Chapter 15 - Brimstone

Shadow stood facing three opponents; The money hungry Di Sangro intent on collecting the prize on Shadow’s head; Raiguarde, the captain of the Legia army and Imunzo, the cool samurai warrior who stared icily at Shadow. Once Shadow looked past the two great warriors in front, there was then the thirty men on the rooftops surrounding Shadow, all armed with crossbows, all aimed at Shadow. There was an eerie silence, hanging in the air dangerously as Shadow attempted to contemplate what to do. The signal to move was made for Shadow, a thunderclap from the skies above broke the concentration of the men on the roof top to the left of Shadow, who then dived into the building. Shadow jumped through the open doorway and closed the door quickly, locking it soon after managing to stand upright. Shadow then heard the sounds of crossbow bolts hit the door from the other side and breathed a slight sigh of relief. This soon faded as Shadow heard the sounds of screams from the roof above, the demons making short work of the soldiers. Some three men had managed to escape from the rooftop, but their momentary joy was met with extreme sorrow when they saw Shadow standing by the door. The three men stood, frozen with fear, one swiftly lifted the crossbow in his hand but Shadow was too quick to react and in the blink of an eye all three men lay dead, daggers embedded deep in them, fatally. Shadow went to the window, wondering if the demons would try breaking down the door down and coming inside. Upon looking outside Shadow could not see Di Sangro, Raiguarde or Imunzo. `No body means Di Sangro’s still alive` Shadow thought `I’ll soon see to that`. Shadow began to head for the stairs leading to the roof. The building itself was empty, old and in some disrepair, the wooden steps creaked loudly and felt uneasy as Shadow went up them. Shadow took a brief look all around, to see if anyone else had escaped their doom on the roof. Shadow could see that it had been a library and that it specialized in magic or spell books. The librarian or owner had most likely left town, abandoning it when the demon attacks became more frequent. `No chance of surviving on the roads and in the forests, too rough to continue living in the towns. Damn shame` Shadow thought while opening a series of doors, walking through the domestic part of the building. `They certainly left in a hurry` thought Shadow observing the fact that almost everything had been left as if the people living here before were about to come back. The dining table still had a cloth on it, there were still ornaments adorning obscure little places upon shelves and photos still left laying around, memories left behind. Shadow opened a final door leading to a narrow corridor. Shadow could see that at the end of the corridor there was a step ladder and at the top of which was a hatch from which Shadow could access the roof. Shadow walked slightly faster down the corridor and climbed the ladder swiftly, then pulled open the hatch and climbed out of it onto the roof. The dying screams had by now disappeared , Shadow emerged from the hatch and stood up, surveying the aftermath of the demons. Bodies of the crossbow men lay scattered along the roof, some had even jumped to their death to avoid the demons. Shadow swallowed hard and breathed deeply. Suddenly a crossbow bolt ripped through the silence and almost caused Shadow to fall off the roof. Shadow breathed a sigh of relief and regained composure, then turned around to see Di Sangro staring back. “Time has come for me to collect my reward” Di Sangro called. Shadow smiled and before Di Sangro could move another inch Shadow jumped and spun around, drew the sword of Drakahor and sliced the two oncoming men‘s stomachs open, then while spinning back around hurled the sword at Di Sangro, it lodging deep in his stomach. Shadow laughed and began to walk toward the fading body of Di Sangro. “I knew you could never face me one on one” Shadow said and pulled the sword from out of Di Sangro’s stomach, who fell to the ground, dead. Shadow felt exhilarated to have rid the world of such a worm and headed for the hatch leading back into the building. Shadow descended the small step ladder and began to head down the corridor. Shadow passed through the doors and began to walk through into the kitchen of the building as before. The kitchen led to another corridor which Shadow began to walk along, the opposite direction in which Shadow had came some minutes ago. Shadow stopped, something was different. There was a scraping sound coming from one of the doors along the corridor. Shadow stood alongside all the doors and one by one checked them all. As Shadow opened the third door along, Shadow could see that there was someone inside. It was a small room, just about big enough to fit a person in, and she fell out into Shadow’s arms. She was dirty, Shadow assumed that she had been there for an absurd amount of time. Her eyes were firmly shut but as Shadow looked over into them, they opened. She screamed out and pushed Shadow away then ran into a corner and crouched into it. The young woman then began to mumble to herself. Shadow walked back up the corridor to where the woman had ran to, then crouched down beside her, she flinched. “What has happened to you ?” Shadow asked sincerely. Initially she gave no reply, Shadow just watched her in silence, waiting for any kind of reply. The young woman shivered with fear, her eyes all bloodshot. She was from what Shadow could tell in her young twenties, with tangled brown hair, the after effect of staying in such a small space for what must have been a while. Her eyes were all bloodshot and darting around everywhere, never staying still. She began to mumble incoherently, Shadow leaned in to try and make out what she was saying but this caused her to scream so Shadow backed off slightly. “I am not here to hurt you” Shadow said soothingly “why were you in that closet, did you get locked in by mistake?”
