gamekiller7

There is a mist forming on the western horizon this eve, I fear for my home. I race against the setting sun, hoping against hope that my feelings of dread are not realized. My sweet, my love, how foolish of me to leave your side. The honor of the quest and the edge of the sword is a most potent call, and I succumb all to willingly my love. My heart pounds as the hooves thunder beneath me, the valley of our home draws near. Darkness is upon me.

I ride through the courtyard as I have done on many a glorious day, but no fair meeting for me on this eve. The squires come and meet me with faces as pale as the moon, they do not meet my eyes. Dashing through the entrance hall a vision greets me, a priest, a fellow knight and a mystic. "Evil hath come upon us this eve" echoes in my soul, words from the priest cutting great open wounds in my heart. "No!" My eyes focus on the hall leading to our bedchamber. A great ring of metal fills the air as I draw forth my sword and charge down the hall. A fog now looms as a door bursts open to the bedchamber. A sight of horror greets my eyes; a trail of blood gleams to the open window, the tracks of a wolf lie upon the floor, the smell of death fills the air, and a sword crashes to the floor from my hand.

Time passes, the fog of my mind swells as I sit in the dining hall. Words break through from time to time, a prayer of hope, a cry of despair and songs of comfort. Visions of our life, your beauty, and my love run through me. The pain and desperation of your loss consumes me my love. A word cuts through the haze of my mind, "Nosferatu".

"Vampir, I know this enemy of light!" pours forth through my lips. A silence envelopes the hall, faces lose the color of life and fear consumes the eyes of many.

The eyes of the priest meet mine, "This enemy is beyond your power, I know him as well. You can not win this battle."

As I leap to my feet in anger a shout explodes "I will spill his blood!" My fist crashes to the table, "Bring forth my crossbow!" The hustle of a squire is the only sound in this grand hall. "Who now will take up arms with me?"

Eyes now fall to the floor, murmurs and heavy breath pour forth. A squire steps forward and speaks "I will go into the night with you my lord." Eyes lift and the squeal of gasps encompass the hall. "Our lady took pity upon me once my Lord. I was mending the stable enclosures and foolishly placed a timber against the wall. It fell and struck her upon the arm as she came in from her ride. I should have been dismissed at once, but she praised me for my devotion. I will go into the night with you my Lord, even if it brings my death."

I have seen many a Knight's heroic deed in my day, but none so brave as the lowly squire that stands before me here in this hall. "What is your name brave squire?"

"Galen, my Lord."

I place my hand upon the shoulder of Galen, "Then we shall ride into the night."

At once the mystic's voice breaks through "Fools ride into the night, with no idea on where they are going or what looms in the darkness. The road to the lair of the Dark One is not an easy path."

I turn to meet the gray eyes of the mystic, "You know of this beast, tell me."

The mystic rises from the dining chair, steps to the open window of the hall, then turns to face me. "You must leave at dawn my Lord. Three days ride to the north into the land beyond the river. Stay in the Hall of Light near the stone bridge on the second night, you will be safe there. Cross the bridge at dawn and follow the road to the north into the far hills. Be weary of this land, it is cursed with evil and the Dark One has many allies there. Follow the path to the north and you will come upon a gorge. When the last light of the sun fades in the west, strike the bell held by the guardian to call the bridge to his lair." The mystic takes a long haggard breath as he steps closer. "Take with you the sword of your father my Lord, only a holy blade will spill the blood of the Dark One."

My mind races deep into the night. "My father's sword? A holy blade?" Memories of my father mix with the moments of my lost love. A great crusader my father was and a man of honor. Sleep is beyond my reach this night. I rise from my bed and walk down the hall to the shrine across from the entrance hall. The deafening silence of the hall embraces me. My footsteps thunder as if a giant where on the prowl. Moonlight from the stained windows casts a ghostly light upon the mantle where my father's sword sleeps. I have never drawn the weapon. With a heavy heart I reach for the weapon, the hilt is magnificent. With a pull I unleash the bade from the sheath that has been it's home for so long. "A holy blade." Perfection in balance and and edge like no other that I have seen. A golden dragon blazes on the blade and seems to dance in the moonlight.

A sound from the dinning hall calls my attention. I move through the entrance hall to the threshold of the dining hall, sword at the ready. I hear the low voice of the mystic mumbling in the candlelight. "Bravery...honor...fools! They no nothing of what they face." I watch as the mystic goes about his work. Two crossbows and bolts, a spear , a sword and other arms rest upon the dining table. The mystic takes a pause, "Come in my Lord."

I step forward into the dining hall and speak in a low voice "What is going on here?"

The mystic turns to face me "Ahh, preparations my Lord, I fear that I am too old to ride off into the night with fools."

"Watch you tongue old man, I am no fool!" My voice growing in volume and anger, the sword in my hand rising to greet him.

"No my Lord you are no fool. I admire your heart and believe me you will need it. The Dark One is a mighty foe. I have done my best to prepare your weapons for the struggle my Lord. The old mystic maneuvers closer and gazes into my eyes. "The night grows brief my Lord you must rest now."

