Shadow felt different. A feeling Shadow had hardly felt before now seemed to be all over. Had Shadow known it more often, it might have been known as happiness. `Now there is only one thing left to do` thought Shadow, coming out of the forest and onto the winding road ahead. `Hazajaro will have another ghost by the end of tomorrow` Shadow thought. `Either that of my father’s killer...` Shadow’s mind for a moment refused to even think it `... or that of the Shadow of Death` Shadow eventually managed to admit. Shadow had grown tired of the endless slaughter and was to end the legend of the Shadow of Death forever. Regardless of whether the killer was at Hazajaro or not, Shadow would bury the mask and all the memories there, ending the pain. For the first time ever, the mask felt awkward on Shadow’s face. It had always felt like it belonged, like an extension of Shadow as a person, but now it felt different. `If Goreoth does arrive, there will be a certain blond haired warrior with the sword of Drakahor waiting for him` thought Shadow, almost nonchalantly. Hazajaro was not much further away now, Shadow would arrive there early tomorrow, providing there were no further delays. The afternoon sun was beginning to fade, Shadow would be glad to get rid of this day. The death of Raiguarde brought Shadow no satisfaction whatsoever, Shadow almost felt ashamed. Shadow sighed and continued along the path. Time would soon come to find somewhere to sleep, Shadow was keen to be more careful than the previous night which had seen Shadow wake to be confronted with Raiguarde and Imunzo. The air was cooling, gradually transforming itself to the icy breeze that would pass through the lands that night. Shadow saw a sight that then gave cause for serious alarm. There were four horsemen coming along the path that Shadow had failed to spot earlier. Shadow could not simply remove the mask, they were close and would easily see this act. Shadow sighed deeply and thought `stay calm, chances are even four horsemen would not want to fight with the Shadow of Death, they‘re probably just as worried about you as you are about them`. Shadow was wrong. The four horsemen stopped as they approached Shadow. The one in the middle dismounted his horse and approached Shadow, followed by the other three. The four then surrounded Shadow. “I am Calandria” came a voice from behind Shadow, a fifth person who had it appeared been following Shadow from behind. “of castle Luque and bloodline of the La Coruna” Calandria spoke with both a sense of calmness and smugness that made Shadow uneasy. “You are wanted for crimes against the king and the land of Legia. I am arresting you ...” Calandria was about to go on about how useless it would be to try and escape as the four guards surrounding him were that of the highest standard, but Shadow instead cut Calandria off by killing two of them with a dagger each to the stomach. Shadow dived to one side as Calandria and the two other guards drew swords. Calandria ran at Shadow eagerly, Shadow quick to parry away the outstretched blade of the young Calandria and throw the two bloodstained daggers at the two remaining guards. One fell to the floor, dagger embedded in his neck, dead. The other however just about managed to avoid the sharp death that the dagger brought with it and it few off over his head into the bushes. Shadow then leapt for the one remaining guard and tackled him to the floor, the guard’s head lay in between Shadow’s legs. One swift movement of Shadow’s legs and one snapping of a neck later and there only remained Shadow and Calandria. Shadow and Calandria both charged at each other and jousted each other away, Calandria managing to cut Shadow on the leg. “Must be getting slower in your old age” Calandria called as he noticed the incision on Shadow’s thigh. Shadow did not respond. Shadow was about to launch another offensive on Calandria but stopped. Looking around Shadow could see more horsemen arriving, in larger numbers this time. There were at least twenty circling Shadow and Calandria now and they were arriving in their numbers. Calandria, cheekily leapt for Shadow but did so clumsily and Shadow was easily able to parry away the blade. For good measure Shadow then landed a heavy right hook on Calandria, cutting him and causing him to fall to the ground. Shadow once more looked around at the horsemen, there must have been at least fifty and they were still arriving in a large number. The sun was beginning to set on Legia as Shadow stood surrounded and outnumbered countless times over, `Still` Shadow thought `I‘ve faced worse odds`. The horsemen continued to arrive in their masses and assemble themselves somewhat reluctantly around Shadow as Calandria dazedly got to his feet. The horses finished arriving in their droves and Shadow looked around at the final count of them. `Must be at least one, maybe two hundred` Shadow observed while looking all around. Some of the horses began to move once more and one more horseman came through the gap that was then created. Shadow watched as what must have been an officer rode through the gap beside Calandria and dismounted. He was easily the eldest of the group and Shadow could see that the troops looked at him with