Chapter 20 - A Name For The Nameless Man

Shadow stood facing Orscyar, who had at one time been a close friend of Shadow’s. Now Shadow stood dumbstruck at the revelation that Orscyar was eviler than evil. Orscyar was the second disciple of Goreoth. Dying images of the family that Shadow thought was Orscyar‘s went around in Shadow‘s mind. The harrowing picture of the children being ripped apart by the ravenous demons almost made Shadow now feel sick. “What about your family?” Shadow then blurted out.
“Merely an illusion. Didn't you find it strange that with all those demons attacking, that I managed to survive unscathed?”. Shadow stood still and in too much shock to reply. Shock turned to anger quickly. “You mean you used me, why? what for? what purpose of yours could I have served” Shadow could not believe what was happening.
“You have served us well. I personally wanted to see what the fuss was about you, especially with that sword. I was making sure that you did not use the sword for good, it was not a hard task. You could have saved your people but instead you decided to take part in a rebellion that failed from the start. Ever wonder why the demon attacks happen at key times ?” Orscyar smiled evilly. “I summoned them. I even summoned Brimstone to rescue me from the tavern” Shadow began to feel rage take over inside. “Now that the sword is out of your possession, we have no use for you. Prepare to die” Shadow had the smallest of gaps in which to react before a huge ball of fire came slamming into the ground in which Shadow previously occupied before diving out of the way. Thinking fast and now almost blinded by rage, Shadow went for Orscyar, tackling him to the floor and then punching him hard in the face. The frustration of Shadow clearly showed on Orscyar’s face, which became bloody quite quickly due to the fierceness of Shadow’s punches. A bloody Orscyar began to laugh, which made Shadow hit him harder. “I could kill you at any time” Orscyar said maniacally in between punched.
“Then shut up and do it allready” said Shadow, moments before head butting Orscyar viciously. Shadow left Orscyar momentarily and began to look around for a sword, Shadow soon discovered that there was none to hand. Then Shadow turned back around to face Orscyar, who was now standing, possibly taller than before and looked in immaculate condition, all the blood and cuts that Shadow had caused had vanished without a trace. Orscyar, smiling, clicked his fingers and Shadow was being circled by a dozen demons. “Wait!” called Shadow “I made a deal with Kaiazal. You cant do this to me” Shadow’s desperation showed.
“Actually” said Kaiazal, walking out from behind a tree “we can do whatever we like. Watching you die will be so much fun” said Kaiazal, triumphantly, he then turned to Orscyar and nodded, indicating Shadow’s certain demise. Suddenly a noise from the trees broke Orscyar’s concentration and then the sound of rapid sword movement could be heard but neither Kaiazal, Shadow or Orscyar could see who it was. Shadow however, knew who it was. The last of the demons fell, Kaiazal and Orscyar began to stare at each other, lost for words when Shadow’s mystery saviour appeared from out of the darkness. “I told you I'd be watching you” said Imunzo, before taking out the sword of Drakahor from his sword belt and tossing it to Shadow. Imunzo began to stare down Kaiazal while Shadow and Orscyar locked gazes. “Well, it appears the odds are even” mocked Kaiazal.
