The End-Days War

Chapter 10: The Devil's Hounds

And so, the Hunters remember Delphine and they know that she is truly the Ebony Warrior that they have heard so much about. Her name was described and mentioned in Tales and in Song as the one who drove the Demons away. There is only one true God and all usurpers must be cast aside at the sound of that wonderful name. The many sacrifices that Delphine has made to reach and defeat The Grim Reaper were not at all in vain. And though she travels with Ragnar and Iris to defeat the many Demons before her, she would need to put aside much more than she once did.
Delphine has come a long way than she once did, she was once alone except with that man who truly cared for her and gave up his mortal life to preserve her immortal one against the Grim Reaper. But that was in an age long past from here, Delphine knows how it is like to suffer and how it is like to experience pain. And now, there are many others, such as Uhtred, who has heard of the deeds of Delphine and wish to fight back alongside with her. There was never a single moment or time when she backed away and gave in to her enemies in a single instinct. The Hunters of this tavern kneel down before Delphine for They knew that she has come, once again, to save them from Darkness. Farewell, for now.

I

           Delphine began to drink the ale that was given to her and she was with Ragnar and Iris along with Uhtred being with them. The Ale was pure and smoothly brewed with Cranberries and it had a satisfying aftertaste. The Hunters then, began to speak amongst themselves that Delphine has come and has return to finish what she started. And then, Uhtred went before Delphine and he had something else to say and ask her, for there was so much that he needed to know. "So, Delphine?" He asked.
           "Yes, what is it?" She asked.
           "Who are you traveling with? What is there names?" Uhtred asked.
           "Well, I'm traveling with a Ranger and a Hunter. His name is Ragnar," she points at Ragnar. "And her name is Iris," she points at Iris.
           "Is there any place that you sleep? Do you have a place to live?"
           "Not at all. I can't even remember the last time I ever slept anywhere. All that ever mattered to me is what I must do to survive in this Age and I cannot rest until the day comes when I defeat my greatest Enemy."
           "How Long will that take for you to do that?"
           "...I do not know. But I do know that if I don't defeat and if I sit back and watch as he puts anymore lives at risk and if I fail in trying to reach him, then I am bound for Hell. It is a price that I shall pay, dearly."
           "So, where are you headed towards this time?"
           "We are headed towards the West and we are searching for the Daedric Leader that lives in that Kingdom."
           "You are going towards the Mountains? You will never make it there, there are Demons abroad everywhere you go when you are near those Mountains."
           "You must not worry about me. I've been doing this for a very long time, I have lived almost my entire life killing Demons and slaying many beasts that stand in my way. Nothing has changed and nothing i can't handle."
           "Then, we are coming with you."
           After he said this, Delphine's eyes began to grow and she began to look and stare directly at him in the eye. She thought that he was being nuts when he told her this, there was no way that he would come with her, she wondered. "If you come with me, you will die." She said.
           "We are not afraid of death, Ebony Warrior. We have fought our enemies for almost our entire lives. If we back out now, it would be our gravest downfall." Uhtred said.
           "All well and good," Delphine said. "But you must know and you must keep it to yourselves wherever you must go. And when someone asks you why you think that was a good idea, you tell them that it is only way of surviving these Demons."
           "So what will it cost to follow a Warrior such as yourself?" He asked.
           "If anyone comes to me and does not know the danger and the path laid ahead before them before they go out and kill their enemies, he cannot follow me. And whoever does not bear his Sword and come after me cannot be my follower. For which of you sees a dark vision laid before you, yet you simply say to yourself 'This is all false and nothing will come for me that easily. It is all just a myth that brings upon imaginary things that shall never happen to me.' The day will come when you are of old age and yet the vision that you had comes back to you and it never leaves you no matter how hard you try.
           "And suddenly, hundreds of lost souls come out from the Abyss and try to take you and drag you down to the pits of Hell where you will be welcomed by millions of those fiends that you sought to destroy. Satan will come out of nowhere and he summons you with him and your Soul is Damned for all eternity! So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has and if you wish to die for nothing that matters in your life cannot be my follower."
And so all of the Hunters, including Ragnar and Iris stared at Delphine for a long while before they could say or do anything else. They were pleased and yet, they were shocked at the words that Delphine spoke with them as they were in this Tavern.