Eberron Book One Stories
Page 6
A Place of Honor
"Ugh" he grunted as he brought another ogre to its knees. 'Seven' he mentally counted as he dodged another massive swing. He rolled with the swing and jumped up, catching a gnoll off guard. 'Eight.'
He pulled his sword loose from the creatures chest, seeing the opportunity he dropped his shield and grabbed the gnoll's scimitar. "No time to be defensive" he said to himself as he spun around catching two more creatures in his whirl of blades. 'Ten.'
The crowd continued to chant, monstrous voices filling the air as he dodged blow after blow. They weren't trained, but the creatures were working together, he had to keep their numbers down.
He sliced twice into a rather large ogre, before leaping backwards, kicking an hobgoblin in the head. He felt the crunch underneath his boot as he landed. 'Twelve'
He looked around for the next attack, but none came. 'What now?' the thought passed through his head as he watched the horde that was beginning to build around him pull back. There were a lot more than he thought, he counted a dozen easily and even more coming out. "You weren't kidding when you said the horde did you?" he yelled at a surly looking ogre, trying to goad the creature forward.
The creature smiled, shifting his head, looking at something behind the swordsman. He turned around to see why the crowd had pulled back. He cursed, knowing the gods would allow him that small freedom as he tucked and rolled away from a particularly massive sword.
Two fast strikes came right after as he did he best to move and avoid them. "For a war troll you sure move fast." He yelled as he blocked the fourth strike. His swords held but the weight of the attack brought the swordsman to his knees. The crowd roared, and the circle of monsters cackled.
He felt the enormous strain as the creature pushed down with both hands, determined to bring the full weight of its strength, to shatter the swordsman's swords and strike him. 'Great' the swordsman thought, now what, using all of his strength to keep from being crushed.
"I's gun crush you bug, I's gun eat bones. You iz nothing!" the creature said to him, it's putrid breath causing the swordsman to wince. "Eat this" the swordsman said as he spit into the creature's open mouth. The creature roared, raising its weapon for another blow.
The swordsman took the opportunity, rolled forward and struck into the creature's leg. He had hoped to strike higher however the weight of the battle was quickly catching up to him.
He rolled with the massive kick that followed his attack, trying to lessen the impact of the fall. He flew further than he expected, the landing knocking the wind out of him. He looked up and was barely able to roll in time as another blow landed in the dirt next to him. 'Not good' he said as he rolled again and again, avoiding blow after blow from the relentless war troll.
Wondering if the same trick would work twice, he rolled into the blow instead of away, slicing again at the creature's legs, leaving a deep gash. The creature reared backwards, the blow obviously impeding his movements now as he struggled to stay standing.
The swordsman took the opportunity get back onto his feet. He had to end this now, he had hoped that if he could defeat the war troll, he could maybe survive this encounter.
He closed his eyes and focused all his energy into his sword, the technique he was about to attempt beyond anything he had every tried before. He knew the theory, he had practiced the motion, but he could never do it, yet he had to do it now.
The creature rushed at him, a broken lumbering rush, roaring, swinging his massive sword wildly, determined to bring the swordsman down once and for all. The swordsman focused, waited, hoped and prayed, and as the troll was within a few mere feet, he raised his sword and plunged it into the earth.
The crowd went silent as time seemed to slow, a massive dome of fire erupted in the middle of the arena, spreading outward at unimaginable speed. They watched as the swordsman and troll vanished from sight. They watched as the hoard they had sent to torture and kill him, tried to escape the inferno. They watched as the wall reached outward, feeling the heat of it, unable to run out of fear and awe. They watched as it disappeared inches from them, and the swordsman stood amongst a field of charred corpses. They watched, and cheered.
The swordsman breathed heavily, trying his best not to laugh as the monsters that had previously cheered for his death, now cheered his victory.
"Silence!" he heard the voice, sweet and vile, pierce through the air and silence the crowd. He looked up at his would be executioners, the one who threw him into the arena to face their monstrous challenges.
The monstrous beauty clapped her hands, the lone sound ringing through, larger than life.
"Well done swordsman! You have bested the hoard!" she raised her hands as the crowd once again arose in an animalistic cheer. She lowered her hand and the crowd went silent again.
"What have you to say swordsman? What prize will you claim for doing the impossible?"
He looked warily at the fiend, he knew not what trickery laid in her silvery tongue, but the chance was too great to pass up.
"My freedom my lady!" he yelled, using the last of his energy to make sure his voice carried from the arena floor to her ears.
"What say you? Shall we give the great hero Firestorm his freedom?" she asked of the crowd, the cheer that followed giving her an answer.
"So the crowd has spoken. Hero of East, Swordsman Firestorm, from this day forward, you are hereby free, and you shall have a place of honor in our eyes!"
Firestorm heard the massive doors of the arena open, as the crowd cheered. He turned his head around, hope swelling in his chest as he saw the road leading into the monstrous city, and beyond to freedom. He bowed to his three executioners, turned and walked away.
