Tatsuya pleaded with the soldiers to spare his family and he did as he was ordered, handing over his poisons, releasing his medicines, and surrendering his notebook with all the recipes and deadly concoctions he had mastered. The raid was completed, but the soldiers were still hungry for more death.
Tatsuya and his wife were pinned down whilst a soldier approached his son Morgan.
A tall brutish and broad soldier grinned with yellow teeth and spoke to the child. “If you want to save mummy and daddy, all you need to do little one, is run to the village entrance over there . . . if you do, mummy and daddy will be right behind you.”
The terrified child ran, he ran as fast as any six-year-old could, and as he approached the village entrance he smiled and surely now mummy and daddy would follow behind, the smile vanished as an arrow was shot through his chest, the child dropped to the floor and breathed no more.
Beth screamed and she was allowed to rise up, but then the yellow toothed captain placed her in a choke hold and snapped her neck. She fell and landed in front of Tatsuya, her tears still running down her face as she laid dead. Tatsuya roared and became beastly, he broke free, but he was outnumbered and beaten to a pulp, shortly after he was placed into a cage and placed on the back of a cart.
He was to be transported to the warlord's settlement and would be forced to serve, no doubt forced into labour to make poisons and healing remedies.
As the wandering regiment stopped for rest, by chance they were set upon by the War Hogs and Yoshihiro led the charge. The War Hogs slaughtered the wondering cut throats and Tatsuya was freed, this is how Yoshihiro and Tatsuya came to meet.
The silence between Tatsuya and Hiroki was of a sombre note, Hiroki held back the tears and then Tatsuya delivered news that shocked him deeply. “You’re probably wondering why I stuck with your great sensei after that aren’t you. True, he rescued me and I’m grateful for that, but I wanted vengeance, vengeance on all who murdered my family! I knew I couldn’t take down an entire warlord's army on my own, so Yoshihiro offered me a deal.”
“Revenge?” asked Hiroki.
“Yes! As he came to know of my skills, he made me a promise, years of service and in return he would help me get my vengeance once we had found out who the warlord was that was responsible for the slaughter.” Tatsuya smiled. “And we have found out! It was Darius!”
“So that’s why Yoshihiro is meeting him! He’s not interested in any endeavours Darius has to offer, no matter how well paid, he’s going to help you kill him!”
Tatsuya nodded. “Yes, then we're done! You, me, Yoshihiro, the War Hogs . . . everything, I’ll be out your hair, you have my word. I will tell my fellow Cursed Bastards of this story tomorrow in the war tent. I doubt they will want to risk their lives for me, nor will they give a fuck about my dead family . . . no matter, Yoshihiro gives the orders, not them.”
“When you have your vengeance, what will you do?”
Tatsuya ignored Hiroki’s question, he stood up and signalled Hiroki to leave as if no heart to heart had ever happened and the story told was nothing more than a made-up fantasy. “So, there are two morals here boy! First, love makes you weak, second, use people for what you can. You’ll live longer and happier, trust me! Now fuck off.”
Hiroki left Tatsuya and was too shocked to even reply to the parting insult. Hiroki tried to make sense of it all. I don’t understand how this is going to work, Darius is no fool. He will sense Yoshihiro’s betrayal before it can be enacted. There must be more to this then Tatsuya has let on. Tatsuya family . . . It’s barbaric . . . It explains a lot. I wonder, will he really leave after killing Darius?
Hiroki made his way back into the centre of the camp, the celebrations were still going, and off into the distance he heard the sound of hammer and steel. Ragrim must be working, that’s odd, thought Hiroki, so he ventured over to Ragrim’s smithing station.
Chapter 10:
Ragrim Bjorn
Hiroki approached Ragrim’s smithing quarters. After the revelations that had come to light over the last few hours, Hiroki was looking forward to a conversation of a more mellow tone with a man who had helped raise him.
Hiroki thought it strange that Ragrim was drinking alone, he also remembered that dwarves are indeed a fiery race and clash aggressively with the other races, even their own! There were bottles of empty honey wine scattered on the floor on approach to the blacksmithing area, Hiroki’s thoughts put a smile on his face as he approached Ragrim Makes sense, dwarves do like to drink, Ragrim probably sensed it would only be a matter of time before somebody made an offensive drunken comment on this night, much better to avoid a fight than start one.
