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Wullf, Vensunt, and Rhaia had covered a good stretch of ground and were now off the main road. The village was on no road any passer by might find. It was a suitable road no more than a few broken grass blades that showed it to be traveled on. Vensunt was still given Wullf and Rhaia a hard time over his last statement, and making both blush a few times at his words. Both took it with smiles and a few laughs though, for they knew there friend meant no harm. Although the same couldn't be said for the group up ahead, the three from the bar had already outrun Wullf and the others. They had kept a close eye on them to make sure they knew what direction they where headed. The three had found a nice tree to use as there ambush point.
"Alright everything straight? Tarven you got the dwarf, he shouldn't be a match for your speed with that sword of he's. Abele you have the girl, and try not to bang her up to bad. She’s the only prize were gettin out of this," Grisum smiled and winked.
"Right, and are you sure you can handle that creature until we get done?" Tarven asked
"I have a few tricks up my sleeves for that one, just be quick with yours. No telling what kind of tricks he has himself."
The three bent low and slowed there breathing so as to wait for the perfect moment. Wullf and the others were just about there when Abele moved his foot for a more relaxing position.
"Wait, something isn't right. I heard something, and that smell in the air..." Wullf started
"What smell, I don't smell anything but me dirty shirt," Vensunt growled
"No wonder you can't smell anything else, but still I don't smell anything Wullf," Rhaia stated.
Wullf didn't know why but his hand went under his cloak to the handle of his sword. Vensunt saw the move and understood something was up. The ambushing trio waited no longer they sprang there trap. Tarven gave a back flip from the tree and managed to put a foot into Vensunt's chest. The blow knocked the dwarf off his feet and away from his friends. Abele made a huge leap at Rhaia and swung that massive axe, and made Rhaia retreat a few steps. Grisum came right out from the back of the tree and had both sword and dagger in hand. Wullf bent low but didn't unsheathe his weapon, he's was ready to spring at the first sign but Grisum wasn't given one.
Vensunt had brought his fine sword out fast after standing from his first blow. He could see the lanky Tarven dancing in place with his fine blades ready. The dwarf could see he was out matched in speed, but he usually was. He knew how to fight with that handicap, although you wouldn't hear him call it that. The nimble man came forward fast and jumped at the last second. Tarven made two brilliant slashes as he came to bare on Vensunt. The dwarf put his broad sword out horizontally and caught both attacks then pushed forward and threw the blades back, and at the same time dropped and gave a sweep with his small legs. Tarven was too nimble for such a move, plus Vensunt legs weren’t the best for tripping. However the intent wasn't to take the man down, for Tarven jumped back from the sweep and in doing so put him where Vensunt wanted. The man was nimble but unless he could fly he couldn't move much while actually in the air, so with all his strength Vensunt shot him self straight up at the man. Vensunt's strong legs gave him the speed to hit his mark while it was still airborne. The poor Tarven was so shocked by the move he hadn't set himself for a counter. So when Vensunt collided with him his grip on those fine blades went away. The two came down hard with Vensunt on top. Tarven was nearly crushed by the dwarf's sheer weight. With the wind knocked out of him and his back hurting from the landing, this one was down for awhile.
Meanwhile Rhaia was dodging the bigger of the threes giant axe. The man’s strength allowed him to swing the axe well, and with precession, but Rhaia was ready for every attack. She had been doing manly dodging, and hadn't actually made an attempt to strike back. If the brute only knew she was studding his moves. With such a large weapon even with great strength there was only a few ways to swing it. Finally Rhaia saw her chance, for Abele made a horizontal slash and went wide; this move set him up for his vertical strike, which could cleave a man in half. As the great axe came down so did Rhaia move; she side stepped the blade at the last second. Making Abele think he had her and drive the axe in harder. The blade hit the ground and stuck, that was all Rhaia needed. Her staff came straight up and slammed Abele in the face. The blow had clearly broken the man’s noise, but the fight was still in him. A man like that wouldn't go down with one attack. So Rhaia came in hard and spun her staff around her head, each rotation slammed one end into Abele's face, and with those metal tips made the attacks all the more painful. Then Rhaia leapt over the axe still in the ground thrust her staff into the big mans gut, then spun away from him and brought her staff around to his legs. The oaken bow slammed right behind Abele's knees and sent him down. Rhaia followed by making a quick thrust into his back making sure he stayed there for some time.