He saw freedom, he saw hope, he saw darkness.
His body slumped forward, the attack so fast he never felt it, and he just slipped into darkness. The great hag barbarian, held his body above her head, both as triumph and honor.
The hag sorceress spoke again,. "Hear me, Firestorm died a free man, and he shall always have a place of honor in our eyes!" She laughed as the crowd cheered.
Broken Bonds
Latch watched as Lady Cannith moved about the room with surprising grace and agility despite her condition. They had not been joined yet when the strange incident left her scarred, and despite his curiosity, she had never shared the exact events of what happened that night to her. Still, he admired her resilience, and her ingenuity. The leg and arm brace may have left her slow and less dexterous, but they gave her superior strength than she was normally capable off. On top of that, it was easy for her to enchant her brace with surprising outcomes, especially to her enemies. He wondered if maybe that’s why she seems to limber today.
{{It is, and what of it?}} Her melodic voice entered his mind as he realized he had let his though become unguarded again. It had only been a year since their joining, and it took many months of arduous training on both sides to not overwhelm the other with their thoughts.
[[I apologize mi’lady, I was just curious what had you in such good spirits today.]]
Lady Cannith turned around as the crystalline mental voice of the mute warforged entered her mind. Unlike normal warforged voices, Latch’s mental voice was beautiful to listen to, no hard metallic or tinny sounds.
{{What makes you think I am in a good mood?}}
[[May I speak freely mi’lady?]] Latch already knew the answer to that but it was difficult having so much freedom as a warforged. Lady Cannith always treated him as am equal, as much as she treated anyone as an equal that is.
{{You may speak.}}
[[Well mi’lady, you have barely scolded any of the staff today. You kept a civil tongue when your two experiments ended in failure, and you’ve kept Cyrus busy, but with relatively easy tasks. Also, you’re practically dancing across your office today packing.]]
{{I do not dance!}} She exclaimed as Latch’s crystalline laugh filled her mind. She saw a brief image of herself blushing escape from Latch’s mind through the link.
[[Him! You’re finally going to go see him again aren’t you!]] Latch’s mental voice portrayed the feeling of him smiling.
{{I don’t know what you’re talking about, and you are no longer allowed to speak freely.}} There was no real anger in her voice, and Latch was not about to give up the advantage.
[[No, I saw his image slip from your mind, I know why you are in a good mood. When do we leave?]]
She laughed. {{What is this we? You have work you must attend to, I shall be traveling alone this time. I leave on the next airship tonight.}}
[[You are not taking Cyrus?]]
{{No, the boy has work he has to do; I plan on sending him north to investigate something for me.}}
[[You are too harsh on him mi’lady. You know it’s been almost 3 years since he has seen Cyre and his master.]]
{{It is better this way Latch. Believe me, it’s for the boy’s… Cyrus’ own good that he distance himself as much Orias as he can. Orias knows this, that’s why he sent him to me.}}
[[Along with these two relics.]] Latched flashed to Lady Cannith the images of the pendant and blue steel sword that he had seen in Lady Cannith’s vault. [[When will you give them to Cyrus?]]
{{Orias specifically said, I should only give them to Cyrus when…}} Lady Cannith suddenly doubled over, a pained gasp escaping her lips.
Latch rushed over to her side, but their connection was breached and he was suddenly overwhelmed by the same sensation and images that she saw.
They were high above the land, rapidly moving as if something was forcefully drawing their sight towards…
{{Making! That’s Making, and that’s Cannith Tower.}} Latch could hear Lady Cannith’s mental voice as if she was inches from him.
[[What’s that grey mist?]] Before Lady Cannith could answer, their ears were assaulted by the sound of hundreds of people screaming. It tore into them both, as they were surrounded by the sounds of anguish, and just as suddenly the noise stopped.
Latch found they were moving again, ahead of this massive grey wall that seems to fill the horizon with surprising speed.
{{What is happening Latch!? What’s happening to Cyre?}}
[[It’s a battlefield.]] Latch focused on the scenery rushing into view, purposefully ignoring her question, afraid of the answer.
{{Orias!}} She exclaimed, and Latch found themselves on the battlefield, as if they were standing next to him.
{{Orias you fool, why are you in the battlefield again!}} She saw him fight with all his vigor against the Karnnathi legions, unleashing his magical blade against them. She turned and caught glimpses of the grey wall rapidly approaching.
{{Orias, run! You’re not safe.}} The battled raged on, he seemed unable to hear her cries. She watched as the grey wall got closer and closer. The sounds of battle began to slow and stop as all the combatants finally took notice of the approaching wall.
{{Run Orias! Oh for the love of the gods RUN!}} Still he did not move, she watched him stand there, amongst countless other as the grey wall raced towards them. She felt his lips move, as the grey mist overcame them, and her and Latch’s mind raced back to Sharn Tower.
Latch held his mistress as she bawled, collapsed on the ground. He heard her gently speak as she cried into his arms.
"I love you too."