Racism was common throughout all lands of Dragons Continent, dwarves being small, always took the brunt of the abuse similarly to the woodlanders, elves disliked all that are of a different race and humans always seem to bring war and death to all the lands they grace, needless to say many races couldn’t stomach them either. There was no love-loss between mages, necromancers, wolfmen and blood maidens either and it seemed at times the world was a cauldron of boiling racial hatred.
Hiroki found it astonishing how Yoshihiro had managed to unify certain races within the War Hogs and have them work in harmony to win battles, though when gold, fortune and jewels are the prizes for success, people understandably control their emotions a lot better.
On approach to Ragrim’s tent Hiroki noticed a hammer resting up against a tree, it was Ragrim’s famed Warhammer. The hammer was gold with a burgundy leather handle, the butt of the handle was a glorious green gemstone, in fact there were gemstones of many colours imbued all over the hammer. The thick gold hammer looked too heavy to be swung but Hiroki knew better, the stones imbued into this gold hammer made it lighter than feather thanks to the magic the stones possessed and as a result, Ragrim swung this hammer ferociously in battle, breaking helmets, shields and armour. The hammer had carvings of dragons throughout its design and was indeed a weapon of beauty. The square head atop of the hammer had razor sharp edges and imbued rubies on each side. Upon gazing at the weapon of beauty Hiroki made his way closer to Ragrim.
Ragrim seemed agitated and was hitting the steel of a blade with a regular smithing hammer harder than usual, cursing after every hit, his eyes seemed enraged and no doubt he was probably a little bit drunk. The steel Ragrim was working on was taking damage after every whack with the hammer and Hiroki realised that perhaps Ragrim was not trying to make a sword and instead was seemingly trying to take his anger out alone in his own world.
Ragrim was covered in sweat and was topless, his hairy chest was saturated, and beads of sweat had built up all over his body as if it was a summer's day.
“I think you can stop now Ragrim, that steel looks well and truly defeated!” Hiroki said cheerfully.
Ragrim looked up in shock, unaware that Hiroki had approached, he was visibly embarrassed he’d let his young friend witness him in his moment of anger.
“Hiroki! I was going to come and find ya but . . . you know how it is. Too much alcohol and people get stupid, no doubt some prick over there would want to pick a fight with a dwarf!”
“Fair point, although any man would be stupid to pick a fight with you! I’ve seen the way you swing that hammer!”
Ragrim laughed. “Good point, doesn’t stop the mugs from trying though.”
Ragrim wiped the sweat from his face, he noticed Hiroki looked upset. “What’s wrong boy? You should be happy tonight; these celebrations are for you.”
“I know about the invasion from the East and the war between Marius and Zolom. Just found out not too long ago that Bellethiel is leaving tomorrow with Astaroth to scout east and gather information . . . it’s been a shit night Ragrim, I was looking forward to talking with you . . . was hoping you could cheer me up!”
Ragrim dropped his hammer to the floor and picked up a drying cloth before rubbing more sweat from his face and body, he then picked up an old worn cotton tunic and covered his torso.
“Come here boy.”
The two embraced each other tightly, Hiroki let his feelings slip. “I’m pissed off, I think this is a suicide mission, I could lose my best friend, but he doesn’t see the danger.”
Ragrim spoke reassuringly. “C’mon lad, let’s sit.”
Ragrim began to explain to Hiroki his anger and frustration, Astaroth and Bellethiel had just visited Ragrim to say their goodbyes before heading to meet Yoshihiro to inform the ferocious leader of their departure. Ragrim was furious with their decision and felt just like Hiroki did in the sense of it being a suicide mission.
Ragrim was close with Astaroth, they were the first two commanders in Yoshihiro’s ranks and had known him the longest. There was also a special bond between dwarves and gargoyles as throughout time gargoyles often offered up their strength and labour as part of trade deals with dwarves and would help the dwarves build new armouries and blacksmith workshops. Dwarves are small and stocky beings not suited to general labour, heavy lifting, and construction therefore gargoyles are happy to offer their services to help dwarves build and expand their culture in exchange for precious armours and weapons. The relationship between dwarves and gargoyles is a relationship of peace and respect which is rare to find throughout this land.
