True Realm: Episode 5

'Are you going to tell me what we are dragging this stinking carcass for? The stench is making me feel dizzy!' Nelevin said, trying in vain to waft the foul odour of the giant's corpse from his nostrils. He glanced at Rizdok, but he looked preoccupied with his thoughts.
The mountains had faded, and instead there where empty and broken buildings surrounding them. Nelevin had never been this far away from home, had never seen anything outside the forest borders. The buildings were far different from the ones he had seen in Hondale; for starters they were taller and broader, and showed an amazing attention to detail. Each corner, archway and fascia was crafted and sculpted with great skill, adorning the already beautiful and grand buildings. It was unnerving that such magnificence appeared to be deserted, without any sign of struggle or panic. There was definitely an eerie air to the place, as if the town itself was watching them walk through the streets.

'I will show you the path to take. I will lead you from the sins of this world!'
High Priest Guadelin spoke with authority, in the otherwise silent chamber. His congregation sat facing him, spellbound and silent, all conformed to his ways. They were giants which is, at first, very intimidating. Especially for a man of the cloth with no combat experience or training, but his experience in delivering the word of God to the masses had him prepared for the chance encounter with these colossal creatures.
There was a different side to giants. They had a terrible reputation for angry, violent attacks on people, crushing their bones to powder and eating their victims while they screamed in pain. Of course, it was all true; they ate people. But that wasn't the extent of their diet, and they didn't go out in search of a tasty human morsel. They only ate people when they felt provoked, threatened, or there just wasn't anything else to eat. Most giants tended to stay away from eating humans because they thought they were 'too fatty, taste like rubber'.
Now, they were his flock. He felt that they were his family, and it was his responsibility to look after them, to make sure they lived by God's rule. They lived at Allchun in relative peace, after they had persuaded the townfolk to move on. It hadn't taken much - an army of giants marching through the streets was enough to see most of the inhabitants flee, and the stubborn few that did stay and fight made a good meal for the family.
Allchun was far from civilisation now, the nearest neighbours in Hondale had to travel through the treacherous Hell's Valley pass, between the mountains of Alldorn. Not only was the path unsafe, but it was home to many predators and bandits. Nobody came through that way, not these days, and that was fine with Guadelin. He wanted the family to live in peace, but there were others who had other ideas. He had been labelled as a crazy heretic, and had a price on his head as a result. Several groups of mercenaries had tried to stop him, all of them failing to overcome the might of the giants. He wasn't sure who was financing these attacks, but they had stopped with the last visit from the Rufa assassins. The Rufas were not particularly competent as killers, but they were cheap and would not give up at all; they could only be persuaded to stop by their own deaths. This hadn't been a problem at all for the giants, they had overcome the assassins before any weapons were drawn. It was almost a month since, and they had been living happily without intrusion.

'Sshhh! Do you hear that?' Nelevin whispered.
They both stopped. A gentle breeze caught some dead leaves, and they danced around the pair as if connected by string.
'Hear what? Now's not the time Nel, there could be more giants around the corner and I don't fancy getting eaten today.'
'Just listen. I can hear voices, muffled voices.'
They stood in silence again. The faintest sound of murmuring floated across the wind.
'There! Did you hear that?' Nelevin's voice was barely audible as he mouthed the words to Rizdok.
Rizdok nodded and pointed towards the great structure in the middle of the town, only a half-mile ahead of them.
They headed down a side alley, dragging the giant corpse with them. Nelevin wasn't sure what would happen next, and had a feeling that Rizdok felt the same.
'Are you going to let me in on this plan of yours?'
Rizdok stared at him for a moment, then said, 'The giants are protecting Guadelin. He has their trust, which must have been difficult. Giants don't like humans, so he had his work cut out. I'm guessing that he is going to use them for some sort of gain, but I haven't worked that bit out yet. Anyway, the plan is to turn the giants against him - let them do our job for us, and we don't have to get our hands dirty.'
'My hands are already filthy with this bugger's blood and guts! And you haven't really explained the plan - how are we turning them against the one who has befriended them?'
'I haven't worked that bit out yet either.'
Nelevin looked at the cadaver. Where did it fit into this detailed plan?
'Don't worry Nel, he is going to be useful. One thing I know about giants: they hate to see their own kind killed. They will want revenge, and they will stop at nothing until they get it. It will send them into a blood lusting frenzy, and anything that gets in their way will be crushed.'
Nelevin looked up, straight into the eyes of his partner. He saw conviction, unwavering belief in what he had just said.
'Is that supposed to put my mind at ease? A herd of giants rampaging after us?'
Rizdok rolled his eyes and sighed. 'No, not us Nel. We make it look like Guadelin killed him.'

