood before me on the cobblestone path. She looked concerned, hands rubbing together like frightened animals. “I'm afraid it's my son, Newlin, miss,” Penny said. “He's got himself stuck up that tree.”
I looked where she pointed.
Sure enough, at the edge of the glade, high up a thick oak, a small red headed boy straddled a branch. He clung to the trunk with both arms for dear life. He looked as frazzled as his mother.
Now, to a casual observer it might strike them as odd to ask for help in this endeavor from someone of my advanced years. Especially when a fair amount of climbing would be involved. But supposed limits of old age has nothing on ability.
“Well,” I said, “He's good and stuck, now, isn't he?” I assessed the situation. “It appears he has made it up quite high, indeed.”
“Yes, miss,” Penny said, quick to agree.
“An ambitious little fellow,” I said, and stood. Various creaks and pops betrayed my bones with the effort. I put the newspaper down on the bench and shouldered my satchel with care. “Well, let's see if help is in the offering, shall we?”
Happy, Penny nodded and we walked over to the base of the great oak. On closer inspection I saw the child, his eyes red with tears, scrapes on his arms and elbows.
“Are you okay, lad?” I called up to him.
“Y-yes ma'am,” the little boy sputtered.
I squinted at him. “Now why would a smart little boy
like yourself do something so silly as get stuck up a tree?”