Ragrim also pointed out that he did not like the idea of meeting Darius which was fast approaching and there were more pressing matters, instead Ragrim wanted to travel the Centre Plate to warn all of the threat from the East, though he knew this was a fool’s errand and there would be no unity to be merged.
Hiroki joked, “Well at least were on the same page.”
“It makes me fucking mad,” declared Ragrim. “No unity amongst the races even though everyone knows of the threat. People would rather die with their own race then live free in a diverse world. Dark times are coming.”
“So, you are not coming to meet Darius?” Hiroki asked.
“I’ll be there, I would never let Yoshihiro down, just think it’s a waste of time dealing with such a scumbag, no matter what he has to offer.”
Hiroki stopped himself from revealing why Yoshihiro was really going to meet Darius and the deal between Yoshihiro and Tatsuya, he knew he couldn’t reveal that yet, and instead let Ragrim speak.
The dwarf explained that Yoshihiro was a warrior of pride and honour and understood he had to keep the War Hogs active and prospering and no reward or potential conquest should be turned down, even if it meant helping Darius. “I hope when this deed is done Yoshihiro will focus on the East!” said Ragrim in a hopeful tone.
Hiroki couldn’t help himself, he asked Ragrim. “You’re a dwarf Ragrim, why have you stayed with Yoshihiro? Did you ever think about going back to Dwarven Peaks?”
The mere mention of Dwarven Peaks was matched with a saddened look from Ragrim. Dwarven Peaks was the homeland of his race and tales of its fabled elegance and design was famous throughout the lands, the first grand dragon Storm helped create this homeland many years ago.
Storm and his dragons knew other races would try to enslave dwarves and use them for their master blacksmithing skills and use the hardy little beings to make artefacts for evil purposes, Storm and his dragons decided to give the dwarves protection.
The rugged mountain cliffs were a tough place to live and perhaps this is what contributed to the toughness of these dwarves. That being said, they were exposed in the middle of Centre Plate with approaches from all directions possible into these small spiralled mountains. A plan was formulated, the dwarves started to smash and craft small huts and households out of solid boulders and burrow into the very mountains themselves, the dragons then used their immense fire to melt and weaken the boulders and mountains. Upon helping the dwarves create this dwarven paradise all the dragons took to the sky and when the dwarves were under cover the dragons rained down multiple barrages of dragon fire to the outskirts of this new dwarven village and small mountain area. The mountains started to melt, shrink, and create a mass wall like structure around the dwarven village and when the dragons were finished the dwarves emerged to find their new home now had thick impenetrable mountain walls. The dwarves thanked the dragons and the dragons named the village ‘Dwarven Peaks’
Storm knew that a deterrent would also be needed and he couldn’t risk other forces one day taking the powerful and precious weapons and artefacts from this gentle race, so he requested his close friend, the mighty dragon Obsidian to stand guard at Dwarven Peaks, Obsidian did until the dragons mysteriously left in the year 375.
“I can’t go back, I’ll be killed on site,” mourned Ragrim.
Hiroki was shocked by this discovery. “What do you mean you can’t go back! why?”
Ragrim’s eyes filled with water. “I killed my wife, I’m a cunt.”
Hiroki froze, he didn’t believe it. “What! No! no fucking way!”
“It’s true boy, I had to flee and live as a loner, a loner with the blood of his wife on his hands, a cursed fucking bastard indeed.”
“No, I don’t believe you, tell me what happened.”
Ragrim told his tale of how he was the greatest dwarven blacksmith to ever live, and how he prospered in his homeland where he resided with his wife, he made the finest armours and weapons his people had ever seen. Ragrim also told of his once aggressive and fiery nature too, and how he pushed his wife away with his temper. Due to his nature, he and his wife grew apart, she fell in love with another man, the dwarven king, King Tordek.