“Lets keep it that way, shall we” said Shadow, moments before advancing on Orscyar and thrusting at him. Kaiazal and Orscyar gave each other a fleeting glance so that they were sure they understood each other then they both drew their weapons. They were shaped like normal swords but they were definitely not made from metal, the blades were as black as the night sky. Surrounding the blades was an orange glow, as if the sword itself were aflame. Shadow and Orscyar began to fight as Imunzo drew his blade and began to battle with Kaiazal. The swords of Shadow and Orscyar clashed against each other, the sound ringing out throughout the land. Shadow refused to relent on Orscyar, swinging with incredible power and strength, continuing to push Orscyar back. Orscyar smiled deviously and hit Shadow hard with a ball of energy, causing Shadow to lose balance and fall backward. Orscyar stood over Shadow and grinned victoriously as he went to lower the blade into Shadow’s face. Shadow looked back into Orscyar’s eyes as he lowered his sword and then kicked him hard in between the legs. Orscyar did not react in the same way as Shadow had anticipated but he stumbled back enough to allow Shadow to get back up and land an upper cut on him causing Orscyar to fall to the floor. Meanwhile, Imunzo and Kaiazal traded blows like old enemies. The duel between the two was played at a ferociously fast pace, with neither warrior gaining any ground on the other. Imunzo, who was used to fighting at lightning speed was almost caught off guard by Kaiazal’s equal pace and had to raise his game in order to maintain his usual speed advantage over his opponent. The swords of Imunzo and Kaiazal could not be seen, all that could be seen was sparks from the blades clashing against each other and a blur of rapid movement, while the sound of blade against blade echoed through the air. Kaiazal, realizing he could not beat Imunzo fairly, summoned two clones of himself and they positioned themselves around Imunzo. Imunzo looked around at the triangle of Kaiazal’s that surrounded him, then glanced at the treetops above. Knowing that all three could not track him while in the trees, Imunzo jumped high and grabbed onto a branch, then swung from that onto another tree, landing on a branch this time. Kaiazal clicked his fingers and the two clones disappeared, he then looked at Imunzo standing high above him on a branch and smiled. Imunzo knew something was wrong to have Kaiazal smiling, then felt it. A huge spinning circular saw blade came through the trunk of the tree. Reacting quickly, Imunzo jumped off the falling tree and just about managed to grab the branch of the one next to it. Another circular saw blade came through the trunk of the tree and Imunzo had little time to swing himself to the next tree. Kaiazal smiled wickedly as another blade cut through the only tree available to Imunzo and then came crashing to the ground, taking Imunzo with it. During all this, Shadow and Orscyar’s battle raged on. The swords of the two danced through the air, this was interspersed with heavy fists and hard kicks. Shadow backed Orscyar by a tree and thrust the sword of Drakahor at him, but Orscyar vanished, causing the sword to get stuck in the tree. Orscyar then reappeared by Shadow’s side and kicked Shadow in the face. Shadow fell to the floor and reacting quickly, kicked Orscyar’s blade out of his hand. Orscyar smiled and held down Shadow’s arms using the power of his mind and then got on top of Shadow. Orscyar punched Shadow hard in the face but then made the mistake of getting to close to Shadow’s head. Shadow head butted him hard and the force holding down Shadow’s arms disappeared, allowing Shadow to get back up. Shadow gave Orscyar a right and left hook before punching him hard in the stomach and then upper cutting him to the floor. Shadow, realizing someone was behind, jumped into the air and somersaulted backward, over the assailant that was coming from behind, Kaiazal. Shadow then went to go over to Imunzo, who lay hurt underneath the trunk of a tree. Imunzo, seeing that Kaiazal was about to strike, tossed Shadow his sword. Shadow caught the sword turned and thrust it deep into the body of Kaiazal. Shadow stood for a moment awestruck but Kaiazal‘s mocking laughter broke it. “Just isn't your lucky day is it. If this sword had been the sword of Drakahor, id be dead” said Kaiazal as he pulled Imunzo’s blade clear and threw it to the floor. Shadow’s contempt of Kaiazal’s disrespect peaked and Shadow, giving Kaiazal no time to react, kicked Kaiazal in the head, then kicked the blade out of his hand and Shadow then gave Kaiazal a shattering right hook. As Kaiazal and Orscyar gathered themselves together, Shadow walked over to Imunzo and helped him up. Imunzo put his arm around Shadow for support and the four came together again in the middle of the clearing. Just as they were about to resume fighting a vaguely familiar voice came booming from the darkness. “Halt!” commanded the voice, to which all four warriors stood to attention and then began to look around for the direction of the voice. “I should have known you were evil from the moment I met you” the voice grew closer and a figure began to appear from the trees. Shadow looked at Orscyar, who had a look of horror on his face. “What's wrong ? seen a ghost?” mocked Shadow.
“Something like that” came the familiar voice, now directly behind Shadow. The voice of Zvire.