True Realm: Episode 4

The sound was deafening, cutting through his eardrums like a rusty saw. Bloody giants, just my luck he thought to himself, and glanced at Nelevin. Fear had gripped him, he just stood and stared at the lumbering oafs as they cried out that awful noise.
'Nel, quick! Follow me!'
Nelevin remained where he was, as if he was becoming the rock that had surrounded them through the pass.
Rizdok let out a short growl and sped over to the immobile archer. Getting a good hold on the back of his collar, he yanked him back into reality, and Nelevin's legs suddenly started to operate, carrying him away from the path of the giants. They both ducked down into a hollow created by a cluster of rocks and boulders. Rizdok held a finger to his pursed lips, indicating Nelevin to keep quiet. They kept each other's eye contact, Nelevin held his breath. Rizdok could feel his pulse thumping in his ears, and wondered whether the giants could hear it too.
'I can smells ya,' one giant sang in excitement as he carefully stepped around the rocky path. His face was bulging and red, as if covered with sores. He had no hair on his scalp, but deep scars ran from his forehead to his nape in parallel. Two brownish-yellow tusks protruded from the corners of his mouth, sticking straight up in front of his cheeks, and long strings of saliva hung from his bottom lip where the tusks began.
Rancid.
'Yum yum, Dummo. Me gonna get a tasty bellyful today!' the giant blurted at the other, who was just coming into view.
'We share, one for you and one for me. He say we share, you have to share if He say it, Dawk.' The second giant had a much lower voice that rumbled inside Rizdok's head.
Nelevin looked at him and mouthed what now?
Rizdok didn't really know what to do, and had been trying to work out how they were going to get passed these repugnant beasts. His magik was not going to work against both of them, and he would be too tired to defend himself if it went wrong. Things were not looking very good.
'Use the magik you killed the sorcerer with!' Nelevin whispered.
'No good. That was void magik. It just reverses the defensive energy he was using. These brutes haven't got any energy to reverse, just stupidity.'
Their conversation was interrupted by the roar of one of the giants.
'Come out and play, manlings!'
The giants were stalking around, sniffing the air around the rocks and boulders. Both were making a growling noise, and Rizdok wasn't sure whether it was from their throats or their bellies. He reached for the hilt of his shortsword and caught a glance of movement next to him. Nelevin was loading his bow, and stepping forward from their hiding place.
'There a manling, Dawk!' The rocks around them shook with the force of the giant's bellow. Both behemoths were licking their lips, their eyes wide as they took in their prey. Nelevin fired off an arrow towards them.
'Ow. What that?' said the red-faced giant, pulling the arrow that had lodged itself in his lip.
'The manling give you toothpick, he kind. Bit early for tooth-picking Dawk, we crush their bones first!'
Nelevin turned and stared at Rizdok with panic in his eyes. Rizdok had a sudden thought, a plan that might just work. Well, if it didn't they wouldn't be any worse off than they already were.
'Nel, come here! Give me one of your arrows!'
Nelevin turned and flung an arrow at him. He stared, raising an eyebrow, as Rizdok drew a small amount of greenish powder from his satchel.
'I hope this works. There is a first time for everything, right?' Rizdok said, then chanted an ancient incant and sprinkled the powder over the tip of the arrow. As it hit the point, it hissed and fizzled and smoke rose in a delicate plume.