The king confronted Ragrim and looked to take his wife, they fought fiercely and Ragrim killed his wife by mistake as the king used her to save himself! The king framed Ragrim for her murder, but facing execution, Ragrim escaped.
Ragrim crossed paths with Yoshihiro after he escaped, Yoshihiro recognised Ragrim’s skills as a warrior and blacksmithing abilities, he made Ragrim a commander in the clan and the two have been friends ever since.
“It wasn’t you, it was the fucking king!” declared Hiroki.
Ragrim disagreed. “No Hiroki, I pushed her away and started this. She was lovely, my wife, I never respected her.”
An awkward silence lasted several seconds until Hiroki continued, “What did . . . I mean how did the king kill her?”
“He came to face me alone, I respected him for that. We started fighting atop of a mountain, I remember it so clearly. My wife was crying, her tears made me even more angry as I came to realise it was my fault. I bested Tordek and in a final fit of rage threw my hammer at him.”
“And then?”
“The fucking cunt coward used my wife as a shield! He grabbed her and the hammer hit her dead centre of her shoulder blades, I still hear the crack of her crushing bones!”
“Fucking scoundrel,” roared Hiroki.
“We both fell to our knees; he knew what he had done too. He framed me and I was imprisoned.”
“You escaped?”
“Kind of. The day before my execution the king's guilt seemed to best him, he set me free in secret and assured me he would allow me to escape, I haven’t been back since.”
“Kings and Queens, are there any fucking good ones?” asked Hiroki sarcastically.
“I was a mess, then I met Yoshihiro!” Ragrim wiped his tears and seemed to perk up at the thought of his endeavours with the feared swordsman.
“Now that’s a story worth hearing,” declared Hiroki as he embraced the dwarf. Ragrim told another tale of a fateful encounter.
It was a hot summer afternoon and Ragrim, having left Dwarven Peaks some time ago, was traveling with his mule along a peaceful path on the Centre Plate. The sun was beating down on Ragrim and he sweat so much it felt as though he’d become nothing more than a walking, smelling bead of sweat. He looked down on his mule, envious at its stamina and just as when Ragrim felt as though he may faint, he noticed shade near an approaching woodland area.
As he approached the shade, he heard a commotion and sounds of which could only be clashes of swords. Ragrim tied his mule to a nearby tree in the shade and ventured
deeper into the woodland, armed with his dwarven hammer.
There was a young swordsman fending off two cutthroats, the swordsman looked quick and strong and Ragrim noticed he wore a black headband which was a symbol of high skill and status in swordsman culture. The fight continued and the lone swordsman struck down one of the cutthroats, expertly slashing through his torso leaving one remaining. Ragrim noticed a dead body on the floor near the duel. The body was of a woman, and she was naked, beaten, and bruised, no doubt she had been raped, but by whom, Ragrim wondered. Just as the swordsman seemed to have even the odds, two more rogue cutthroats appeared from the brush, the swordsman smiled seemingly enjoying the challenge.
“Yes, he was crazy indeed!” Ragrim spoke seemingly glorifying Yoshihiro’s battle prowess, not that they needed to. Ragrim continued enjoying the recounting of this tale. “Seeing Yoshihiro then, he was magnificent, he was young, strong, quick and enjoyed the thrill of battle. The dead woman lying on the floor had been kidnapped and gang raped by the men. Yoshihiro was disgusted by this and sought to enact his justice, though I was surprised to learn of a swordsman who acted for justice instead of self-progression. I couldn’t help myself, seeing him standing there locked into a conflict of justice . . . I joined him!”
Ragrim continued his story and explained he and Yoshihiro fought off the raping cutthroats that had murdered the helpless young woman. Yoshihiro’s sword techniques were like nothing Ragrim had seen before, his strong slashes carved through the flesh of his opponents with ease, his body moved out of instinct rather than thought and he fought like an enraged beast, though he still maintained his calm. There was no doubting it, this young man would go on to become the most skilled swordsman in the land. When the fight was over, they buried the woman and it was at this point that Ragrim made the decision to travel with Yoshihiro.
Hiroki couldn’t help but praise his teacher. “He really is special isn’t he.”
Killing Monsters Page 9
