Normality seemed a million miles away. The events of the day flickered past Raiguarde like that of a story book, they were not quite real enough. He and Imunzo had arrived in Haidar the day before, they had it on good authority that both the renegades Shadow and Orscyar would be found within that town and they had met with their informant the day before. Raiguarde didn't like Di Sangro from the beginning. He was known throughout the kingdom as a leader of bandits, under normal circumstances Raiguarde would have brought him in to the king to face charges, but things were far from normal. Di Sangro had uncovered the place where Orscyar was staying and led Raiguarde and Imunzo there. They stayed in the tavern waiting for Shadow to make an appearance, yesterday Shadow did not show, however today he had. Imunzo and Raiguarde watched, at the back of the tavern, with rags over them and straw hats so that Shadow would not recognise them. Raiguarde had smiled when he saw Shadow get hit with an iron bar, but that was the last time he smiled that day. As Shadow made a way for the exit Raiguarde went to give chase, but by the time Raiguarde got out to the front, Shadow had taken the only horse. Raiguarde then remembered looking to the sky and noticed how black it was. Raiguarde skipped the memories that followed. The fire, the screams, the death, it was all too much, even for the captain of the army. After the hell that was the tavern, Raiguarde and Imunzo went back to Di Sangro and told him that he would not get his money unless he could give them Shadow. Di Sangro laid a trap for Shadow and Shadow walked right into it. Raiguarde knew any plan Di Sangro would come up with was never going to work. Shadow was smarter and had something greater than all strength combined, luck. Raiguarde remembered cursing at the amount of luck Shadow had. The skies darkened as Shadow was cornered, for all intents and purposed he was trapped. None of them could have accounted for the demons. When they began their reign of short terror from the skies Raiguarde and Imunzo were ready for them and pulled Di Sangro away, into the building behind them and managed to fend the demons off the building for a while before entering it themselves. Once the demons were gone Di Sangro ran off like the coward Raiguarde knew he always was. `Leaders who only care for money tend to be no warriors at all` Raiguarde thought to himself. Imunzo and Raiguarde then searched the building which Shadow had previously entered. They found a young woman, which came as a shock as Raiguarde had thought that everyone had left town. Raiguarde had asked the girl whether Shadow had been there or not, she denied it. They then left the building and made their way to the tavern which they were staying, Shadow had escaped. Raiguarde looked at Imunzo, who had been standing at the window of Raiguarde’s room for almost thirty minutes. “Just what do you think you‘re doing anyway ?” Raiguarde asked.
“The girl lied. Shadow was there” Imunzo said coolly, to which Raiguarde jumped out of his seated position.
“How do you know?” Raiguarde asked
“I looked around and I felt Shadow‘s presence” Imunzo replied.
“And you didn't tell me because?” Raiguarde asked, showing his anger.
“We have found time and time again that we cannot beat Shadow on the battlefield for one reason or another. Fighting Shadow again there would not prove useful, capturing someone is about outsmarting them, not outfighting them” Raiguarde sighed, Imunzo was right.
“Well what do we do now then ?” Raiguarde asked.
“Shadow will find somewhere to sleep soon, then Shadow is ours” Imunzo said.
“When do we leave ?” Raiguarde asked, keenly.
“You sleep now, I will wake you when the time comes” Imunzo said. Before Raiguarde had the chance to respond, Imunzo had gone. Raiguarde sighed and shook his head, then took off his shirt and got into the bed. Raiguarde then pulled the covers up and shut his eyes and began to sleep. Raiguarde felt something touch him gently and jumped out of the bed, a true soldiers reaction. There was no intruder at work here however, it was Imunzo. Raiguarde must have slept soundly, he could see the sun was coming slowly up from out of the window. “Shadow is sleeping in the forest, now would be the best time to leave.”
“And what would be the difference between getting Shadow now and getting Shadow last night when we were in that building ?” Raiguarde asked sternly.
“Shadow‘s hands are tied to a tree” Imunzo said, with the faintest hint of smugness in his voice. Raiguarde could not follow that up with a response so he instead got ready as fast as he could, putting his shirt on, followed by his ivory white chest plate, then the huge shoulder pads from which a white cape dangled down to the ground. Raiguarde clipped on his sword belt which contained the Zialisilyk and was then ready to leave. Raiguarde followed Imunzo as he made his way out of the tavern and along the wide dirt track through the middle of the town, heading west in the direction of the dense forest. The sight of the sleeping Shadow was that of comical proportions. Raiguarde walked around the tree Shadow was lying against and saw, as Imunzo had said that Shadow’s arms were indeed tied to the tree. Imunzo knelt down as Raiguarde checked Shadow’s hands and took off Shadow’s sword belt. Imunzo looked at the sword in awe and Raiguarde walked over to Imunzo and took the sword from him. “Unbelievable” said Raiguarde, under his breath. “How did a wretch like Shadow get the sword of Drakahor ?” Raiguarde said enviously.
“With that sword, we can kill Kaiazal” Imunzo said, slightly too loud as Shadow began to stir awake. Imunzo and Raiguarde looked at Shadow as Shadow woke, Raiguarde was smiling wider than ever. Shadow struggled to break free of the ropes and then saw that Raiguarde was holding the sword of Drakahor. “Yours I believe?” Raiguarde asked mockingly. “Don't worry your masked little head about anything yet, we are to take you to Aaouron castle where you will be dealt with personally by King Valandt”
“That’s not how I see it” Shadow said, with a voice full of spite.
