OGRE
Antius stood on the riverbank. The night was cold, the wind howled through the branches that were shaped like fingers. The trees were watching him. Watching his every step, he was sure about it. There is nothing that he could do. Nothing…the sorceress he loved has left him for another. He needed to act fast. He wasn't a type of man that will sit down and think a plan; his plan was always to act fast. So, he did. He rushed up the mountain, up a step goat path. He waited and waited. Nobody came. He waited. The ground shook; Antinus turned and saw a large ogre standing behind him.
"What do you want, you ape?" he said.
The ogre looked at him:
"The only ape are you, nobody freely enters these parts."
"Don't come any closer?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"I'm a wizard!"
"Listen here, friend, you think I care."
"I hope."
A sound of wood breaking against fresh, muscl
THE GAME BEGINS The emperor sat in his chair, moved from left to right. He has been waiting for them, since dawn. It's starting to bore him. They said that; they will be here in three hours. Eight hours have passed. He straightened himself on the throne. The wait game is five hours long. Who knows how long it will last? There was nothing else than he can do, but to wait. The emperor placed himself, comfortably, on the throne. The game continues. One of the servants entered, knelt in front of the throne: "They are here." "Send them in,"the emperor said without emotion. His eyes followed the servant as he left the throne room. The emperor stood up. The servant returned after a few moments, behind him a tall man slowly walked down the hallway. His gaze went from one column to the other. He walked slowly, taking his time. The stage was his. He could do whatever he wanted. The emperor's eyes followed hi
I walked across the empty street, searching for a blacksmith to repair my broken sword, when I heard two peasants talking. The curiosity got the better of me. I slowly approached the peasants. The taller one knelt immediately, while the smaller one just stood there. He looked at the small one with a gaze, so cold, that he froze. I said nothing. The taller one broke the silence first: "Sir, have you heard about the battle between the Yorts and Yearts." "No,"Ireplied. "When did that happen?" "Yesterday… about three o'clock… just after lunch,"the taller man replied. "It's the talk in the village." "Is it?" "Yes." "Everyone is talking." "I bet they do." "At least they picked a beautiful day,"the smaller man said. "Where was the battle held?"I asked. "Near, near the old gravestones." "That place was always sacred." "It's bad luck to disturb the
The battlefield was deserted, only a few swords and helms still adorned the place. The bodies were gone. Blood made small poodles were the ground was uneven. The whole place was covered in a think mist. In one of the burial mounds Ifound an armor that was intact. The corrosion was nowhere on the armor. I had to decide what armor Iwould wear, the one that the blacksmith gave me or this one. Ichose the latter, it was a perfect fit. The style was from the first century. The gold leaves adorned the armor, after these few hundred years the armor still shined in the sunlight. The path was narrow, the road was uneven. The thing that would turn many adventures back, but Iwas determined. My will motivated me onward. Mybroken sword was of little use against wraiths, but great against monsters, if there are any. Like the legendary sword that Iwas after, the armor too was made in the same dwarven forge. The next burial mounds w
The smell death hung in the air. Lord Desmond swallowed, at the very sight of the upcoming battle. He moved to the left. His horse, like his rider, was nervous. The horse moved to the right. His face had a shade of pale. He stood up, looked at the battlefield. The terrain was useless for their strategy. They must think something new. What else could they do? “What’s happening out there?” he asked in a panic tone. “Nothing good,” Lady Tirdana turned towards him. “Can’t we do something?” “Yes, wait till the battle starts.” “Great.” “You aren’t alone.” “Even that information, I count as something.” “You are scared, aren’t you?” “Yes.” “You have the courage to admit it,” her face changed. “I never could.” “Only then, can a man truly be brave.” ”I guess, it’s true.” “It matters not. Now, the battle only matters and victory, nothing else.” “Are you sure about the last part?”
CAMP At dawn, I looked around the camp. A thin layer of mist appeared throughout the valley. The monk got up. He looked in every direction. It was time to go. “It’s time,” he said after a break. His eyes looked at the top of the mountain. “Going my way?” I asked. “No.” “Then, this is goodbye.” “Not all goodbyes are sad.” “True.” “Where are you going?” “East,” I replied, mounting my horse. “Why east?” “There is always work for me there.” “Planning to start a new life?” “Yes. We will meet, again.” “All roads lead east.” “True,” Ispurred the horse onward. The horse went slowly, at first, like he had some dignity. The horse held his head high. We continued, that way, until we disappeared behind a hill. The horse with ease changed speed. We went through the forest like a shadow. With that speed, we could only be seen like such. One oak fel
I entered the nearest inn that was near the first turning. The inn was full. I looked for a place to sit. There was only one table free. I slowly walked through the room. The innkeeper’s gaze was fixed on me. I sat down. The innkeeper got up and went to my table: “What does the honorable knight want?” “A gil stew,” I said. “Aye,” the innkeeper said. A few moments later, he returned with the stew: “Here you go. Planning to stay?” “Maybe, I don’t know.” “Good to hear.” “Tell me, my good man, what is the new gossip in these parts.” “What do you want to know?” “Everything resent that happened.” “The king was placed notices to the boar.” “What boar?” “Huge one, two or three times larger than the normal, they say that he was never caught.” “What else do they say?” “That, he’s magical.” “Where can I get more information?” “About what do you want to
After defeating his brother Tostrig and Halsward Harden in the north, Halstern left much of his forces in the north, including Morcer and Edwerem, and marched the rest of his army south to deal with the threatened Hereninn invasion. It is unclear when Halstern learned of Segwaren’s landing, but it was probably while he was travelling south. Halstern stopped in Listen, and was there for about a week before Kaihon, so it is likely that he spent about a week on his march south, averaging about 27 miles (43 kilometers) per day, for the approximately 200 miles (320 kilometers). Halstern camped at Calderac Hill on the night of 13 October, near what was described as a "hoar-apple tree". This location was about 8 miles (13 kilometers) from Segwaren’s castle at Kaihon. Some of the early contemporary Firdan accounts mention an emissary or emissaries sent by Halstern to Segwaren, which is likely. Nothing came of these efforts. Although Halstern attempted to surprise the He
Halstern’s death left the Draumet forces leaderless, and they began to collapse. Many of them fled, but the soldiers of the royal household gathered around Halstern’s body and fought to the end. The Hereninn began to pursue the fleeing troops, and except for a rearguard action at a site known as the "Malfisse", the battle was over. Exactly what happened at the Malfisse, or "Evil Ditch", and where it took place, is unclear. It occurred at a small fortification or set of trenches where some Draumetmen rallied and seriously wounded Eustace of Boustera before being defeated by the Hereninn. Halstern’s defeat was probably due to several circumstances. One was the need to defend against two almost simultaneous invasions. The fact that Halstern had dismissed his forces in southern Draumet on 8 September also contributed to the defeat. Many historians fault Halstern for hurrying south and not gathering more forces before confronting Segwaren at Kaihon, although it is no