I wake to the morning sun's fiery light in my bedchamber. "A dream?" My father's sword rests by my side. I stand and take up the weapon. The fog returns to my mind as I struggle to remember the following night. The door opens and Galen steps through.

"All is ready my Lord." Galen stands in leather armor, a sword by his side. My eyes fall upon the sword. "The mystic gave it to me my Lord, along with this armor, a shield and a spear. Your armor and the rest of the equipment are in the dining hall my Lord."

The sun still hangs low in the east as we pack up our steeds and take to the road. The days journey goes well and the eve presents an opportunity to instruct Galen in the manner of combat. Galen lacks the grace of the sword, but proves to be an excellent marksman with the crossbow and a formidable foe with the spear. Galen has the heart of a warrior and will prove worthy in combat.

Early on the second eve we approach the Hall of Light. The high tower of the hall reaches to the heavens as a beacon to weary travelers. The mystics who call the hall home are a hospitable lot, but hold many secrets in their ways. Dawn comes and the road calls to us once again. In moments we reach the stone bridge.

The bridge across the north river proves to be a stunning sight. The design looks to be ancient and foreign, I wonder if men or some other beast hath built it. The horses lurch on the first touch of the stone upon their hooves. The land beyond is desolate and barren as if a great fire had burned through. Trees are spread thin and warp and twist as if grappling with some great force. The road appears to have not been traveled in some time. We press on through feeling as if we have entered a den of evil.

The sun now hangs low in the west, the gorge must be near. We come to the crest of a great hill and cast our eyes upon the gorge. "Almost sunset." I speak to in a firm voice hoping to spark courage in Galen. The guardian lurks on the edge of the gorge. It has the look of a man, but features quite feral and demonic. A bell he holds high in one arm with a rusted chain hanging to the guardians waist. The last rays of the sun vanish in the west. I pull the chain and a great ring rumbles across the land. In moments a mist forms and spans the gorge. The twilight shines against the new formed demonic fog to light our way.

Galen pulls on the reigns of his steed to back away from the mist. "Dark magic it is."

"I will go first, if I fall then return to the Hall of Light." I nudge my horse forward to the mist. One step, a click of hoof on stone. Another step and the front of the steed is held firm by the mist. I spur the horse forward and cross the mist to reach the other side, hooves clicking on my way. Galen makes his way across behind me. I turn my mount to view the mist. "What magic is this?" A view of a stone bridge spans before me across the gorge.

"Dark magic indeed" Galen speaks as he inspects the stone with the point of his spear.

I turn my horse to the north, "Let us move on then."

The desolation that envelopes this land is unlike anything that I have seen. The wind howls and a foul stench is in the air. The moon shines with an ominous glow to light our way, the howls grow. Eyes glow in the darkness to the east. Now to the west the sound of movement in the darkness. The howls and the wind breeds fear in the heart of the horses.

"To the rear my Lord!" Galen shouts as he trusts his spear into the side of a great wolf leaping to the attack. The wolf cries out in pain and limps into the darkness a great red wound brandished on its side.

"Ride Galen, Ride!" I spur my steed forward with Galen close behind. "Turn now and ride through them!" I draw forth my sword and gallop towards the pack of wolves gathering on the road. A swift blow and a splash of crimson declares that my swing was true. I turn to see Galen struggling with two wolves nipping at the heels of his steed. I reach for my crossbow and place a bolt in the hind quarters of one as Galen's spear finds the neck of the other. The wolves give chase for a moment but prove no match for the speed of the horses.

I pull back hard to halt my steed's furious gallop and turn to face the wolves again. A great black wolf looms in the center of the charging pack with eyes red as hellfire. "Galen, the black wolf in the center!"

At once Galen skids to a halt, draws forth his crossbow and takes aim. A bolt screams and finds its home in the left shoulder of the great black wolf. The beast stumbles and rolls end over end from the force of the bolt. The pack halts immediately to tend to the fallen creature. Red eyes flash with a daring glow as the black wolf finds his feet and the pack vanished into the darkness with the great black wolf in the lead.

"The lair must be near!" I spur my steed to a gallop with Galen by my side. We ride through a narrow pass and a stronghold comes into view. A building with a look as if it where old when the world was young. A great black spiked gate spans the front approach, Tall towers with battlements pointing to the night sky stand on either side of the stone fortress. A dark figure stands guard at the gate.

I slow to a steady walk as we approach the dark figure. Half again as tall as a man, the dark figure stands at the gate awaiting our arrival. Closer now I have come to this great creature I can see a great helm upon his head with short ivory horns and a full metal face with slits for eyes that glow red in the darkness. As I draw closer with Galen by my side the dark figure bows his head slightly and pulls forth a great jagged sword.