'I would hurry and fire that, Nel. It's got some explosive properties now!' Rizdok said, tossing the arrow back at his friend.
The ground started to shake with the booming steps of the red-faced giant as he lumbered towards the pair. His face was contorted with rage, his eyes bulging from their sockets. Nelevin loaded the arrow onto his bow, pulled the string to his cheek, and held his breath. Rizdok watched in anticipation as Nelevin let the arrow fly. Time seemed to slow, and Rizdok could see the path that the arrow made as it cut through the air, leaving a trail of smoke in its wake. The point pierced the giant's left eye and stuck fast, protruding from its skull.
'My eye!' the giant screamed, grabbing at his bleeding face and staggering around like a drunk.
'Rizdok, it hasn't worked!' Nelevin blurted, diving back into the hollow. As he landed and rolled, there was a loud popping sound, followed by an earth-shaking thud. Rizdok glanced out and grinned.
'Pass me another arrow Nel, that worked perfectly. I think you might have upset the other one though, so you better send him to meet his buddy, and do it quickly!'
Rizdok performed the same chant as before, sprinkling the powder on the arrow tip and throwing it back to the archer. Nelevin looked up to see the other giant inspecting the fallen corpse of his friend, and took the opportunity to send the arrow straight into the beast's chest. It stuck for a moment, but the giant flicked it away before it could explode inside him.
'Nice try manling, now I eat your friend and you watch. Then I eat you!'
'Do it again!' Nelevin shouted, throwing a quiver of arrows at Rizdok. 'Do it quickly!'
Rizdok started his chanting, and sprinkled the powder over all of the arrows. Nelevin leapt onto a nearby rock, steadied himself and called down to Rizdok.
'I need one of those arrows! Now, Rizdok, he's coming!'
Rizdok tossed the quiver up, it hissing like an angry snake.
'Send the lot Nel, we're gonna need 'em to topple this bugger!'
Nelevin fired each off at the approaching giant, watching as he swatted them away like buzzing flies. Faster and faster he sent the arrows, his hands a blur as they loaded and released his bow. Three arrows had stuck in the beast, and he wailed in pain as they erupted from his flesh in a blaze of red fire.
'My turn,' said Rizdok, 'I'll bring him down.'
Rizdok ran at the giant and drew his sword, chanting as he moved. He stopped just short of the beast, sprinkled the handful of powder he had been carrying over his sword, and launched it at the giant's head. It span through the air, smoke fizzing in a wave behind it, until it buried itself in the screaming giant's gaping maw. A few seconds later, the area was bathed in red light as the giant's head exploded, showering the two warriors in blood.
'Lots of blood, not much brain.' Rizdok remarked, collecting his sword from the charred body that lay before him.
'Is that still in one piece?'
'Of course it is. This was crafted by the greatest smith that ever lived! This sword will still be around when the world is done, and it will still be razor sharp.'
'Well, it's the first giant I have killed,' Nelevin said, poking at the body that had belonged to the red-faced giant.
'It almost certainly won't be the last, my friend. Not by a long way. But for now, we need to find the priest, and I have a feeling that these boys were his bodyguards, so he must be nearby.'
'Aren't we supposed to make this look like someone else? How are we going to do that?'
'I've already thought about that Nel. Help me drag this giant's body and I'll fill you in.'