By now Grisum had seen his friends fall. He had planed some big speech for Wullf's demise, and how he was foolish to ever come into the city. Now only he felt foolish.
"Stop this now, your attack has failed. Go back to your tavern and wash away your wounds. Continuing this will only lead to death," Wullf said with his stance softening.
"I will never surrender to the likes of you. Your kind is but filth on this land, you should all be run through," Grisum spat
Wullf sighed and for a moment felt sorry for the man. Then Grisum came on and fast. Weaving a beautiful dance with his dagger and sword, Wullf spun hard and fast, throwing his cloak out wide. Grisum slashed the cloak with his dagger and came on into Wullf's back, but Wullf hadn't finished his turn. As he came around the sword Vensunt had made him came out, and quick. The blade came out with perfect timing with his cloaks spin, and as Grisum's blade missed Wullf's back by an inch the werewolf's cloak covered his real attack. The blade went by quick, in fact the whole move had taken little less than a few seconds, and Grisum had fallen back with his hand to his face. Blood came through his fingers as he pressed on it to stop. Wullf had cut a clean line across Grisum's left cheek that simple move had Grisum yelling in pain. Wullf had clearly cut deep, in fact if it wasn't for Grisum's hand in the way, you might be able to see the poor mans teeth.
"Now I’ll ask again, please leave this place before more trouble befalls you. I do not wish to kill you but if you advance again I will do what I have to. You came here to kill me and my friends, and that I can not have. I never want to see your scared face again," Wullf growled.
For indeed the cut would leave a lasting scar even with clerical help. Even if it did mend completely the mental scar would remain. By now Abele and Tarven had stood up on hobbley legs and had seen Grisum get his wound. Without a word the three left staggering and trying to stop Grisum's wound from bleeding.
"Ye done well lad, fine move ye did there," Vensunt congratulated
"I wish I wasn't forced to attack at all," Wullf sighed
"I didn't mean the move with yer sword," Vensunt smiled
Wullf caught the remark and managed a smile back, but only a brief one. He looked over to Rhaia who was walking to them.
"You alright Rhaia?" Wullf asked
"I'll be ok, little tired from dodgen that big fools axe,"
"Ye did good girl, Master Glen be most pleased. Plus ye didn't even kill the rat, although you are a kinder soul than me," Vensunt laughed
"You let yours go too," Rhaia stated
"Aye that I did, durn pup ye must be rubin off on me,"
Wullf smiled at the joke, and then padded both his friends on the shoulder.
"You two are the only true friends I have, I'm glad to be with you both," Wullf smiled
"Ah, now you’re gettin sappy on me. This is the kinda talk that gets me soft, that ain't no way for a dwarf to act,"
"How about the way for a friend to act?" Wullf asked
Vensunt just smiled and gave Wullf a playful punch in the side. The three continued on there way home, but now Wullf had other reason for returning. Like question for the council, and more.
The three finally came to the village around sundown. The night watch had already lit the watch fires. The guard at the main road smiled at the three as they came into view.
“What are you three doing back, and with out the caravan as well?”
“I ran into some trouble at the local tavern. A man removed my hood in the middle of the open street.” Wullf replied.
“Aye, we decided to leave and not cause the caravan trouble.” Rhaia added
“I’m sure the head man for the caravan will be most grateful you thought of the village’s interest, and I am sorry your first trip to the city ended on a bad note.” the guardsmen said.
“I have some questions for the council members. Is it ok to see them now?” Wullf asked
Rhaia and Vensunt shoot Wullf surprised looks. He hadn’t mentioned a meeting with the council.
“I don’t see why not Wullf. They always like someone interrupting there duties in maintaining the city.” The guardsmen laughed
Wullf and his friends walked to the council’s house. The house was the biggest and longest in the village. Plus it was the only one made with stone and metal framing. Wullf entered and spoke to the scribe in the entrance. He smiled at the three and new they were there to see the council.
“Ah Wullf, Rhaia, and Vensunt. What bring you three to the council so late?” the scribed asked with a delighted tone.
