The Six Blades

Chapter 2

"Go assist the King," I yelled this to every guard as I ran for Vagen's gates. I had no intentions on going back there, I would stand no chance against that thing. As I ran through the crowd, I could hear screams from behind me. I knew that some sort of monster was making its way to me. I never ran so fast in my life, I wasn't dying today, not like this. If I am going to die, it will be in battle with blade in hand, not fleeing from something I stand no chance against. I continued sending guards toward the castle, and as I ran, I heard them fall to the great beast that was after me. I got to the stables and grabbed my horse, but it was too late, the great beast had caught up to me and pinned me to the ground. I sat there getting crushed from its immense strength, and my journey would have ended right then if it wasn't for my guild members. My elder, Hawk came up and stabbed his blade into the beast, this was enough to get its attention away from me,

"Quick Alexander, go while you can!" He pulled his sword out and slashed at the beast. I managed to get to my feet and mounted my horse. Barely keeping wake, I got out of Vagen and rode into the plains. I blacked out within five minutes of leaving Vagen.

Next I remember, I woke to the blazing sun beating down on my face. It was painful to move and I was extremely stiff. I managed to roll over and try to find my whereabouts. I look up and see a stream to my right along with my horse, and to my left in the distance, were the walls of Vagen. Not a whole lot changed other than some black smoke coming from some of the buildings. I forced myself to my feet and walked over to the water. I splashed some water in my face then drank a little bit. I decide it's about time to get going and grab my horse. I didn't know where I was going or who I was looking for yet, all I knew is that I needed to hit the road once more.

I decided that the first place to start would be the old mead hall not outside of Vagen, I remember an old friend of mine likes the jobs that are supplied there. I rode west of Vagen, looking for a tavern named Max's mead hall. He has some of the best ale in all of Hyquest, and great entertainment too. Lots of fights and music take place there, and bounty posters are brought there because of how busy it is.

I get there and its packed full, you could find anyone here, thieves, mercenaries, adventures, and knights If you need to find someone, this is the place to go. My cloak hid most of my armor as I made my way to the bartender, but I still turned a few heads because of my unusual armor, I wore old Hydra scale armor, which was not common and worth a lot of gold on the market. This often made me a target for bandits, although I was more concerned about anyone noticing the blades I held. I get to the bartender and sat down.

"Just the usual Max, I'm just here to find someone," He nodded and I started to look at faces around me. Many of them were travellers looking for work, then there was the occasional bandit group sitting at their tables, but I didn't see who I needed, so I just waited for my drink. I only drink Honey Brew, its the only mead that is worth buying, all the others have little taste. I sit there wondering where to go next if they don't turn up here, I did not know where else to go. I decide to leave it for now and relax. As I get close to finishing my drink, a hand grabs my shoulder. I barely had enough time to think that I was in trouble before I was face to face with a brute.

"That's some pretty armor you have there," his breath smelled strongly of wine and alcohol. He was clearly drunk beyond knowing what he was doing, "I think I will be taking that from you now," he grinned slyly and took his sword from his sheath and raised it high.

Suddenly, there was a blade against his and someone in between us, "Sorry, but no one dares to touch him without getting through me first," a woman my age with red curly hair had found her way to me.

"Well, looks like you got this one, right Dawn?" She turned and smiled,

"Stop acting tough and finish your drink, we got some catching up to do after this," she turned to the man,"now where were we?" The battle was a quick one, a simple disarm and stab and the bandit was on the floor. Dawn and I knew each other since we were fifteen, we practiced and did all sorts of stuff together, but that was before I had to leave and join my guild, after I did that a few years back, the whole gang split up. She walked over to me after wiping the blood from her blade, " You're next if you run off again," she smiled and sheathed her sword. She was always one to joke around, especially when it comes to showing off her sword skills.

"Why don't we go somewhere more private while we talk, I kinda draw attention with my armor and all that," I smiled and turned to Max.

"I believe the back room is open," he shrugged, "other then that, you'll just have to go outside, "

"That's ok, we can just leave," Dawn grabbed my hand and started for the door.

"You two aren't going anywhere," a group of bandits blocked the entrance, "you don't just come in here and kill someone, then just walk out." The man in the front stepped forward, grinning sleekly, "not without having to deal with their gang,"

"That doesn't seem so hard," I stepped up and unsheathing my sword, putting Dawn behind me. "Especially if it's some fools like you," I grabbed my second blade to duel wield. The man laughed and stared at me,

"What's your name boy?" He grabbed his war axe and pointed it toward me.

I gazed at him, yearning to kill, " Alexander," I readied my blades.

"I wonder how much coin we'll get for your dead corpse!" He put his axe down at an angle and started to run toward me. I smiled and started toward him, the thrill of battle was always one of my favorites. It always makes me feel alive, no matter the situation, simply because you know you could die at any moment. I brought my sword up and parried his axe. He had fast reactions I'll hand that to him, He let up and tried to pull a counter by sweeping his axe from under my right arm. I brought my left sword and blocked my side, then I bring my other sword down on his left hand. I then bring my available sword across his torso, ending that battle. One of his friends attempt to bring his sword down on my shoulder pad, but I turn around at an angle and cut him in half, coming back without being injured.

I turn and see Dawn taking down the two remaining bandits, making one kill the other with parry that made him stab, then driving her blade through them both. She whips her blade and returns it to her sheath. I salvage the coin from the bandits and drop it on the counter next to Max.

"This should pay for the bounty and the bodies," I turned around grabbed Dawn's hand and left.