What happens next? Find out in episode 5 next Friday!

True Realm: Episode 3

‘Rizdok.’ Nelevin nudged his companion who lay on his back, sprawled across the table. ‘Rizdok, wake up!’

‘Leave me.’ He grunted.

‘Get up you drunk! You really should have stopped at the ninth ale you know.’

Rizdok yawned, rubbed his eyes, and slowly rose to the melody of his cracking spine. He stared at Nelevin with vacant bloodshot eyes, and shrugged. ‘I did stop. I only had nine flagons, then I took your advice. I remember it well; you nagged like an old hen until I gave in and stopped drinking ale.’

‘Yes. Then you started on the spirits. I can’t recall how many glasses of poteen you threw back, but I remember when you passed out on that table. I thought I would leave you to sleep it off, seeing as everyone else had started to leave.’

Rizdok swung his legs around and jumped down from the table. Nelevin was impressed at the relative ease Rizdok had dismounted, without even a stumble.

‘Yes, a good night I think. Today is a good day, maybe we will find Guadelin.’

Nelevin looked quizzically at Rizdok. ‘Is that it? You drink enough booze to sterilize a small village, and you can just sleep it off?! Now you want to run off and find death with an angry preacher?!’

‘Yeah, that’s about the size of it. What you standing around for? Let’s go!’

Peaks of grey rock loomed either side of them as they walked. They were in a pass between the mountains of Alldorn, barren rocky behemoths scratching the sky North of their homeland, Hondale. Nelevin had not seen any forms of life for miles, other than some small cacti clumped together around splits in the path, and some insects that moved too fast to appear as much more than just a blur.

‘Is Allchun really this way?’

‘I keep telling you: yes. It’s just passed the next cairn.’

Nelevin let out a sigh. This would be the fourth cairn they would pass since Rizdok first said that. He shouldn’t mind, but he was tired and had no idea what to expect when they finally reached their destination. A priest? They were after a priest? Life had taken a dip in morality, he decided, if he was to kill a holy man. He changed the subject to take his mind off it.

‘How did you learn magik? That’s what you used, against that sorcerer, isn’t it?’

Rizdok grinned. ‘Yep, that was magik alright. I’m no mage though, I just picked up a few things from an old wizard that came to The Guild. He was a strange sort, always muttering to himself and collecting strange plants for no obvious reason. Still, he taught me to incant a few spells and how to channel the energy from my mind and use it.’
'Is it difficult?'
'Yes and no. The difficult bit is learning how to master the energy. Once you have got that worked out, it is easy to do. It takes it out of you though - like sprinting up a hill. That's why I don't use it much, I don't want to waste all my energy and have nothing left to finish them off.'
Nelevin thought about how he had always wanted to learn magic, to become a powerful sorcerer and use it for good. Magic had always been a rich man's pursuit, and he was in no way rich.
'Look,' Rizdok said, pointing ahead of them, 'I told you it was here. Behold: Allchurn!'
Nelevin's gaze followed the direction of his companion's finger, and saw a large gathering of what he thought were ruins. In the centre stood a tall monument, like a giant needle made of white stone, surrounded by small brown buildings.
'That's Allchun?! It looks like a ghost town!' he exclaimed. Maybe they were too far away, and it was just an illusion from high up in the mountains.
They continued down the path, walking away from the jagged rocks and encountering grass and other small signs of life. The wind whistled in Nelevin's ears as they picked up their pace; the path was dropping off and the steepness was sending them down the mountain with gathering speed. He almost lost his footing as his legs frantically pumped beneath him, struggling to keep up with the world rushing by underneath his feet. Before he started to tumble, the ground levelled out again and he managed to come to a stop.
'Finally,' he panted, 'I thought I was going to travel to Allchun in a ball of broken limbs!'
'Yeah, I was almost eating dirt and rock then too!'
They were both bent double, taking deep gulps of air. Rizdok flopped onto the ground, stretching out with his hands behind his head.
'Well, aren't we a pair of fine warriors! Almost defeated by a downhill slope!' Rizdok said, breaking into laughter.
'Nature is definitely the most dangerous opponent we have.' Nelevin said, having caught his breath.
The jovial mood evaporated as the air was filled with a horrific screeching noise. Nelevin rushed to a nearby boulder and peered over it, towards the origin of the sound.
'Rizdok!' he screamed in a whisper, 'I think we might have company!'
Rizdok leapt to his feet and scuttled over to the boulder. Nelevin was right: there were two giants heading their way, bellowing cries as they came. They looked as if they had been sculpted from the rock of the mountains, and that they could crush the pair of them at their will. Judging by the looks on their faces, that is exactly what they planned to do.

Find out what happens next in episode 4!