The demons continued to surround Zvire, he had allready told Raiguarde and the others to leave, all hope appeared to be lost. Zvire continued to slash away at the demons, frantically with no real direction. His actions were those of a desperate man. Zvire managed to fight off the demons for a few seconds longer when he heard something which puzzled him. “I'm not leaving until I see a body”. he heard Orscyar say. Zvire raised his eyebrows and attempted to contemplate what this meant, but the relentless demon attacks prevented this. Suddenly in the corner of his eye, Zvire saw Raiguarde grab Orscyar and pull him through the tear which sealed behind them and the moment the tear closed with it all the demons disappeared, leaving Zvire alone in the darkness. Zvire felt something hit him from behind and he was then knocked unconscious. Orscyar had taken him there in the first place, he had taken Raiguarde and Imunzo too. `Only Orscyar could have known they would disappear once they left the tear`. Orscyar, unsure whether Zvire was alive or not, planned to have Zvire spend out the rest of his days as a slave, if he was actually still alive. When Zvire awoke the next morning, he was the nameless man. “Nameless no more” said Zvire, looking into a mirror and finally being able to recognise the face staring back at him. Once Zvire had made it through the chamber of nightmares and found his way back to Legia, he rushed back to Bheliez forest. Zvire returned to the place he had once called his temple, now it was desolate. Zvire sighed as he walked through the now uninhabited temple and contemplated how he could lead all the people he had come to live with over the years to their deaths. Zvire made his way back to his room and found a spare set of battle armour, he then suited himself up. Zvire could see that there was something missing as he looked in the mirror. “My axe” he eventually said to himself, he then looked down at the sword Malak had given him. The hilt of the sword was ivory white, with a small golden dragon crest on it. Zvire then accepted that the sword should be his weapon, he owed Malak everything and taking this was the least he could do. Zvire made his way out of the temple and looked around outside. There was no way Zvire could find Orscyar on foot so he would need a horse. Looking around outside, Zvire could see that all the horses were gone, this proved no problem for a man of the wild. Zvire called out into the depths of the forest, at first there was nothing but suddenly a hoard of animals came heading around Zvire. He greeted them all with delight, smiling and gently stroking some of the gentler ones. Getting up from his bending down position, Zvire heard the gallop of horse’s hooves and he then stared at the stallion that faced him. The horse looked back at Zvire, who could see that its eyes were like a wildfire. Zvire looked at the horse in awe at its majestic prowess and wondered if he could ever control such a beast. Zvire went back into the temple and fetched a saddle and put it on the horse’s back. The horse flinched at first but soothed at Zvire’s touch. He mounted the horse and began to pat its neck, reassuring it. Zvire rode out with only one thought in his mind, Orscyar. Zvire figured if he could find a place of intense chaos and suffering, there he would find Orscyar. Zvire rode into the town of Thyad, the closest town to the huge forests of Bheliez and attempted to find out any information he could. It was only as Zvire entered the town of Thyad that it occurred to him how long he had been gone. He could not have been a slave for much longer than a week so Zvire guessed that it was a week after he had attempted to take Legia castle. Zvire’s later found out that his deductions were correct as he heard stories of the invasion, now embellished to the point of the ridiculous. It was in Thyad that Zvire had heard about Shadow. Zvire had almost forgotten about the strange masked warrior that he had once fought with. Zvire found himself stunned to learn that Shadow had killed Raiguarde. Zvire had always believed that Shadow was capable of such a deed but always thought that he was a better person than that. Zvire shook off the one-sided hearsay he heard about his old friend, knowing that there was more too it than the gossipmongers proclaimed. Once Zvire found out what Shadow’s last reported location was he rode out in the direction of Aaouron castle, where the arrest warrant for him was directed. It took Zvire most of the day to ride out to Aaouron, the sun was setting as he reached the huge castle only to find that Shadow was not in fact there. And it was there that Zvire stood when a familiar face greeted him for the first time. “I knew you‘d be back” said Imunzo, who was atop a horse, causing Zvire to turn around.
“I had help..” Zvire was about to continue when Imunzo cut in.
