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In the darkness

I walk into the shadows

Of ages and lives long gone

As night falls on eternity

Blood will flow freely

A life will be extinguished for all time

And I shall go on.

But as night falls on eternity

My heart will yearn for more

Then this fast paced life

And blood stained sword

            Darkness fell heavy on my shoulders, I knew not where this forest I now found myself was, only the target directly ahead. Blood, hot and hungry, pulsed through my veins as I watched him. His drawn sword, slick with the blood of the fallen around him, flashed in the pure moonlight. Softly I drew my own, prided myself on its gentle ring that made hardly a sound as it came to life in my hand. Stealthily I crept forward, not even the air aware of my silent passage, my breath even, all I saw was the target.

            The branches seemed to part before me, and then I was behind him, within striking distance, yet I did not deliver the deadly blow, instead I stood to my full height. He was cleaning his sword now, as would any good warrior, ill intentioned or otherwise, and his eyes narrowed at the sight of me. His black, hungry eyes told his strength, his speed, his weakness, and me all I needed to know.   It was apparent, by the beat of his heart and steady breathing, that he had already known of my presence for he was no fool.

But neither was I.

            I crouched low, all my muscles tensed, sword poised, saying nothing.  My eyes never left those hated black eyes, eyes that had seen to the deaths of so many; well, now it was his turn. I could feel my face heating at the expectation of the kill, could see the same desire reflected in the targets features. Then, like lightning we moved as one, swords flashed, the wind stopped blowing, then it was over.  We both stood motionless, hot steamy blood trickled down the side of my face, but it belonged not to me. Soundlessly, the decapitated body crumpled to the ground, blood flowing freely across the damp earth.  My ice blue eyes were expressionless and alien even to me as I gazed at my reflection in my bloodstained sword, wordlessly I wiped the crimson blade clean on the others tunic before sheathing it, as I had been taught, then the breeze blew again.

            Dawn peeked over the tall treetops, alighting on my dozing figure as I leaned against the venerable trunk of an aged oak. Dark reddish brown hair moved softly in the slight breeze that had kept steady throughout the night, tickling my nose. I sneezed, and absent-mindedly brushed the wayward strands out of my face. Naturally it fell back my hand had returned to its former resting place on the hilt of my old, yet well kept, sword. My eyelashes fluttered open at a slight sound in a clump of thistle, through half lidded eyes I watched as a fat red squirrel came out timidly, its cheeks puffed out, and its red fur dotted with the burrs from its encounter with the thistle bush. Gingerly it sat back on its haunches and began to pick them off. I stifled a smile, knowing any movement would cause the poor thing to run, thus causing it pain from so many burrs in such very odd places.  Minutes passed and the small squirrel left in search of whatever it might require for the fast approaching winter, stretching lazily I lay my sword down on the soft grass beside me.  Closing my light blue eyes, I let the new dawn wash over me, content for the moment with the peace of a new morning, so I didnt notice when my mind drifted and I dozed off again.

            When next I awakened, it was late morning. Standing stiffly, I stretched, releasing tense muscles and sighed in pleasure as bones popped. Bending down, I retrieved both my pack and sword, slinging the pack over my shoulder and tucking the sword through the wide leather belt at my waist.  Shielding my eyes from the sun, I looked down the logging road, looking for a sign of a town, any town.

            The barkeeper Ardeon wearily swept off the front porch of his tavern after the bar-fight of the night before. While he felt guilty about just piling up all the broken glass and other various pieces of rubbish for his serving girls to clean up later, he was far to tired to pick it up himself, he was too old to be pulling all-nighters the like the last. Once the chore was somewhat complete, he leaned his old wooden broom against the inside wall of the tavern, then came back outside and collapsed on the comfortable swinging bench that was strung up right outside the door.  Shading his eyes against the bright fall sun, he could barely distinguish the shape of a young man or boy entering the town via the southern gate; to exhausted to care the barkeeper closed his eyes.