True Realm: Episode 2

'You killed the sorcerer?' enquired the Guild Master. He was average height, but quite portly. He seemed to be in a good mood today which was unusual, but not unwelcome.
'Yes, him and his Gromellek servant. They weren't easy to put down, not at first. If it weren't for Nelevin here, they would have summoned more spirits.'
'So you couldn't have done it without him, eh? The mighty Rizdok does need help after all!'
Rizdok looked flustered, and a quick glance at Nelevin told him his new friend was enjoying watching him squirm. He scowled at the Guild Master, and spoke through gritted teeth.
'I would have put them both down on my own, make no mistake. I just wouldn't have been able to do it as swiftly, that's all.'
'It's alright, Rizdok. I understand what you are saying. It's good that you have found a partner, just in time. I don't want to hear about any more missed targets. Now your next target is a bit of a tricky one: Guadelin, the High Priest at Allchun has made himself some very powerful enemies with his recent 'aggresive sermons', and needs to be taken care of. This is a high priority mission, and pays double the rate of your last job. But you must not be seen, nobody can know the attack has come from a rival. If you can make it look like suicide that would be better, otherwise you will need to make it look like somebody else, someone unconnected.'
'Is that it?' Nelevin interrupted, 'I mean, did I pass a test or something? Am I now a member of some highly secret organisation?'
'Ha ha!' the Guild Master boomed, slapping Nelevin on the back. 'I like your spirit, young lad. Yes, I suppose you did pass the test! Old grouch-bags there has been making a few mistakes recently, most likely due to his stubborn lone-wolf mentality. The council decided that he had to find a partner, or he would be expelled. If he has picked you, Nelevin, then you have passed his test, and ours.'
Rizdok caught the stare from Nelevin and shrugged, grinning. 'If I had told you everything, you wouldn't have come. Good job you did, too!'
'And now you want me to continue risking my life with you?' Nelevin did not show any of the humour that Rizdok did in his face. He felt like he should be furious, that he was deceived into playing a part in this surreal experiment, but he didn't. He wasn't happy about it, not really, but he did feel like he belonged here.
'What else is there? I watched you for weeks, saw your skill with the bow when you were hunting, and how you made your own weapons. If you don't join me, you will be back to the struggle, back to poaching and stealing. It is your choice.'
Rizdok knew he didn't really have a choice, but still found himself silently hoping that the new addition to his one-man army would actually stick around. For too long he had wallowed in solitary self pity, trying to drown his anger and guilt in the blood of others. The council had offered him a chance to change, turn over a new leaf and he didn't want to miss the opportunity.
'At least I am going into this with my eyes open.' Nelevin said.
'Good! Now that we are all friends, let's get on with business. Larah has details on your target, and you can see her about the bounty for your last job too. Now go and enjoy yourselves, the tavern is open!' The Guild Master dismissed them both with a wave, and sat back in his chair.

'Do you mind explaining a few things to me?' Nelevin asked, after they had collected their pay from Larah.
'Sure, shoot.'
'Well, firstly I have to ask exactly what is this place? And what are we, assassins or something?'
'This is The Guild. It has been here for centuries, helping those that need help - if they can pay, that is. We aren't assassins, but sometimes that's what we do. We are more like heroes! We get tasks and we complete them, and that's what we get paid for. The jobs we do, like the one in the forest, come from people who go to the Guild for help. Maybe it's a farmer who is having some pest problems, and needs someone to get rid of them. Or maybe there is an army of death mages that has to be destroyed. Whatever the problem, The Guild will offer to sort it out.'
Nelevin thought about it for a moment, then looked at Rizdok with more questions in his eyes.
'Why did you pick me? How long have you worked for them? What if we fail?'
'Alright, one at a time! I picked you because I had seen you around with your bow and it got me interested. I followed you for a long time, just watching what you did. I got to tell you, I was impressed! I saw that you had something that the others didn't have, strength of character, or something. I don't know really, I just felt drawn to you.'
'That sounds creepy!'
'Shut up! You know what I mean! Anyway, when I left you the note to meet me, it was because I thought we could help each other. I was right, so-'
'Yes, I am grateful for your help. What happens if we fail?'
'Ah yes, that. It all depends on the job. I mean, if it was like last night, most likely we would be dead. If it's a smaller job, one where death isn't likely, or if we were to just run away like cowards, well the Guild Master would decide. We might end up dead anyway, depends what mood you get him in.'
It was obvious from the look of horror on Nelevin's face that he wasn't expecting to consider the prospect of dying. This was all new to him though, unlike Rizdok who had pretty much grown up working for The Guild.
'It won't happen, not while you are with me.' Rizdok said, slapping a hand on his partner's shoulder.
'Death? Or Failure?'
'Both! They mean the same thing to me. Come on, let's get a drink at the tavern and forget all this talk about failing!'
Rizdok marched into the tavern, followed by a sheepish looking Nelevin. Neither of them were aware of the dangers they were about to face.