“How is Malak anyway ?” Imunzo asked, casually.
“You know Malak ?” Zvire said, clearly amazed.
“I know of Malak” Imunzo sighed “I wish I could know him, he is one of my ancestors. I am of his bloodline. He was the disciple of Paix that sealed Goreoth beneath the earth. Kaiazal then cursed him to spend all eternity in the slave desert, he cannot exist anywhere else” “My apologies” said Zvire sincerely “we need to find Orscyar” Zvire said changing the subject urgently. “That is correct” Imunzo said “I will take you to him”. Imunzo turned the horse and galloped of into the distance, with Zvire right behind him. The two approached the camp and dismounted without making their presence felt by Lord Enzaghe‘s troops. “The wild man returns” came a voice as Zvire and Imunzo dismounted, Kaiazal’s. Both Zvire and Imunzo looked at Kaiazal with disgust as he stood before them. “Do not worry, I have little time to waste with you two so I will be brief. Enjoy your death” Kaiazal snapped his finger and disappeared into nothingness. Imunzo and Zvire stood alert, waiting for something to happen. Seconds seemed to linger, moments dwindling before thundering footsteps could be heard. The footsteps grew closer and a huge figure stepped out into the small clearing, that of Kreul. Zvire’s pupils began to dilate as he set his eyes on the monstrous figure of Kreul and then something more spectacular broke his concentration. Hundreds of screams could be heard and Zvire turned to see a blinding light, turning to flame the soldiers only meters away. Kreul raised his behemoth like arms and picked up Imunzo and Zvire with them, he then slammed both them against a tree. Zvire struggled to his feet and drew his sword, he then turned to Imunzo. “You help Shadow, ill take care of him” Zvire said, pointing at Kreul. Imunzo nodded and made his exit. Zvire turned his attention to the huge figure of Kreul, whom he thought he had allready killed once. Kreul seemed more anxious than Zvire had ever previously seen, he was almost reluctant to fight Zvire. Kreul gave Zvire no warning and charged at him, moving relatively fast for such a large body. Zvire attempted to dodge the huge figure of Kreul, but there wasn’t much room to manoeuvre and Kreul tackled Zvire to the ground, knocking Zvire’s sword out of his grasp as he did. Kreul got back up quickly, picking up Zvire and throwing him hard against the large trunk of a tree. Zvire felt his back almost snap into two as he crashed into the tree, he bit his lip to avoid shouting out in pain, not wanting to register any. Zvire turned back around to face Kreul and was met with the huge fist of Kreul, knocking him back against the tree once more. Zvire dropped to the ground and then dived under the legs of Kreul, looking through the leafy blanket of the forest floor for his sword. Zvire saw the sword in the corner of his eye and dived for it, rolling on the ground, collecting it and then coming back to his feet. As Zvire got back to his feet, he noticed a scar on Kreul’s body which had not been there before. A scar that Zvire had given him. Zvire began to swipe the sword through the air aimlessly and gain some ground on Kreul. Zvire managed to push Kreul back up against a tree trunk and the reach of the sword drew closer to Kreul’s body. Zvire slashed the sword through the air, looking to hit anywhere on Kreul’s colossal chest but Kreul managed to grab the sword and stop it effortlessly. Reacting quickly, Zvire kicked Kreul hard on the wrist, keeping sure to maintain his balance and releasing his sword from Kreul's intense grasp. Zvire then, giving Kreul no time to react went to push the blade into the scar on Kreul’s chest. Zvire did not have the time to find the power to pierce Kreul’s hard skin as Kreul grew furious with pain and kicked Zvire hard, making him fly into the air some meters. Zvire was sure to keep hold of his sword as he flew through the air and then managed to land on his feet. Zvire looked at Kreul once more, his anger was boiling over however now, Zvire had a plan. Kreul raised both of his hands and put them together and came for Zvire. Zvire stood his ground, waiting for the right moment. The ground shook as Kreul came running for Zvire, then he made his move, raising his sword and using all his might pushing it deep into Kreul’s neck. Kreul immediately responded by knocking Zvire off his feet once more. Kreul hit him heavy and hard in the stomach, winding Zvire. Zvire got on his hands and knees and attempted to catch his breath as Kreul fumbled about trying to remove the sword from his neck. Zvire heard the sword drop to the floor and got to his feet alertly however Kreul was no-where to be seen. A puzzled Zvire walked over to where his sword lay and picked it up, looking at the blade he could see that it was stained with the green blood of Kreul. Zvire wiped his sword clean with a leaf and put it back in his belt, he then looked over into the clearing which Shadow had previously been in. Zvire could see Shadow and Imunzo on one side, Imunzo with his arm around Shadow for support with Kaiazal and Orscyar on the other. “Halt!” shouted Zvire, wanting to make an important entrance. Zvire looked into Orscyar's eyes, he looked frightened, like a young child would be afraid of the dark. “I should have known you were evil from the moment I met you” Zvire shouted. He then began to make his way into the clearing, from behind Shadow. The look on Orscyar’s face was one of horror as Zvire made his way into the partial light, cast by the moon. “What's wrong ? seen a ghost?” Zvire heard Shadow ridiculing Orscyar.
