• I began to journey down a snow soaked road, a stretch forever straight, a forgotten place. Riding in the direction of a place of ruin, I sighed. This village I rode to was a place of mere unimportance related a purpose whose importance was greater than all others. The simple thought of my future, my fate, rendered my mind frail, weakening from the awesome pressure, the great burden set on my shoulders. I had been solitary for longer than I was used to. I met no man, good or evil, rich or poor. Only the company of my jet black steed drove my mind from the path of peril. I shivered from both the blistering cold and a chilling fear that my act of heroism, an act of kindness to the citizens of this nation, would somehow go awry. To defeat a Necromancer alone seemed an impossible task for a single man. Necromancy, a dark magic, in all its unholy power, needed to be rid of, whether the Gods themselves asked for it or if a peasant begged for his death. Through my eyes, this Necromancer needed to be rid of by any means necessary. To my disadvantage, my enemy already had the means to rid of me.

    Just a few days ago I awoke from a rest I should not have taken in the middle of a cold, empty library. In a daze, I sorted the papers unorganized in a heap in front of me. “Damn!” I cursed. “Librarian!” I called.

    A foreign man rushed to the call. This man was probably a very old Dwarf if you could pay attention to his height and the fatigue of his physical appearance. The man’s skin was plastered with crevices and marks from his aging. He rushed to my splintery table, hands full of scrolls and pockets full of scribbled, illegible notes for his other customers. He decided to stand behind me, looking over my shoulder at the confusing tome. “Yes sir?” he asked.

    “May I ask you to translate these Elven texts to English?” I asked.
    “Well I can sure try, sir.” he replied. He hustled over to the other side of the table and sat down in a small chair. He struggled to reach over the table to grab the Elven book from me. I pushed the tome a couple of inches toward him and looked around the small library. The library obviously had not been renovated for years, with its wooden pillars supporting the ceiling and colored windows simulating that of a church’s. The place was clean, full of books both old and new, from vampire myths all the way to how to spot a dragon’s lair. It was an admirable structure, bringing to life what once had been lost to civilization. After the look around, I decided to no longer waste my time on such useless things. I decided to overlook my orders, reaching into my side pack and reaching for a scroll.

    “Quite an establishment you have here, my friend.” I complimented.
    Suddenly I felt the cold shock of sharp metal on my neck, and the wielder of this blade was the librarian, crouching on top of the table, an angered expression spread across his face.

    “Burn in Hell, Necromancer!” he shouted. “Guards!”

    “I’m a Necromancer? On what grounds comes this accusation?” I asked.

    “How about the illegal tome of Necromancy you have asked me to translate? Never underestimate who seems to be weak, my dark, stupid adversary!” he replied.

    “I can explain-”

    “Quiet, citizen!” commanded a guard. He was a medium height guard, Dwarven, from the looks of him. He had a large black beard, a bald head, and piercing green eyes. His armor was metal, and clinked and clanked as he moved. How I had not noticed his entrance, I could not guess. “This better be good, God damn it!” His voice was deep and unclear.
    “Thank you, Rtabn.” the librarian weakly said. “Where is Bardeleke?” Orn kept his eyes on mine.

    “On his way, late for his shift again! No surprise for me at this point. Think the man would have his priorities.” Rtabn replied. “Bardeleke, get your a** in here before I discharge it!”
    “Almost there!” called another guard entering the library. He was taller than the Dwarf and very light skinned. A small amount of brown facial hair told me he definitely wasn’t a Dwarf, but probably a Wood Elf in his middle stages of adulthood. A few scars cursed his showing skin but his face showed no signs of aging whatsoever. “What’s going on, Rtabn?”
    “Well if you had been here for the first part of a conversation, you would know that the librarian is having trouble with this ruffian.” Rtabn replied, face red, fists balled.

    “If I may interject, this is not any ruffian you’re used to. He’s a Necromancer, I swear to you!” the librarian shouted. Almost immediately, both guards pulled their swords from their sheaths and pointed the tips at me, and Rtabn pulled his sword back to strike, when Bardeleke placed his hand on the bearded man’s arm, firmly holding him back.
    “What is the meaning of this, Bardeleke?” Rtabn demanded.

    “There is no way we can be sure he is a Necromancer. Remember the Royal Hawk, Rtabn? Think about it!” Bardeleke insisted. Rtabn laid the blade of his sword on the shoulder of his chain mail armor, holding on to the hilt. He obviously was ready for violence.

    “I doubt it. Why would King Emmanuel send such a young man after the Necromancer? I’ll bet my reputation that he’s the Necromancer.” Rtabn replied.

    “Quit lollygagging and kill this evil man!” the librarian ordered.

    “How do you know this man is a Necromancer, Orn?” Bardeleke asked.

    “What?” the confused librarian asked, obviously hard of hearing.

