Shadow Master (1st Book)

Chapter 30: Visits from the Dark

"What in the name of..!" Althalos cried out, seeing nothing but red as the dwarven assassin Roggar Ironfist fell to the ground, a arrow with a black shaft protruding from his head.

Althalos gazed on as a look of shock and agony was forever etched on the face of Roggar as he fell to the cold hardened rock.

"Do you really think the true Shades of Deaths are that incompetent?" The voice replied back, her tone--for it was a obviously a she--mocking and laced with venom. A whisper that carried on for miles, Althalos was fuming.

They stayed silent, still enraged by Roggar's untimely, but fast demise. The voice called out again, her tone dripping with acridity. "Idiots! We sat in your pathetic cave for over three months and you never even suspected us!"

"Why don't you show yourself coward!" Althalos snapped, electricity sparking to life on his arms as he unsheathed Doombringer. His maroon eyes, if at all possible, became even more menacing.

This time two voices were heard chuckling as they finally revealed themselves, but not in the way any of them had expected.

Which is surprising, as many of them are with darkness. Some are of darkness. But not even their training prepared them as a male and a female suddenly dropped from the ceiling of the cave, landing before them.

All of them flinched and took a step back, but Althalos instead stood strong, glaring at the two smirking assassins who wore the same attire Justin had, but their hoods were not donned, and seeing what they looked like.

Maelwyn--he presumed it was her--had dark brown eyes, a sharp nose, full lips, and a waterfall of red hair cascaded down her back, reaching her shoulders. The pointy ears, and the slitted eyes hinted her elven blood, thus Althalos reminded to be wary of her, for speed and strength have been increased when one is an elf. And the human he guessed as Falk had long blonde hair reaching to the nape of his neck, cold blue eyes, and by the way he handled his weapon, a gigantic sword, it was obvious that he was a true warrior. And the muscled arms and legs weren't unnoticed either.

"Hold him," He harshly ordered to Katelyn in a low voice, still peeved at her. She looked at him, her eyes gentle, and at the same time, cold.

"Fine," She whispered back, then a comical look plastered itself on Katelyn's face as she noticed how heavy Justin was.

Althalos managed to let out a soft chuckle, but as he turned back to the two assassins again, hate burned in his ruby-colored eyes, and he grit his teeth in annoyance at the trouble the Shades of Death has caused them.

"What do you even want with us?!" Althalos almost screeched, but held his rage in check.

He walked forward, and the Nightwalkers, and Miasmador parted to make space for him. Ayleth and Leoric were kneeling over Roggar's pale motionless corpse, and Althalos strained to blast the two Shades of Death to Oblivion. The two were trying to revive Roggar as best they dould, healing them with all their power, but the exhaustion radiating from their bodies told the story.

"Ah, a new one," The woman, Althalos presumed her to be Maelwyn, stated, grinning from ear to ear. She held the black Bow of Merec on her right hand, and she clutched an arrow on her left. 

Smart woman.

"Watch your tongue around me, woman," Althalos hissed, electricty still flowing up and down on his arms as he twirled his blade around like it weighed nothing more than a stick. "I'm capable of doing unimaginable pain to you Maelwyn." He spat out her name as if it caused him disgust.

Said woman raised her eyebrows, surprised, but she quickly recomposed herself. "Seems you already know my name, but I don't know yours. What is your name then?"