“Something like that” Zvire replied, to which Shadow turned around instantly and fell to the floor through shock.
“Zvire!” Shadow exclaimed.
“I hate to brake up this reunion, but we must be on our way now” Kaiazal said moments before he disappeared, refusing to fight under even odds. Zvire leapt for Orscyar but it was too late, he too had disappeared. There was an awkward silence as Zvire got to his feet. Imunzo searched the ground for his, picking it up and securing it in his belt once he had recovered it. The three warriors studied each other intensely when they regrouped. “Where to now ” said Zvire after a series of silent moments.
“Hazajaro” Shadow replied instantly, to which Zvire nodded acceptance.
“I will get the horses” said Imunzo moments before he disappeared into the bushes.
“So what really happened then?” Zvire said, keenly.
“What do you mean?” Shadow replied
“With Raiguarde” Zvire responded. Shadow took a deep breath and went to answer but a noise in the bushes on the opposite side of the clearing broke their conversation. Two figures on horseback emerged from the distance, the darkness making it very difficult to make them out. As they came into the clearing Zvire could make out their faces but still did not recognise them. Shadow did. The figures of Lord Enzaghe and Calandria dismounted and drew their blades. “I don‘t quite know what sorcery you used here Shadow, but you are still under arrest. No more foolishness. We continue on our way immediately” Enzaghe ordered, he then turned to Calandria and gave him a signal. “We can do this the hard way or the easy way” said Enzaghe as Calandria came closer to Zvire and Shadow. Zvire was ready to draw his sword once more but Shadow nodded toward the trees, which Zvire took to mean a signal against it. Calandria came up to Zvire and collected Zvire’s sword and tucked it in his sword belt. Zvire felt enraged at the taking of the sword which he had now grown quite attached, but he heeded Shadow’s words and made no movements. Calandria then had Zvire and Shadow put their hands behind their backs and then he tied their hands up. Calandria pointed his sword at Zvire’s back and motioned them toward the horses. Shadow was forced to ride with Enzaghe, both of them on the same horse while Zvire mounted Calandria’s and was to ride with him. As the two horses rode off into the distance, Imunzo came back into the clearing. He had seen Enzaghe’s return and was ready to step in and make Enzaghe go away but Shadow saw Imunzo and signalled against it. Imunzo then walked over to the tree which the sword of Drakahor was embedded in and pulled it out, just as Shadow had signalled. Imunzo then walked over to where Calandria and Enzaghe had made their exit and watched at he could just about see their horses speeding off into the distance. Imunzo sighed and walked over to the two horses. Imunzo mounted one of the horses and made his way to the dirt track that led to Hazajaro. “I don't know why I‘m going to rescue you again Shadow, but I am” Imunzo said out loud. Imunzo then took a look at the stars and the night sky, a vain attempt at being able to appreciate the beauty of it before he kicked the horse gently with his heels, the horse then galloped off in the direction of Hazajaro castle.