When Klane awoke among the cool, dark green grass in the fading afternoon light, he was wafting on a sense of confusion and delirium. His vision was blurry and his memory faded in and out as he lay still on the hard earth beneath him. Momentarily his vision gained focus enough to make out the Large demonic creature only meters away and in an instant his mind snapped with adrenaline and a new awakened panic. Trying to leap up a wave of pain flooded his body, and a grimace and groan grew upon his handsome face.
The panic lasted only a few seconds, his heart beating heavily beneath the tattered metallic armour on his chest. it didn't take long for Klane to realise the creature next to him was dead. Struggling through the pain he sat upright and propped himself against the base of the cliff behind him. Breathing was a chore at this point. He suspected he had a few broken ribs and a broken leg. Both arms ached terribly but his hands could open and close, his brain felt like it was three sizes too large for his skull and any sudden movements sent splitting headaches from temple to temple.
Klane slowly regained his composure and came to terms with his current condition while he sat and surveyed his surrounds. The demon was most certainly dead. It had fallen to its knees while upright, a sword had pierced its skull from top all the way through and a pool of crimson blood had formed around it like some sort of surreal ritualistic statue.
Who killed this thing?
Suddenly he remembered his squad that he had been travelling through the forest with on their return to Castle Holm. A new sense of panic began to well up inside. They had been ambushed by this creature in a ferocious attack and then separated during battle. Klane could recall the initiation before he could draw its attention and had no idea if anyone was injured or worse.
Heaving himself onto his working leg, Klane mustered what strength he could and shuffled towards the Demon. He couldn't wait for his party to find him; he had to get back and confirm if they had survived. He reached the Demon which even when kneeling was still taller than Klane at 6 feet tall. With a wincing shove, he pushed the demon to its side which hit the ground with a squelching thud in the blood-soaked dirt. He had lost his sword somewhere in the forest and searching for it would be impossible given his injuries and the slowly fading light.
Bending over the best he could with shattered ribs, Klane wrapped both hands around the hilt of the sword and wrenched it free of the skull. It was freed far easier than he anticipated, the blade gleamed red in the shadows and despite its rusted blade, he noted it was a finely made weapon indeed. It was old, but how old he did not know as its design was unlike any other blade he had come across in his eighty two years of life. Despite the Rust, its edge was still sharp enough to pierce flesh and bone without so much as a chip to speak of.
Klane used the newly acquired blade to easily lop a low hanging branch from a tree at the edge of the forest which would suffice as a rudimentary crutch, then after whipping with blood from the blade on some clean grass, he looped it through his belt and set off into the darkening woods. It was slow going as he hobbled through the undergrowth and stepped the exposed tree roots. He had a vague idea on the direction he had come from thanks to the smell of smoke and occasional patches of smouldering dead leaves that had ignited and burned out from their clashing steal.
Time and distance were incredibly difficult to gage in the deeper parts of the forest and after what felt like a few hours Klane was elated to hear what sounded like voices off to his right. Picking up pace and ignoring the sharp stabbing through his leg and torso, he soon reached a small clearing with a lit fire and the source of the voices now standing with blades drawn facing him.
"Klane"
a high pitch yell rang out across the silence and in an instant Klane was knocked to the ground.
"ughhhhh"
he groaned in pain under the weight of the person who had tackled him. Clair had hugged him tightly and seemingly ignored his protest. Tears had begun to well in her eyes and she sat back to survey the man in front of her injured and bloodied from head to toe.
"I'm sorry"… She lifted herself off him and helped him back to his feet.
I didn't know if you… we just didn't know what had happened and… she broke off again in tears.
It's ok,
Klane shuffled forward again to towards the fire, its warmth felt somewhat soothing and any reduction in his aching body was greatly welcome at this point. Two men stood grinning either side of the fire, they had small cuts and bruises across their bodies but seemed to be ok otherwise. Claire stepped into the light of the fire to join them, and he noticed she too was covered in small wounds that marked her otherwise beautiful face. Her blonde hair had become matted with dirt and blood her smile had faded quickly when she noticed Klane surveying her.
Clair, Ewe, Reged, i'm glad you're all ok. Where's Isvar?
Ewe and Regen, the two young men standing beside the fire looked down, suddenly sullen. Clair let out a slight sound then stepped forward again to help Klane around the fire. On the other side, blocked by the light of the fire laid a man. His older face was pale grey contorted in pain, his breath was ragged, his left arm missing and his chest had been cut from shoulder to navel. It was a deep wound. Klane dropped down next to the man and let out pained sigh.
"Isvar, I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
Isvar opened his eyes and looked at the man sitting next him, he forced a grin and spat a small amount of blood from his lips.
"I'm just glad you're ok Klane, Thank you for protecting the other young'uns, I'm just annoyed i let that bastard get the better of me."
He began to cough gingerly, and his breathing became more ragged still.
"did you at least finish the monster off for me?"
Klane paused for a second and glanced down at the sword on his hip.
"Yeah, it's dead, sword right through the Skull"
Isvar let out a small chuckle and grinned even wider but behind Klane, Clair, Ewe and Reged shared a questioning look with each other that Isvar never perceived.
"Good work lad… I'm not gonna' make it home"
Silence fell again and Klane reached out with a hesitant hand before placing it on Isvars heaving chest.
"Clair patched me up with her healing arts the best anyone could but we're too far away from Holm, i'll be long gone before we can get help and we can't move me… It has to be you Klane"
The three behind Klane nodded in agreement and stepped forward to help him to his fee again. Klane knew Isvar was right, but it didn't make the task at hand any less difficult. Isvar closed his eyes again and began to smile a little more peacefully.
"As the leader of our Party lays dying, do any here object to the passing of his life to Me, Klane second Son?"
"Let his light pass to you" they replied in unison. All three now with tears on their cheeks glistening in the light of the fire. Clair buried her head in her hands as Ewe extended an arm around her and Reged and sniffled back a cry himself.
"Isvar, dear friend. Do you have any last words to share with us here?"
"None worth sayin to the likes of you scruffs" he grinned, "just live well".
Klane let out a laugh that stabbed at his chest, but it was not just the pain of his broken ribs that brought tears to his eyes, Isvar had been a mentor and leader for their troop for decades and here in the darkness enveloping them and the small sanctuary of the fire, Klane drew once more the rusted sword from his side and plunged it through Isvars heart.
In an instant, a calm fell across his face and the ragged breathing came to an end.
Suddenly, i light emerged from Isvars body, it hovered momentarily above his chest before flying forward into Klanes chest. No-one present was surprised that this had happened. The watched on as Klane groaned for a moment then collapsed backward with a thud next to the glowing embers.
"May your light live on friend" they all said in unison.
Klane stretched out his broken leg, only it wasn't broken anymore, it was certainly still bruised and battered, but he could move it again. He forced a deep breath to check his ribs were functioning. He winced in pain. Not quite healed yet.
Standing gingerly on both legs now Klane looked to the other three who looked over Isvar in silence only the crackling of burning logs and the distant chirping of birds settling in for the evening could be heard. It was Ewe who broke the silence.
"So, who actually killed the Demon?"
Klane looked down at the sword he had dropped moments earlier when he fell and picked it back up. Handing it over to Ewe and the rest to inspect.
"I don't know, but whoever it was, they killed that thing in a single blow and left this behind and "
The four warriors stood around the fire looking apprehensively at the sword and each other.
"Whoever it was… they're strong."