an awe and a deep respect. He had short brown hair and a stern look in his green eyes which commanded reverence from even the slightest gaze. He had a full rugged brown moustache and beard. The man was very bulky and stood tall over the men, even without his horse. Shadow figured the bulk would more likely be muscle than fat as he watched the man walk over to Calandria. Making no sound the man turned to Calandria and gave him a look of instant disapproval, then he turned his gaze to Shadow. The man stood out from the troops in every way. His black and gold chest plate outshone all their dowdy chest wear, he also had black and red trimmed shoulder pads, from which a red cape flowed beyond his black leggings to the ground. “I am Lord Enzaghe” the man finally spoke, and with an air of buoyancy about him. “I believe you have allready met Calandria” Enzaghe once again gave a look of displeasure to Calandria. “You are under ...” Enzaghe’s voice slowed then ceased as some commotion was heard to the left of him. Shadow turned to see what was going on, several horses lay dead on the floor with their riders fleeing. “What is the meaning of this ?” Enzaghe ordered, he then looked at Shadow once more. “Is this your work” Enzaghe said to Shadow. Before Shadow gave an answer Enzaghe began to walk forward toward Shadow, then got in Shadow’s face. “If I were to kill anyone, I would not kill the guards when their leader stands before me” Shadow said coolly, Enzaghe then turned away from Shadow. Shadow was deeply confused and concerned as Enzaghe walked back to where he once stood, now Calandria had disappeared. Enzaghe went to speak once more when Calandria burst through the fence of horsemen to Enzaghe. Calandria was clearly distraught with a blood running down his cheek, he was not wounded but clearly anxious. Calandria whispered something into the ear of Enzaghe, who seemed slightly irate at what he heard, he then quickly regained his natural coolness. “It seems there is a queue for those wanting to deal with you Shadow, we will wait our turn, I will be watching what goes on with much interest” said Enzaghe as he got back onto his horse. Enzaghe stopped to give Shadow a look which made Shadow jump back slightly, then gave the order for the horsemen to back off. Shadow was incredibly confused while watching the horsemen charge up the hill and disappearing over it, led by Enzaghe. “There is something we need to discuss, but if you give me the wrong answers you will wish I'd left you with Enzaghe” came a familiar voice just as the last of the horsemen disappeared over the hill.
“You want me? come get me” said Shadow, refusing to turn around. A purple blur flashed before Shadow’s eyes and then Shadow saw who it was that had got Enzaghe to back off. Imunzo, the samurai, who had a look in his eyes that suggested only one thing, vengeance.
`Winter has arrived` the once grand wizard found himself in a state of depression. `There’s only one thing to look forward to now, death`. Schard sighed and headed deeper into the cave that had become his temporary hiding place. Schard tried to summon a ball of light and use it to illuminate the darkness that was all around him, but he then remembered that he couldn't. “First I get beaten by a child, now this” Schard longed for the days of Gyraicus. Schard couldn’t remember why he was so desperate to go to the castle and uncover the remains of Lijitman. He had until recently merely been interested in him as a historical figure, the merit in finding such a piece of Legia’s history would be reward enough, he had previously thought. All he knew was that he became power hungry and obsessed with getting more and more power, somewhat against his will. `I have enough skills to put me ahead of some of the best of men, why did I crave more?` thought Schard to himself. Something inside him altered and he became different, he now regretted ever wanting to find the books of Lijitman. “Something on your mind?” came a voice that Schard had begun to associate with pain, Kaiazal’s.
“N-No, I was just wondering why my powers have gone” Schard said anxiously.
“Liar. You regret joining with us. I give you powers beyond your wildest imagination and this is how you repay us. Not only do you let the boy get away with the book, you bite the hand that feeds you, you turn your back on us, well its not that simple wizard” Kaiazal’s voice rose and grew angry as he spoke “I took your powers” he then hissed.
“You!” Schard’s fear turned to anger, had his powers been intact he would have obliterated Kaiazal at that moment.
“As punishment for letting the boy escape. Time is drawing closer and closer for the return and when it is time I want everything covered, because of you they have a chance” Kaiazal spoke as if he regarded Schard with disgust. “I‘ll get the book back, but I cannot do it with no powers” Schard pleaded.
“You‘ll have to” Kaiazal said with an evil smile.
“You cannot be serious” Schard was beginning to get angry “restore my powers or I will destroy you”
“You threaten me? my, you are brave” Kaiazal mocked.
“I know things, things that Valandt would be intrigued to know, things that could bring your downfall, I know how to beat you” said Schard, blackmailing Kaiazal.
