Ash
The Troll dropped to the floor, a volley of arrows sprouting from its chest as I lowered my bow, chest heaving.
"You're an ugly bastard." I muttered under my breath to the creature as I strode towards it, pulling my dagger from behind my back. The beast gave one last groan with its guttural voice as it fell.
Crouching down by its head I began making surgical cuts to the creature's thick neck, pulling it's dark fur aside so as to make clean cuts, before I began hacking away it the spine. It's lifeless eyes gazed up at me as I wrenched the head free from the torso with sickening ripping sound. Blue blood was pooled at my feet as I wiped sweat and gore from my forehead and stood up, holding the grim trophy under my arm.
"Well that was tense." A strong voice whispered mockingly from behind.
Without turning to face the speaker I simply replied. "Why do you insist on mocking me? I know you're not him."
"But I am." The voice slid smoothly to my ears as two arms wrapped around my waist. "You used to love my little visits." It continued. "I'd even go so far as to say you craved them."
"Once upon a time, yes." I agreed. "But no more." My arms pushed down against the limbs, forcing my way from the embrace. "You are not him." I say defiantly, more to myself than him.
"How am I not?" He hissed in my ear, before silently moving before me. I gaze up into Darius' eyes, noticing, not for the first time, the lack of his staff. His grin turned devilish as he fixed our gazes. "Look at me. I'm clearly him."
"He is dead." I stated, glaring at the figure of the man I used to love. "You're a lie."
"And yet I exist." He finished. "Do you really think me an apparition?"
"Doesn't help when only I can see you." I answered honestly.
"Maybe you're the only one special enough to see me." My eyes closed as I turned from him.
"Darius is dead." I reassured myself.
"But you never did find his body." He argues.
"That necromancer bitch probably resurrected his corpse." I spat in return, storming away from the specter.
"Why do you keep this life?" His question caught me off guard, a blunt change in topic.
"What do you mean?" I tried to clarify, as I continued to crunch through the forest; the underbrush snagging against my dark cloak with their reaching limbs. A strong breeze brushed the trees, causing them to creek as I turned my head to cast a look at the fake Darius. I was met with nothing. Casting a frantic look to either side of me I couldn't make out any sign of him. Sighing, I resigned myself to silence, scanning the forest ahead of me.
Around me the forest breathed as if it was alive. My stomach growled with hunger as I crested the hill. As if by instinct my keen eyes began picking up animal trails dotted around me. Plumes of pale smoke twisted into the blue sky; before dissipating into the air. Following them down I could just make out the town of Treford, nestled into the forest. A dog's bark was carried on the wind as I began my descent towards the town, my boots snapping twigs and crunching leaves as I gripped the Troll head tighter.
"What you got there miss?" A child's voice called out to my right.
"You from the town?" I replied, turning to face the young girl who was striding towards me, a huge grin on her face.
"Yeah." She beamed up at me. "So what is that you've got?"
"Troll head." I smiled down at her. "You out here alone?" Her head shook in answer as she continued to grin at me. "Friends?" She shook her head again, smile fading from her lips. "Alright. Find somewhere to hide, I'll send someone to find you in a bit." Dark hair fell in front of her eyes as she nodded before running the way I'd just come.