Don't miss next week's episode!

True Realm: Episode 1

To give myself a bit of a challenge, I decided to start an episodic story. I'm not really sure which direction it is going to take, I haven't mapped out who or what is going to appear in it, or whether it will follow a similar structure each week. I'm just going to see how it goes, and hopefully I will have a new episode every Friday! Here is the first (of many)...

Crickets played their cheeping song, and moonlight filtered through the branches of the towering trees. The forest was still, which filled Nelevin with worry. He crouched behind an old rotting tree stump, his haunches starting to burn from holding the position. Slowly, he adjusted his posture without making a sound. An ice cold sensation swam through his legs and the burning faded. He eyed the clearing just ahead of him, but only bare patches of earth and moss-covered rocks looked back. Was this a trap? He had felt a shudder of doubt when he had arranged to meet with his mysterious aide. He held his breath as his ears picked up a murmuring from beyond the clearing. Voices. Coming closer. He strained to see who approached.
'Yes, here we are. Perfect. Well done Wormskall.'
'Thank you, Master. Wormskall knows it would be to Master's liking.'
Two figures shuffled into the clearing, and Nelevin could clearly see the difference between the two. 'Master' was a tall man, garbed in black with a long cloak and cowl casting a shadow over his face. Only the tip of his long, bony nose was visible, lit by the moonlight to give an eerie corpse-like hue. In his hand he held a dark wooden staff, misshapen and worn. He gestured to Wormskall with his free hand, who scuttled in front of him and unstrapped the leather sack he had been carrying.
'Yes, Master is happy with Wormskall. Wormskall is good.' Wormskall muttered to himself as he removed the items from the pack with anxious haste. He was the size of a child but moved around with a strange fluidity, as if he was made of mercury. His limbs were short but powerful and allowed him to lift the heavy looking rock-like objects without any strain, and placed them on the ground in what appeared to be a formation or order. Once they were set in place, he picked up a fallen branch and traced straight lines in the dirt between each of the large stones, and his Master stepped into the middle of the arrangement, where the lines intersected.
'I didn't think you would show up.' whispered a voice from behind Nelevin. He glanced around, eyes wide with surprise. 'Glad you did though, this is going to be pretty tough.'
Rizdok did not look the way Nelevin expected him to. He had built up an image of a behemoth of a man, muscular and dark, hate written across his features. Instead here was a slight, fair man, perhaps still a boy. His clothes were dark and thin, covering him but not giving any protection. He carried a small sword at his waist, and a sack made of coarse fabric was slung over his shoulder. He grinned at Nelevin, meeting his quizzical glare.
'Not what you expected? I get that a lot.'
Nelevin felt his face redden. He hadn't meant to show his shock, and looked away in shame. 'You took me by surprise, that is all.' He watched as the odd pair in the clearing performed some sort of ritual with the stones.
'These are the ones responsible for the Elder's deaths. They are using dark magic to bring spirits from the Otherworld to use as assassins. If we take their heads, it will get us a lot of coin. Are you ready Nelevin?'
'Yes, I was born ready. What is the plan?'
'You take the sorcerer and I will take his bodyguard.'
'Bodyguard?! He is three foot tall! And I get the one summoning spirits to do his bidding?! I don't think this partnership is going to last long Rizdok.'
'He is a Gromellek, Nelevin. Have you never come across one? Ha, you are in for a surprise! Anyway, I am going to go around the edge of the clearing. When you see me ready, put an arrow in the sorcerer and I will take the Gromellek.'
Rizdok crept around the edge of the clearing, always staying in the shadows and not making the slightest sound. Nelevin took an arrow from the quiver on his back and set it against the string of his bow, so that it was resting on the knuckle of his left hand where he gripped the shaft. Both men were ready.
'Master! Wormskall smells bad meat! Bad meat!' said the Gromellek with his nose in the air, sniffing. That was all Nelevin needed, and he sprang from behind the tree stump. While airborne he released the taught string on his bow, and sent the arrow directly at the cowled head of the sorcerer. As he watched the arrow near its target, the sorcerer raised his hand to meet it. Blue flames danced across his palm, and the arrow disappeared into the fire as if it was a portal to another land. Nelevin's face dropped, and the sorcerer pulled back his cowl and looked directly at him. His face was gaunt, his eye sockets set deep into his skull. His lips hardly covered his teeth, which looked as though there were too many to fit in his mouth. His skin looked grey, with darkness around his eyes like pools of ink. He did not look afraid at all, or even surprised.