“He does not trust you wizard, you must learn that you turned your back on humankind a long time ago, you know I am right. You cannot turn back, you feel it in your heart don’t you, you feel the evil, the lust for blood, the need for death and destruction. Betrayal, fury, devastation all these burn inside you and you cannot stop the fire, you cannot go back to Valandt now” Kaiazal spoke with contempt for Schard now. “And another thing” he continued “We will remain victorious whether you are on our side or not. I care not for your well being or your health. I despise you Schard, the easily corruptible are among the lowest forms on this land and you are one of them Schard. You have no allies now wizard, that decision was made for you a long time ago. It is better to live powerful among those who dislike you than to live every day in fear for your life among those who despise you” Kaiazal’s words cut through Schard like the sharpest of blades. “You have your part to play in this Schard, and you know for whose side your heart beats. I want that book Schard, and soon” and with those words, Kaiazal disappeared back into the nothingness from which he had come from. Schard sighed deeply and headed for the exit of the cave. Upon leaving the cave Schard looked into the distance and could see Legia castle. Schard then began to contemplate how he was going to get into the castle without the use of his powers. A broad smile appeared across Schard’s weary face as a plan began to form.
Valandt stood on his balcony, overlooking his kingdom. “Have I turned into so much of a wretch that I would kill one of my own men through boredom?” Valandt asked himself, still troubled by his earlier attempt to end the life of one of his guards at the merest of impulses. He sighed, contemplating his transformation to that of a vile man. “Why? Is it that I am an evil man at heart? I cannot be, yet I feel it so. That feeling, at the pit of my stomach, it summons me to do things, things which I refuse to do so with all my might.” He paused and sighed again. “And yet I feel compelled to do these things, as if I were being commanded by a higher force”. Valandt looked to the heavens and momentarily felt a tear forming. He soon forced it away. The afternoon sky was fading; a blanket of darkness was slowly replacing the fire of the heavens that was the afternoon. The sun was beginning to set now, over what had been a day for Valandt to forget. “Empowering, isn’t it?” a voice from behind Valandt made him jump and face the figure that now stood in his bedroom, appearing like so many times before out of nothing. “Kaiazal” Valandt said, with clear disgust in his voice “I was under the impression that you were to leave me alone”. Valandt made his way from the balcony and walked past Kaiazal as if he were not there. “I have been following your progress young king” Kaiazal began.
“Yes, and?” Valandt said, wanting to waste no time at all.
“You are coming along very well,” said Kaiazal, beginning to trap Valandt in a web of intrigue.
“If you’re here to waste my time again, I suggest you try one of the other realm kings. I am not in the mood,” Valandt said, walking past Kaiazal once more without giving him so much as a look of acknowledgement.
“I believe we had an arrangement, my regal friend. Something about your father being returned to you, or are you worried he may retake your newly acquainted power?” accused Kaiazal, smugly.
“You know I want my father back here more than anything” said Valandt, making eye contact with Kaiazal for the first time now. Valandt continued to stare deep and coldly into Kaiazal’s small black pupils. “Maybe you would care to prove it” Kaiazal said smoothly
“I believe we had a deal, a life for a life” Valandt said, somewhat reluctantly.
“Maybe one life is not enough, but it shall suffice” Kaiazal smirked as he spoke. Valandt strode over to the black axe and momentarily contemplated picking it up and attacking Kaiazal with it but instead Valandt sighed, thinking it hopeless. “Go on” urged Kaiazal “pick the axe up and see for yourself”. Valandt reluctantly put one hand on the axe and lifted it off the ground, then held it in front of him with both. “You can feel the urge can‘t you. The need to kill. That's who you are. Some are born with the thirst for blood, yours is greater than most others” Kaiazal got closer to Valandt, whispering in his ear. Valandt began to sweat as he held the axe in front of him, he could feel the rage building inside him. He began to think of Shadow and the rage grew, as he looked over to Kaiazal it peaked. Valandt let out a cry and swung the axe, bringing it down where Kaiazal stood, unharmed. Valandt dropped the axe and curled himself up on the floor, then began to cry. “See?” Kaiazal stood over Valandt triumphant. “I told you that you could not resist it. I must say an intense thirst for blood is always something I always liked in a king. You have allready lost Valandt” Kaiazal said, walking away from Valandt now. Valandt stopped crying suddenly and got to his feet. Kaiazal turned around and was mildly shocked to see Valandt standing so soon. “Maybe you‘re right. Perhaps I am too weak to defeat Goreoth. My father isn't”. Kaiazal’s curiosity grew at Valandt's words. “A life for a life” said Valandt, contemplating “I will slaughter one of those in the dungeon then” Valandt said, to which Kaiazal shook his head.
“No, no, that's not how it works at all” Kaiazal said effortlessly. “I get to name the one for you to kill”.
“and?” Valandt swallowed hard, waiting for whatever would await him.
“The one I wish for you to kill is” then there was a long pause, in which Kaiazal began to laugh, he then disappeared into nothing. Kaiazal’s voice then returned in Valandt’s head and gave him a name. “Schard” said Kaiazal’s voice. “Kill Schard and you shall have Gyraicus back”.