The Inner Beast

The Inner Beast, part 3

She tried retreating back under the fallen birch, but the dogs didn't let her budge, so we remained standing in the cold rain like idiots.

I tried asking for her name but got only sullen silence in return.

I tried looking her over, but she glowered at me and kept the blade pointed straight at my eyes.

I gave up. And so we waited for the riders in miserable, wet silence.

It took a while, but eventually, they arrived, single file, seven mounted knights with the seven-pointed star of their mindless god embroidered on their mud-specked white surcoats. To the rear, a mass of men-at-arms, steel-clad and armed with vicious-looking halberds. Hardened warriors, to be sure, but they had been driven hard to keep up with the knights and were in no state to fight. Not for a while, anyway.

"Stand aside, stranger. Do not come between God and his prey," the lead rider said, voice weary and eager at the same time. He left out the threat, but it nevertheless hung in the air between us.

"Stand aside or what?"

"What did you say?" The knight couldn't quite believe his ears. Was the mangy, dirty stranger—me—talking back at him? An easy mistake to make for those unable to grasp my true splendor.

"Or. What," I said with deliberate slowness.

"You impetuous—"

"I most certainly am," I said.

"The girl—" he tried, but I cut him off again.

"Is under my protection. So scurry back to your temple. Burn some incense and pray for forgiveness."

"Lord Ze—"

"Has no power here," I shouted with the power of a hundred men. "These are my woods, and I will not suffer trespassers," I continued with the voice of a thousand men. Some of the knights were visibly unnerved, and in the back, several warriors were on their knees, brought low by the cacophony of voices. "The girl is mine now," every tree whispered so loud the noise became unbearable.

The footmen in the back were having second thoughts, but their sergeants kept them under control. Quite the disciplined bunch. These temple soldiers often were. Full of false faith and delusions of grandeur. And the seven knights seemed completely unfazed.

I had tried a bluff, but they had called it, and now these magic-hating scum had the proof they needed: I was some sort of vile warlock or sorcerer. Which was correct, of course, but I harbored these zealots no ill will. I just wanted to be left alone. With the girl. And them gone from my forest.

I didn't wait for them to seize the initiative. That would be stupid. So I moved forward - I can be quite quick when I wish to be - and whispered into the ear of the lead horse. The stallion rolled its eyes and bolted, taking the knight captain with him on a merry romp through the woods.

The other six had their blades out, quick as snakes, fanning out to surround me.

"Last chance," I snarled. "Leave or—"

Words left me, replaced by a burning, confusing sensation.

I looked down. An inch of steel protruded from my chest. A thin strip of blood flowed down my perfect skin. The steel disappeared, and the blood fountained.

Betrayed by one I sought to protect. Stabbed in the back. Just like old times.

"Why?" I managed to stutter. There was blood in my mouth.

"He's a demon," the girl with the dagger screamed. "He tried to seduce me, to make me into a demon!"

The first part was kind of true, depending on your point of view. The second half not at all. 

I tried telling them, but I could only manage a wheezing gurgle.

I was down on my knees no, fighting to get back up. 

More and more men were surrounding me.

If only I had my old sword, Quicksilver.

Something hit me over the back of the head, and I was lost to this world.