         It seemed only moments , then suddenly he felt a light touch on his arm. His eyes flew open in surprise as the hand quickly withdrew. " I am sorry sir, I did not mean to startle." a soft voice said pleasantly. Adreon jumped to his feet, facing the young one he had seen come into the town earlier, "No matter my boy, old men like me get startled all the time" he said, seeing the youngster was tense and trying to be friendly." what can I do for you lad, you look new in town." as he said this, he dusted himself off, studying the youngster under his gaze

            Long reddish brown hair was pulled up in a tight ponytail that went halfway down his back, leaving plentiful bangs to fall across his eyes and trail down the sides of his lean face.  His eyes themselves seemed to glow with an icy brilliance and Adreon could see himself reflected in the silvery blue depths. The boys shoulders were not broad, but neither were they feminine, instead they were well proportioned to carry the sword he wore so easily at his side. His body was well toned, the lightly defined muscles barely apparent beneath the tight white undershirt and dark blue over tunic, belying the swift and deadly grace that was apparent when he moved. A fast, fierce fighter, that was what he was, and to be honest with himself, Adreon was intimidated, not that the longsword tucked in the wide leather belt hadnt already done that.  He looked up to the young mans eyes, but the boy wasnt looking at him.

            My eyes swept passed the portly barkeep who studied me so intently, for I truly wasnt interested in a contest of wills if that was what the man wanted. I searched the empty tavern through the half doors behind the man, taking in the ruffled appearance of the tables, the broken window, and the drained barrels of either ale or wine, one of which was dripping little crimson droplets onto the dark lacquered wood floor. Had a fight here, that you did. Much trouble? I asked brushing travel dust from my over tunic and black pants. The barkeep looked surprised, then he grinned, showing white even teeth. Place that much of a mess then? Well yes, there was a bar fight of sorts, a card game got out of hand.  He winked and nudged my shoulder jokingly. Nothing that I couldnt handle though, why?  You looking for work as a bouncer? I arched one slender eyebrow at him, also taking note of the stairs leading up to the second story. If you are offering, and can provide a place to sleep. The barkeeper, no owner, looked nervously about, then urged for me to come in. Lets get out of the sun shall we? he said as we entered the main room. Im not an Inn boy, but sometimes I take on people who cant go anywhere else. And \ though you look frail, I know youre a fighter, my ladies could use some protection up on their level, and I cant be in two places at once. I nodded, studying him closely, then looking about the tavern. I can be of some use then, but I may require a night or two off on some occasions. I looked at him squarely. Other business may come up that cannot wait for one of your ladies to finish hers, but I will let you know if something pressing comes up, and while I am around your girls need not fear. The owner nodded doing rapid calculations in his head. He grunted to himself, ticking some figures off on his large hands. Fine, youll get 3 silvers a week, that includes food, room, and that time you asked for. he grabbed his broom next to the door, and handed it to me. To seal the deal, just sweep up the rest of that mess and come in and have a drink, Ill take your stuff upstairs and grab you your key. I nodded taking the broom, then I offered my other hand, he looked at it, then smiled and we shook on the deal anyway. Im Adreon, the barkeeper and owner of the Lazy Tree Tavern. I nodded, my grip strong, taking note that Adreons was as well. And I am Valarin Skylshaen, soldier, and wanderer, it is a pleasure.

Dawning of Revolution

            Once more another dawn found my sleeping figure.  Though the ragged shades were drawn tight against the early winter sun, the bright rays still found their way through the tiny holes and tears in the fabric.  As luck would also have it, they fell right on my sleeping face. Irritably I rolled over, trying to enjoy this time of quiet after a hard night.  The stink of sweating bodies mingled with alcohol still filled the tavern below and leaked through the loose boards into the upper floor, filling the air with its nauseating aroma, but after a few weeks, I had grown accustomed to it.   Lazily I opened my eyes, taking in all of my surroundings. All of my personal items were as I had left them and the thin, almost invisible, string I had left strung across all openings remained undisturbed. Yawning hugely, I sat up, letting the blankets fall from my bare shoulders unchallenged. Due to the taverns profound leakage as far as heat was concerned, Adreon had installed furnaces on both floors, actually having two in the cellar itself. Add that to the working fireplaces in each room, the entire place felt like the middle of summer, which in this chill weather always brought more customers. Uncharacteristically bleary eyed, I got up and dressed slowly, deciding to stay in my white undershirt and light breeches due to the heat. Picking up my sword and special ring of keys, I stood quietly, listening, then went to the door. After undoing the string over the door, I left quietly and did a quick run of the ladies rooms, knocking lightly on each, and making sure I got at least some sort of response that all was well inside. When I got an angry masculine grunt in response to one, I frowned and unlocked the door, my unsheathed sword ready. The woman inside, a young blond girl that went by the name of Lily gasped at my sudden appearance, the man with her grunted again, his eyes narrowing at the sight of steel. But I paid the swine no heed; my job was that girls were always safe, so my gaze settled on Lily. All is well here? I asked in a quiet, yet assertive tone that held undertones that if all wasnt heads, masculine heads, were going to roll.  She nodded shyly, and hid her face beneath the covers. I nodded brusquely and left, closing the door, though I did not leave. When a happy giggle, not tinged with fear, came to my waiting ears I nodded to myself and moved on, going downstairs to find some food.