“Oh” said Raiguarde “Then that mask must be clouding your vision. Amuse me then, tell me what you‘re going to do” said Raiguarde, giving Shadow back just as much malevolence.
“I am going to kill that foolish boy-king Valandt and anyone else that stands in my way. However Raiguarde you are next in line for my wrath. You are next” Shadow’s voice was like ice.
“I don't think so” said Raiguarde, backing away from Shadow slightly. Imunzo began to look around, becoming alert all of a sudden. “What is it ?” Raiguarde asked.
“We are in grave danger” Imunzo said, his voice with more fear in it that Raiguarde was used too. Raiguarde was about to respond when the ground began to shake and some of the weaker trees began to collapse. Raiguarde was looking at the stream close by when he felt Imunzo’s arm on his shoulder. Imunzo then pulled Raiguarde back, out of the way of the oncoming fire. Raiguarde fell on top of Imunzo then jumped to one side, looking at the monster that was making its way across the forest, Brimstone. Raiguarde rubbed his eyes to see if he were dreaming, but Brimstone still remained. Nothing like what Raiguarde had imagined Brimstone to be, Brimstone stood tall, his huge form made up of coal coloured rock and surrounded by a bright red glow which would change to orange and yellow as it moved. Brimstone readied again to burst flames at Raiguarde and Imunzo and Raiguarde waited until the right moment then dived out of its reach. Raiguarde could see that the tree Shadow was previously tied too was burned down now, but no roasted Shadow. Raiguarde looked and then saw Shadow and gave chase. Raiguarde then leapt and took Shadow down by the legs. “You stay right here with me” said Raiguarde, who then got to his feet only to have to dive for cover once more. Brimstone turned gradually and began to move for Raiguarde and Shadow. Raiguarde looked at Shadow and punched the mask hard, which hurt Raiguarde’s fist but he refused to show it. Shadow then responded by punching Raiguarde in the face. They both then saw Brimstone ready to blast fire once more and Shadow dived out of its way to the right whereas Raiguarde dived out of its reached to the left. Raiguarde was stuck of a way of dealing with two problems, but taking care of Brimstone would be easier when he didn't have Shadow to worry about. Raiguarde got to his feet and saw Shadow doing the same, so Raiguarde ran and kicked Shadow to the floor. Raiguarde then dragged Shadow toward a tree then pinning Shadow against it. “Listen. We can fight this out later but first we have to take care of Brimstone, deal?” said Raiguarde, bargaining at his best.
“Deal” said Shadow, and with that Shadow head butted Raiguarde fiercely. “But I’m not going to pull you out of the way of any fire” said Shadow, motioning from Raiguarde. Raiguarde then tapped Shadow on the shoulder and punched the mask so hard he dented it slightly “fine with me” Raiguarde quipped, walking away from Shadow. Brimstone had now burned down all but a few of the trees in the area, the smell of burnt wood hung in the air. Raiguarde looked around for Imunzo, who was no-where to be seen. `Typical` thought Raiguarde, looking back to check on Shadow every so often. Raiguarde tripped on a small hole dug in the ground and saw something on the ground, it was the sword of Drakahor. Raiguarde picked it up and held it for no longer than a few seconds before he felt Shadow’s fist slam into him and Shadow took the sword from his grasp, then quipped “I believe that belongs to me”. “Where‘s your friend ?” Shadow then asked.
“Here” Imunzo appeared from nothing behind them and the three then had to dive out of the way of another of Brimstone‘s fire blasts. Raiguarde was quick to get next to Shadow, making sure Shadow had no time to even think about leaving them. “Run” called Imunzo as soon as Shadow and Raiguarde had made their way to their feet.
“I run from nothing” called Shadow back.
“Then think of it as leading Brimstone this way, now follow me or die” said Imunzo and with that he began to run in the opposite direction of Brimstone. Raiguarde then grabbed Shadow by the neck “you‘re coming with me” Raiguarde said and then began to run after Imunzo. Brimstone roared and began to follow. Brimstone’s thudding steps were slow and long, Raiguarde briefly looked back to make sure it had not given up chase then looked ahead at Imunzo, and heard an almighty roar and thud, followed by the sounds of splashing and fire being doused. Imunzo immediately stopped running and then made his way back toward where Brimstone once stood, Raiguarde then pulled Shadow in the same direction. “Wha-? How? is it dead?” Raiguarde asked.
“its possible” Imunzo asked “While you and Shadow were distracting it with your fighting I dug a hole and filled it with water, then covered the hole up so that Brimstone just walked right into it” Imunzo explained.
“This is all too fascinating, but if you don't mind, I have a castle to be getting to” said Shadow and with that launched a brutal punch into Raiguarde’s gut, followed by a severe uppercut to Imunzo. “I don‘t doubt we‘ll meet again” said Shadow, running away faster than Raiguarde could keep up. Raiguarde gave up as Shadow entered the distance and passed the horizon. “Now what?” said Raiguarde, turning to Imunzo. Raiguarde once again cursed at Shadow’s luck.