The Forge Of Kings

Chapter 21: The end of the Hunt

     The armies marched towards the town and the castle of Eîthor, I stood with my sword in hand, waiting for them to come to me. The group finally got closer, they weren't traditional soldiers, they were all dressed in ragged clothing and had poor hygiene, but they acted like an army. They finally stopped marching about 20 feet ahead of me.

     Each and every one of the men pulled out their weapons, they all had muskets, and each one could rip me in half. I thought of one of the men in the forest, it threw him back into a tree, he was dead before he landed. I stood there, I kept my muscles tight. Finally one man spoke up, "Stand down, We have orders to take this reigon by force." I shook my head, "You'll have to go through me." I said as I tossed my pack aside, "None of you will leave here alive! CHOOSE YOUR BATTLE WISELY!" I shouted, I walked back and forth to provoke my opponents. I am outnumbered, but they are out maned. But to my surprise, people of the town behind me came out, armed with miscellaneous weapons, pinch forks, muskets, swords, and shields.

     Both sides stood in silence, for what felt like eternity. The people behind me muttered to each other. "What are they waiting for?" One man asked, "A retreat." Another added. Someone among them hushed them. I raised my sword above and brought it down with a "CHARGE!" Our opponents split, some stood up to fight, the rest fled. "NONE OF THEM LEAVE THIS VALLEY ALIVE!" I yelled, my allies snuffed our enemies the gates leading out of the valley had closed, they had no escape. The army above had broken into the castle walls. I grabbed my pack and ran up the hill and headed for the castle.

     Flames rose above the walls, the mystics inside the walls fought with all they had, but eventually they fell with the rest, I spotted Rostov marching up the steps to the castle. I ran ahead, dodging conflict, I ran up the steps and into the foyer, Verath's decor had been thrown aside. Rostov was halfway up the staircase. "ROSTOV!" My voice was filled with rage, this man has no right to flood this valley with the blood of the innocent, to kill those who cannot defend themselves. He stopped and turned towards me, a smile curling up his face, his face now barred fresh claw marks over his left eye.

     Rostov seemed glad that I had arrived. He let out a laugh, "Soon my sweet, I will spill your blood and end our hunt, and what a beautiful end we will share." He let out a laugh and threw his attention to the top of the steps, his chin length hair flew dramatically as he marched up the stairs, I quickly followed, Rostov approached a woman, a servant as it seems, he rose his blade as she held up a silver platter and screamed, I pulled my flintlock and fired. The bullet went through Rostov's hand, and he dropped his sword, the woman stared at me, and ran off. Rostov turned to me, and let out a deranged laugh, "YOU CANNOT STOP ME! I WILL ELIMINATE THE WEAK, AND SOON RHŌVA WILL REMAIN STRONG!" He finished his declaration and turned away from me.

     Rostov marched down the corridor towards me, I pulled my sword and charged, Rostov bolted, he let out a yell and pulled out a long dagger, He thrusted the blade forward in three fast swipes, I ducked and swung my sword at his stomach, cutting through his fur shawl. He growled and continued to throw his blade towards me, I tried to dodge but he cut of some of my hair. I rolled and grabbed what was left of my hair. Rostov charged, but I turned and ran, turning the corners at random, Rostov pursued me not far after. I couldn't lose him.

     I came up to another staircase, I quickly descended and pulled out my flintlock, Rostov ran up and spotted me, "You can't run from me, I always catch my prey!" He screamed, He decended the stairs but when he got halfway I fired a round into his knee. He tumbled down the rest of the way, "YOU FUCKING BITCH!" he was angrier than before, I was about to pull my sword and fight when there was gunshots down the hall behind me.

     I took Rostov's failure to pursue me as a chance to run down the hall, I came up behind two men firing at someone hiding behind a desk. I swung the sword and took off their heads, a man stood up from behind the desk, he looked at me in shock and thanked me and ran off. I ran back down the hall and was faced with a puddle of blood and a trail leading off down a corridor under the steps. I followed the trail in search of Rostov.