I come to a full stop, dismount and ready my shield and sword. Galen follows with shield and spear at the ready. The dark figure steps forward from the gate and in a flash lands a blow against my shield. Galen trusts forward with his spear, but strikes air, narrowly avoiding a swing from the massive creature's hand. I lunge forth and land a blow upon the side of the beast that would cleave a man. The dark figure turns and slams the hilt of his great sword against my shield removing the balance of my attack. I stager back as Galen trusts his spear into the creature. The dark figure turns, grasps Galen with a mighty hand and sinks his jagged sword into Galen's shoulder. Cries of pain erupt as the sword twists in Galen's body. I charge forward and strike the dark figure, severing his sword arm. The creature bellows a great howl releasing Galen and turns to face me. The severed arm fall to the earth and disintegrates before my eyes. At once I lunge forward and drive my sword into the heart of the beast. With a flash of fire and smoke the helmet of the dark figure falls to the earth.

I rush to Galen's side, the sword still sunken deeply into his shoulder. I grasp the hilt and pull the blade from his body. Galen lurches forward and collapses back to the ground in pain. I dress the wound and pull Galen to his feet. Galen stands on weary legs as the pain grips him.

"Can you ride?" I ask hopefully.

"I think so." Galen replies through gritted teeth.

"Ride on to the house of Light. If I do not return in a days time, ride on home and never come back to this den of evil." I help Galen onto his steed and give a slap to send them on their way.

I gather my sword and shield and make my way through the black gate. The entrance to the stronghold lies just ahead. I ready myself and move to the double doors. A carving of a great dragon is embossed upon the door. Drawing forth every ounce of courage in my soul I give a pull upon the doors to enter the lair.

A grand hall awaits my arrival inside lit by black candles all around. A marvelous stone staircase just ahead draws my attention. Upon the upper landing stands a great statue of a regal black dragon. Eyes encrusted with rubies that dance in the candlelight give a essence of life to this great monument. Beside the statue stands a man with hair black as night tied back in a slick braid, his face as pale as fresh snow on a winter morn and a wound is bound and dressed on his left shoulder. The man reaches down and readies a great shield with a black dragon gloriously predicted upon it. He walks forward and pulls forth a sword from his belt and holds it high.

"I have come for you Nosferatu!" My voice echoing through the grand hall. I step forward and brace my self for his attack. In a rush he charges down the stairs and slashed his weapon, but finds air. I step aside and land a blow upon the dragon shield. He turns and strikes my shield with a force like none I have experienced. I lose my feet and stumble back from the staircase. The beast is upon me again with a furry of blows as fast as lightening. In desperation I swing forth and land a blow that cleaves his side forcing him back.

"You are quite worthy for a mortal!" The beast resets himself for my next blow. "I have killed many a knight more powerful than yourself."

Now is the time for my fury. I attack with new found strength. I think of my love, flashes of the bedchamber enter my mind. The open window, the blood trail and the wolf footprint on the floor. Thoughts come of my loss, my fury and my despair. I remember a closed fist hammering the table in the dining hall. "I will spill you blood Vampir!"

Pain enters my mind as a blow from the beast has found my side. Warm blood flows freely down upon the floor. My rage returns as I counter the attack and plant my sword deep into the center of the beast. He bellows a great scream and drops his sword and shield. I pull him close to me and whisper softly in his ear "I will spill your blood Nosferatu." I look into his eyes as the sword plunges deeper into the heart of the Vampir, a look of surprise turns to horror as I pull my sword free. With a turn of my body a sword swings and a head falls upon the stone floor.

The body of the beast slumps to the floor. I stagger from the pain of the wound on my side. A flowing feeling of sorrow enters my heart as I realize that the quest has ended. My love has been avenged and now I have nothing. The voice of my love calls to me as if in a dream. "My Lord." I fall to my knees and pray for my love that she find peace.

"My Lord." A soft voice that has called to me a thousand times before rings forth.

"My love?" I gain my feet quickly and turn to greet the soft voice. The sound of a shield striking the stone floor rings through the open hall. A vision of my love stands before me atop the stone staircase. Her hair flows down her side like sheets of satin, her beauty rivals the heavens and her voice could stop a steeds charge. A white gown covers her as she stands with an outstretched hand.

"My Lord" she cries, "I have fallen into darkness my love, my sweet love of all. Leave this place and let me be." Great tears flow freely down her heavenly face as she turns away.

"No! It can not be true!" A great force tears at my soul. She sobs and turns to me again.

"Look at me my Lord, you know it be true! I am cursed to walk alone in the darkness. I shall know no peace for all eternity. Her face falls to her hands as great weeping sobs overcome her.

"I must grant you peace my love." With a heavy breath I take a step toward the stone staircase. She raises her head from her hands to gaze upon me. Her eyes glisten in the soft candlelight. The fear and sorrow that had overcome her moments before has vanished. I know what I must do, but do I have the strength? How will I live? Her beauty calls to me. I take a step up the stone stairs, sword griped tightly. How can I do this? Do I have no honor? I continue my march of death up the stairs. Yes I do have the honor! I raise my sword to the heavens. One more step onto the landing where my love stands waiting. I fall on bended knee and place my father's sword at her feet.

"Give me your eternal kiss my love. I will travel the dark wastes at your side my wife."