“I have some….questions for the council. Questions that I should have asked long ago.” Wullf stated
The scribe looked at Wullf with all seriousness and sighed.
“They knew would ask one day.” The scribe said as he hoped off his chair.
He walked the three into the meeting hall and introduced them to the council members. The council consisted of Master Glen, master Valek, lord Kaldon, and Lady Sandra. The two masters were the advisors to all the students. They reported how each was coming along and what they thought on each student. Lord Kaldon and Lady Sandra had been apart of the original group who started the village. The two elves were old adventuring friends and lovers. The council made sure that the village remand secret and that all thing went as normal. They almost always had to make treaties and trade agreements in order to keep the whereabouts of the village safe. So they enjoyed when someone actually came to them for council.
“Well met Wullf, Rhaia, and Vensunt.” Kaldon smiled as he watched the three give the customary bow and smiled back.
“Aye, well meet lord Kaldon, Lady Sandra, Master Glen, master Valek…,” Wullf began with the utmost formality.
“Please Wullf, no need for bells and whistles. Tell us what’s on your mind?” Kaldon smiled and gave a slight chuckle.
“Well…I would like to know…where I came from, and how I came to be here, and who my parents were, and…”
“Calm yourself Wullf,” Kaldon sighed,” I knew you’d be asking those questions one day. I didn’t think it would be so late in the day when you did though,” Kaldon chuckled and sighed again,” Ok Wullf, would you please follow us into our private meeting chambers?” Kaldon asked as he motioned with his hand to the far door to their right.
Everyone entered the room, and what a room. It was huge probably the biggest in the village. The biggest in the world for Wullf and Rhaia. Vensunt had seen rooms far grander in the homes of dwarves. The four council members sat around a circular table and motioned for the other to sit like wise. The table itself was grand indeed, there was enough room for ten people to sit and eat with room to spare. The center of the table was cut out and one part of the table opened so someone could stand in the center and be heard by all. Kaldon did so and turned more so to face Wullf and the others than his fellow council members.
“Wullf, do you remember anything at all of when you were a child?” Kaldon asked
“Only the time I spent here, but anything past then I can not.”
“We figured as much. To tell you the flat truth Wullf we don’t know much our selves. Here is what we do know however. You were found by a group from this village in a mountain valley. From what records we have still, the valley had just been the sight of a huge battle. There were corpses everywhere of man, lycon, and even some of dragons. Whatever took place there must have been a monumental battle. One legends are forged from, but this one no one knew of. The group that came upon the sight decided to search for anyone who still lived. They found none except one, you. We found you under a dead lycon’s body. The lycon seemed to be protecting you for you were completely covered by him. He had large burn marks on his back, and an evil stab wound in the back of his neck. Next to the lycon were two dead dragons, one was lying close to the lycon and its scales still gleamed of silver while the other dragon’s scales seemed to be almost gone except a few red patches. We can only guess that it was a war between two groups of dragons and everyone else just got in the way. Or it would have seemed so, but upon further looking the group noticed some of the corpses were….well wrong. They were almost fully decomposed but had the looks of many creatures in one. The group spent little time on the other dead. For they decided to get you back to me and the council.”
“A much younger council I might add.” master Glen piped in.
Kaldon drew an eyebrow up at the remark and continued.
“When I saw you I decided to let you grow up here. I also sent the group back to find anything that could link you to them for later. However by the time to group got back to the mountain valley everything was gone. Even the dragon corpses were long gone. We suspected passers by decided to take souvenirs. So that’s about all we know.”
Wullf stared into nothingness for awhile. He was trying to picture something anything of that moment. All this news was a bit shocking; Wullf had expected….well hadn’t expected this. He stood up from his chair and looked at the council.
“Thank you for telling me. I need to think this over for the night.”
And with that Wullf walked out. Rhaia followed shortly to chase him down and ask her own questions. Vensunt just eyed the two as they left.
“News like this calls for some good old mead, aye Pop?” Vensunt winked at his father across the table.
The old dwarf laughed and agreed. Seconds later he came in with tankards and a large keg.
 Ronyo Storm · Fri Jun 13, 2008 @ 05:07am · 0 Comments |
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