Nelevin felt his skin shiver as the sorcerer spoke. Without blinking he fired off three more arrows, each one met the same fate as the first.
'Not too bright, are you?' the sorcerer asked, as he moved his staff with both hands. Orange sparks spat from the end of it, and a ball of light formed with a low moaning noise. Nelevin dived back behind the tree stump just before the ball of fiery energy shot passed him. What next? he thought.
He peered over the lip of the stump and saw Rizdok charging towards Wormskall. Nelevin could not believe his eyes. Wormskall seemed to be scratching at his skin, tearing the clothes from his back. He let out a mighty roar, and fell to the floor. His entire body looked as though it was vibrating, his skin turning redder and redder. Nelevin thought he heard a ripping sound, and watched as the muscle and sinew tore and grew across Wormskall's body. Finally, he stood stretching his limbs, his joints cracking and crunching. He was now at least three times taller, arms as thick as a normal man's chest and a grotesque bulging head dripping with glistening fluid. A clawed hand shot out and grabbed the onrushing Rizdok by the throat, stopping him in his tracks. The short sword he was wielding flailed around, cutting in to the flesh around the beast's wrist. Wormskall bellowed in pain, and threw his assailant sending him smashing into a dead tree next to Nelevin. He lay unmoving for moments, before moaning and turning onto his back. He managed to croak at Nelevin.
'Throat. You have to cut his throat.'
'How am I supposed to do that? Maybe when he was three foot tall, but now I can't even reach his throat!'
Interrupted by another war-cry, Nelevin pulled 2 arrows from a quiver strapped to his right leg, aimed and released sending both arrows at the beast. They struck him in the chest, stopping his roar and causing him to look down at the thin splinters standing out from his flesh. A swollen hand lifted and tried to pull them out, but he could not get a purchase on them. Frustrated, he roared to the sky, both hands raised towards the heavens. Nelevin didn't hesitate in sending every arrow he had at the beast, each one puncturing his throat and lodging there.
'Master?' Wormskall croaked, gurgling with the blackened blood that spilled from his lips. He stood where he was, looking at his master, pleading visible in his bloodshot eyes. 'Master?'
The beast toppled with an earth-shaking thud, dead. Rizdok was already up and moving past Nelevin. He reached into his sack and pulled out three silver blades, each the length of writing quill. Rizdok shouted in a tongue Nelevin did not recognise, and threw one of the blades. He span, throwing the second and then the third. The wake of each blade seemed to shimmer and distort, and Nelevin swore that they started to glow as they span through the air.
'Fool,' the sorcerer said, raising his hand to stop the projectiles.Blue flames engulfed his palm again, but as the silver daggers touched the flames, and bright green spark lit the clearing. The sorcerer howled in pain.
'I'm no fool, conjurer. My knives are made with blessed metals - designed to ignore your devilment. Stings, doesn't it?'
The sorcerer panted, holding his bloodied hand to is chest. The knives were sticking out of his hand, forearm and shoulder. His face was contorted with the pain he felt.
'That pain you are feeling, that will be spreading through your body right now. Your blood will be on fire. It might look like a flesh wound, but the magiks surrounding those blades is a deadly poison. One that not even a filthy dark sorcerer like you can cure.' Rizdok raised his sword, smiled, and swung the blade through the sorcerer's neck.
'Is that it?' Nelevin asked.
'Yes, that's it. I thought they would put up more of a fight, bit of a shame really. Still, money's money, and this will pay richly back at the guild. There's more like it if you are interested - I think we make a pretty good team!'

Okay, that's your lot for this week! Remember to check back next week for episode 2!