    “What is your proof that he is a Necromancer?” Bardeleke clarified.
    “He has a foreign tome of Necromancy, and we both know that King Rufino burnt all the domestic texts involving the dark art.” Orn the librarian explained. The comfort of the guards made him loosen his grip on the knife he held to my throat. I took advantage of the opportunity, raising my right hand on to his arm and my other hand on to the exposed hilt of the knife. I gripped his arm hard enough to make him let go of the knife. I took the knife from his hand, and pointed it back toward him.

    Suddenly Rtabn swung his blade, and Bardeleke kept his position, merely observing. I leaped from my chair as Rtabn sliced through it. I looked at him, keeping my composure.
    “How dare you assault this citizen!” Rtabn bellowed.

    “That wasn’t an assault, it was a demonstration.” I explained. “Learn how to use a knife, librarian, and always keep your eye on the enemy.” I walked to him and gave him back the knife.

    “That was an act of violence. Now I have two reasons to arrest you!” Rtabn growled. “That should suffice with the Noblemen!”

    “You are interfering in official business, guard. I have the right to stand my ground.” I explained.

    “You lie to me, Necromancer! No one has been allowed to possess one of those unholy books since the death of King Julian!” Rtabn exclaimed.

    I laughed a little at Rtabn's foolishness. “So you dare to defy the will of King Emmanuel?” I calmly asked, humored by the angered guard.

    Rtabn groaned. “To Hell with this.” In his laziness, he suggested, “Bardeleke, I think I’m going to let you decide the fate of this arrogant young man.”

    “I’ve never-”

    “Do not plea for help, Bardeleke. Take a look at the evidence, and think of the craftiness of the Necromancers of old before your final verdict.” Rtabn suggested.

    “Well...” Bardeleke began. “Perhaps the Royal Messenger Hawk foretold of his arrival.”
    “I still doubt it. Such a young man would not embark on such a dangerous quest unless he were mad, even if Emmanuel asked of it.” Rtabn stated, chuckling.

    “Then I suppose I am mad.” I replied to his remark. He snapped his eyes to mine, his expression angry.

    Bardeleke put his hand on Rtabn’s shoulder. “There is only one question I need ask you, sir.” Bardeleke explained. Rtabn gave him a questioning glance.

    “Bardeleke, he can’t be the-”

    “What is your name?” Bardeleke asked.

    I smiled with joy, almost laughing. “Nikandros Thanasis.” I answered.

    “Do you have any proof, criminal?” Rtabn asked with a laugh.

    “Why yes, I have a scroll giving me permission to protect myself against any citizen of the nation who is under the impression that I am a law breaker.” I explained with a smile. “Would you like to see it?”

    “Yes! Give me the scroll!” Rtabn ordered. I reached into my side bag, found the scroll, and tossed him the powerful piece of paper.

    Rtabn read it aloud:
    “To whom it may concern,
    This man who you have met goes by the name of Nikandros Thanasis and by his military rank as a Warlord. This man is to be respected and taken care of by all members of this nation. Therefore, I demand the hospitality of my nation for this man and I demand kindness and respect for this man. If this is not given to this man, you have been informed of the orders, and I have been informed of your actions, there will be punishments involved.

    Sincerely,
    King Emmanuel IV.”
    “God damn it!” Rtabn shrieked.

    “You see, Rtabn?” Bardeleke asked, raising his free hand in annoyance. “You were going to let this man rot in a dungeon for a misconception. You would have suffered as well.” At that, both guards sheathed their blades, and Rtabn rushed out in a hatred for Bardeleke and I.
    I chuckled. “Quite the happy go lucky one, he is?” I asked sarcastically.

    “I can only hope for a better partner tomorrow. He’s a royal pain. I pray he leaves the guard every night.” Bardeleke replied. “Sorry for the inconvenience, Nikandros.”

    “Not your fault at all, Bardeleke. I have all the time in the world, for I do not depart till the dawn of tomorrow. All that needs done are some translations, my weapons, and my armor.” I replied happily.

    “That’s a relief. Don’t want a bad review of Alecnah given to the king.” Bardeleke laughed. “Orn, can you translate those texts for Nikandros? We’re going to pick up some weapons.”

    “What about other customers, Bardeleke?” Orn asked.

    “Close the library. This is mandated work straight from King Emmanuel.” Bardeleke replied. He straightened his bent back and yawned. “Follow me, Nikandros. All the weapons are stored in the South Guard Tower.”

    “Alright, then we better get moving. All I need is some leather armor, a sword, and a shield to replace these rags I wear and my fists that are useless in battle.” I explained.

    “That’s good for now. Also, welcome to Alecnah. Sorry your welcome wasn’t so warm.”
    “It’s perfectly fine. The road ahead of me will only colder.”