            Adreon was once again out front sweeping as I came down. One of the serving girls, Tasha, was wiping down the counter at the bar with a white rag; she nodded at me as I sat down rather stiffly on one of the stools. She tucked her rag in her apron and folded her arms across her considerable bosom, her look reprimanding. Now Val, you didnt stay up to late did you? Been keeping the girls upstairs nice and safe? though her look could melt steel, I knew the running joke, no one here could ever fathom why I had never gone to one of the girls beds, ever, and Tasha, being an odd motherly sort, never failed to try and tease me about it, in an even odder motherly way.  Her eyes were full of mischief and the corners of her firm lips were hard at work not to turn up in a grin. I smiled at her tiredly, my icy eyes softening a little, for out of everyone here, I liked her best, because she did not fear me in some way or another.

"Ah milady Tasha, you know I wait eternally for your pleasure." I said airily, sketching an odd bow to her from my position on the other side of the counter. Though they all teased me that way, it was only Tasha whom I joked with, for she had a doting husband of her own, a tough miner who I greatly respected, and I also knew the man understood the friendly banter.

Tasha blushed a little when a high laugh was heard from outside as Adreon picked up on it. I snickered at her discomfiture and she swatted me with her rag. "Rascal, one of these days Ill take you up and well see wholl be laughing then!" she said, a large grin softening the words, and the threat. Shaking her curly brown head she sighed, "Anyway, you look half starved, as always Val, and wonder of all wonders, Cook is here early, so what can I getcha?" I thought a moment, then when one of the young serving girls came out of the kitchen, bearing her own breakfast of fresh made bread and eggs, I grinned. "Ill have whatever the young lady had, and do tell Cook that I can smell the deliciousness of her cooking from here." Tasha nodded, jotting a few notes down on her little pad of paper, and after my last comment winked at me. "Ah, softening her up for a special lunch then are you? Well Ill let you in on the secret of the day, word is she ordered some of that special dessert champagne, a large amount of pie crusts, and a few bushels of apples, so my guess is that shes going to be making her special bubbly pies today." I grinned with her and shared the conspirators wink; "Well then, Ill just have to put my silky tongue to work for the both of us then?" I asked as Tasha gave the note to a passing server to take to the back. The woman smiled, and waggled her finger at me. "I have said nothing, she said as she winked, gesturing with her eyes to a closely listening Adreon. My grin widened, for Adreon was well known for his great love of Cooks famous Bubbly Pies, and it was a local joke that, that was the main reason he had hired her in the first place. Tasha wiped a few more invisible remnants of blemish from the spotless counter, turned to go, then paused. "Im going to go give your request and compliment, anything else O Valiant One?" I, still grinning, shook my head. "No Lady of my heart." Tasha, blushing all the way, curtsied dramatically then left.

  I was in the midst of eating when a flash of movement caught my eye. My hand snaked out and grabbed a dart just as it was about to lodge itself in my arm. Tasha, who had been sitting across from me, jumped at my sudden movement and the appearance of the dart. I studied it for a moment, rolling the small thing between my lean fingers, ignoring Tasha's incredulous look. "Hm..." a small button caught my eye, grabbing my fork and holding the dart far away from myself and Tasha, pushed it. At first nothing happened, then the dart seemed to unravel, revealing that it had been hollow as a small slip of paper fell out. On it one name was printed. I sighed heavily, for I knew all to well what this was, as all of my former good humor evaporated as I clenched both dart and paper in my fist. Tasha watched me worriedly, but said nothing, and I was of no mind to enlighten her of what had just happened. Standing quickly I picked up his tray and half eaten food and took it back to the kitchens, leaving it where Cooks apprentice would find and clean it all up, then without a word I stormed upstairs to my room and locked the door.

I stared at the wrinkled paper in my hand with dejected eyes, knowing it was my duty, yet feeling repulsed that it was. The stark letters of the single name laughed at me as I watched them. Hoping beyond hope that they would fade away, that it would all disappear in the mists of time. But that could never be. Now I stare at my sword, a glorious weapon I have much pride in, yet all it has ever done is kill, murder, annilate. I feel no pride in it now as I watch the pure morning rays flash on its shining surface, a surface so often stained with blood. I close my eyes, clenching and unclenching my fists, vowing to myself to find out about this new target, and find out for myself if any of this is really right, if any of it is truth.