The Elementalist

Chapter 10

The night was still and quiet. Vinshar and his cadre stood ready, weapons arrayed in front of us, waiting for the Beast to charge. Armor clanking loudly in comparison to the near silence of the night. Daniel was behind them, shield up and hammer unslung from his hip. Breathing deeply, trying to keep his nerves calm.

The man and beast in the depression had turned to face us. Grimrider's tail whips wildly as its hooves beat the ground in a barely restrained eagerness to charge. It knew just as well as the humans that on its own while casualties would be taken it would die in the process. It didn't lose its eyes and unleashed that sonic scream, in great pain to itself, just to die in the subsequent encounter with the knights. No, it would bide its time for a few more moments until the paladin was ready. Then, it should have the advantage. And if the paladin dies or becomes too weak to defend himself after, well, Grimrider certainly wouldn't be against such an outcome. For now it waits.

In contrast to Grimrider, the paladin had an annoyed posture, clear even through his armor. He didn't want to be here, he wouldn't be if it what need to be done.

The only person who moved was Lantos as he stomped past the knights moving a foot down the slope. He quickly drew his wand, pointing it down at the two.

"What is this!." There was both firmness and venom in Lantos' voice as he spoke. "A paladin cohorting with a beast, worse yet, training it. Have you forgotten your oaths?"

The man didn't respond for a while. Letting the sound of the night dominate the space for an uncomfortable minute as he seemingly pondered the question with a silent huff. When he did speak, it was under his breath, practically muttered, like we weren't worth the effort to speak clearly. "I know my oaths."

"And what oath is that!" Lantos demand. "One of reckless abandon and slaughter."

"An old one." The Paladin let out a depressive sigh, shoulders slumping down like a great weight was pressing down on him. " from before the empire. An oath many of our fellows have forgotten."

"Before the empire? Your order wasn't even around for fifty years!"

"I am well aware, mage. But they were." The Paladin replied, pointing toward the knights with his axe. "The Drakken Rider's history is a long and sordid one."

"We have not been called that in many years, traitor." Vinshar said in an almost lackadaisical manner, his gaze locked on the beast as it paced back and forward, " A couple hundred at the very least. Though I am surprised, you know the name. Didn't know the Paladins taught our history with their clear contempt of it."

"We don't hate the history of the Riders, but-" He stops himself before sighing again. "I'm not here to retread the old ground of our separation. In memoriam of our once-one order, I offer you one warning, leave and don't speak of what happened tonight, and you'll be spared of what's to come. At least for now. Or will you join these ones," gesturing to the others, "in their fate?"

"Like you would let them go. If you had your way, I'd bet you would ambush them on their way to 'Hallon." Lentos interjects.

"Not that we would. We've come to kill Grimrider. I lost a friend to that thing; we will not leave until we have done so."

The Paladin slowly shook his head, "So be it then."

It all happens at once.

The paladin steps forward.

A light ringing of glass sounds out.

Grimrider lunges.

The Outriders charge.

Lantos shouts a warning.

Then the night turned to day.

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