“B-b-b” She began, then refused to continue.
“What are you trying to tell me?”
“Br - Brim” Shadow was making steady progress with her.
“Broom?” said Shadow guessing at what she was trying to say.
“Brim, Brimst...” tears began to run from her eyes.
“Brimstone?” Shadow said and she screamed. “Its okay, its okay, nothing will hurt you while I am here” Shadow said trying to calm her down. “Come with me, you must be hungry” Shadow said, changing the subject and extended a hand to her, she reluctantly grabbed Shadow’s hand and they both stood up and headed into the kitchen. Under normal circumstances Shadow would have left by now, but times were changing. `I'm getting softer in my old age` Shadow thought while guiding the young woman back through the door into the kitchen. The woman sat down as Shadow went around looking through the cupboards for something for her to eat. Whereas the furniture and everything ornamental had been kept in its place, the food had been mostly taken and the cupboards bare. Shadow opened the last cupboard and found a fruit bowl and took it out. Shadow then sliced the fruits into eight or so pieces, stopping only once to remove the mask quickly and devour a piece of fruit. Shadow put the mask back in place then took the sliced fruits into the girl and placed them down next to her. She was sitting at a table and Shadow sat opposite. Brimstone was a name Shadow was familiar with. Brimstone was not something of Legia folklore, but Shadow heard stories of Brimstone when Shadow once visited one of the kingdoms far away from Legia. Stories had been passed all across the world of the six demons of Hellfire of which Brimstone was one, however Shadow did not know that they were employees of Goreoth. “Where did you see this Brimstone?” Shadow eventually asked the woman. “He came from the forest, about a week ago. It was horrible.” She spoke slowly, not wishing to dwell on the memories of it.
“And then everyone left?” Shadow asked.
“Some stayed. Traders mostly” She sighed deeply. “and some taverns” She added. Shadow paused for thought and went to the window, it was getting dark, night was drawing in. Shadow’s journey to Hazajaro castle would have to be delayed for one night. Going out on foot with Raiguarde and Imunzo out there and the additional prospect of bumping into Brimstone at night was not something Shadow was prepared to do. A noise from downstairs broke Shadow’s concentration. Whoever it was, was making their way toward Shadow and the young woman. “Please, do not let them know I am here” Shadow whispered into the woman’s ear and she turned around to acknowledge Shadow, but Shadow was gone. The kitchen door opened and through it entered Raiguarde and Imunzo. Raiguarde looked around the room but failed to make eye contact with Shadow. Shadow could see that Raiguarde was confused at the woman’s presence. “We are sorry to bother you, I was informed that this place was empty”. Raiguarde’s voice was direct and calming “we are looking for someone, a friend of ours. He wears a black mask” Shadow smiled at Raiguarde’s words.
“I do not know about your friend” The woman said, Shadow silently breathed a sigh of relief. Raiguarde looked around the room once more, Imunzo then put his arm on Raiguarde’s shoulder pad “we should be going, we’re wasting our time here” Imunzo said.
“Very well” Raiguarde said “Apologies once more for having disturbed you” he then said to the woman and the two then exited the room. Shadow waited until the sound of Raiguarde and Imunzo leaving the building could be heard before emerging from hiding, then Shadow went to the window and saw that they had in fact left and were heading across town. “I thank you for what you have done for me” Shadow said to the woman, then began to contemplate a night sleeping on the forest floor. “I shall be leaving you alone now” Shadow said while going to exit the door.
“Good luck on your journey” The young woman said sincerely.
“I thank you” said Shadow, closing the door. Shadow walked down the corridor and down the stairs, leading to the main floor. Not wanting to be spotted by anyone Shadow looked around for a back door. It took a search past several shelves of books but there was a back door, Shadow silently opened it and stepped outside. The growing night air was getting chilly, Shadow stood still momentarily and began to shiver. Shadow looked around, recalling all geographical knowledge at hand, mentally planning the journey to Hazajaro castle. The castle was a day and a half a way on foot, and with no-other means of transport Shadow decided that the journey would begin first thing tomorrow morning. It would be too dangerous to go into a tavern so Shadow was sure it would be best to find somewhere to camp out. Shadow began to head to the west, in the direction of the trees on the horizon. The streets of Haidar were barren, it had become a ghost town. Shadow remembered coming back into the tavern earlier on that day and the way in which everything had been burned. “Brimstone?” Shadow said, thinking out loud. The journey to the forest did not take much time, however the feeling of emptiness in the air made it seem longer. Shadow looked around for a second and then sat against a tree with a big trunk. Shadow‘s eyes gradually shut and Shadow then began to drift off to sleep. Shadow’s dreams that night were not as troubling as they usually were. Shadow had been granted a break from the mental torture that was the visions and sounds of the murder. Shadow would have felt good and ready for the day ahead normally but on this occasion Shadow could not. Shadow’s eyes opened to find Raiguarde and Imunzo looking back at them.

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.