I posted this on the wizard site, enjoy...
Thane moved quickly down the corridor, as arrows sang past him. He dared not look as his pursuers readied more arrows. Thane, Sword Saint of the nine tailed fox hooked the precious cargo to his chest. He knew that the child would not utter a word; due to the potion he had force the child to take. The babe, no older than two summers, slept soundly even though death licked at their heels.
Thane saw a bend, and headed for it, lightening fast as his training had prepared him for. The enemy was behind him moving rapidly, he could hear the sliding of blades coming forth from their sheaths.
They were looking for blood.
If so Thane was ready.
His hand felt the leather wrappings of his sword handle, and the katana slid from it sheath, as did the wakasashi. The first head came into the view, as an armored warrior stepped behind the wall.
Thane exploded into the action, the wakasashi ripped into the man's gut easily, and the mighty katana brought him down to his knees. Blood exploded into the air, but Thane was gone.
He slung the child of house Levandrial over his shoulder, as the next man came through as his companion fell to the ground in pool of red. Thane wished he could laugh at the scenario. The zealots of the Black Edge were persistent, but then again they were known for their insane ways. The second man came at Thane with his blade leveled.
Thane sidestepped and smashed the man with a wind kick; teeth tore from the man's jaw, then with a solid slice the sword ripped through the man's head hitting skull and shattering it. Thane had no time as a third came in charging. He bellowed something, yet the only thing that came from his mouth was a gurgling noise and Thane came up and x-crossed the man neck, with a flick of his wrist. Both katana and wakasashi made quick work of the foe.
Thane had always hated the city of Castillion, the city of unending peril, and adventure. Since coming back home he had been caught up in it politics. In Castillion politics were often measures of bribery, murderer, and death. What was worse, the great mage and Cleric houses often battled secretly with each other, using a variety of means. In this case theft of an elven child, barely more than a year old. The order of the Black Edge was the perfect choice. They were zealots and military arm that were known Followers of Belial. These fanatics worshiped the daemon prince, and their will was to serve his. That didn't stop them from doing other paid for hire jobs.
In Castillion the Black Edge were outlawed, but Thane knew they worked underground. After house Levandrial had procured his services, to return their child, he had tracked them to the lowest pits of the city, hundreds and thousands feet below; to the Dregs, slum quarters of the city. Here anything could be imagined and many were afraid to traverse the endless conduits of corridors that lined the Dregs. Thane had been down below many times when his sword brothers. This had been the first time he had come alone. He had not been afraid gathering his weapons and gas pellets; he knew he could track the child to the Black Edge roost.
It had taken him a day to string it out some of the better cutthroats in the city. Each had pointed to a disappearing of the infant elven child. The Black Edge had made their haven below.
Once inside, Thane infiltrated the deepest parts of enemy's base, slaying several members of the Black Edge. Upon reaching the room, where they held the child, his eyes touched upon a horror he had never seen before. The evil of the Black Edge knew no bounds. In the very chamber lay the bodies, of several children, tossed to the sides, like mannequins. Their lives had been drained. Thane had wanted to die, shrivel up from the nightmare.
Before him stood a man in green robes, his grey eyes looking heaven word, and his hand wrapped tightly around the hilt of the dagger. On the slab was the body of an infant crying. It was wrapped in dirty swaddling, and its little hand pumped the air, as it cried and screamed.
The priest chanted in a strange language and was about to bring down the killing stroke. Thane's charkram had the answer. The golden disc tore through the cleric's throat. The head bounced once, twice, and they lay still. Thane swiftly gathered up the child and was off.
Thane could see the remaining emerald claw warriors begin shifting to corner him.
Thane smiled.
He smoothed the hair from his brow, and readied. The emerald claw warriors, three in all fanned out, gripping their weapons, ready to pounce upon their prey. They moved worriedly, they had just witnessed several of their men dispatched by the lone warrior, and they were in no hurry to meet death.
Thane could see the fear in their eyes. He knew that slight hesitation would be their end. He gripped the Elven forged Katana outward and adjusted the wakasashi to an inverted position. He slowly began to move back toward the stairs. The warriors followed.
Thane knew he only needed to make it to the stair sand the room above, the grand floor. If he could get past these guards he could make break for freedom.
'˜Well what are you waiting for?' Thane smiled. Come forward Jackals if you want to meet death!'
'Tell you what, Ill make sure your masters get a chance to view what left of your remains!' He goaded them. That was all it took. The warrior to the right rushed forward.
'For Belial, The urrg!' Thane katana cut through the man face, his eyes gone from the blow.
Just as the Black Edge swordsman went bouncing against the wall the center fighter and the warrior to the left came in.
Thane slid through them, slicing outward inversely with the wakasashi, taking the man on the left in the gut, while the katana slashed diagonally. Both men wailed in pain and dropped.
Thane ran on toward the stairs. His hand went to his belt pouch, and he withdrew what looked to be a locket from aroudn his neck. It was shaped out of fine ivory.
Looking at it, Thane concentrated and felt the flow, of the word come to mind.
'Hiyaku Kitsune!' From the amulet of the fox he wore abotu his neck, smoke began to rise, and, coalesced into the form of a giant fox. Nine tails swished to and a fro, and a long furred snout and ears came up alert. The nine tailed fox's, fur was silver and had glow around it. Kitsune the nine tailed fox gave a yip, happy to see its master, and bounded along with the Sword Saint.
'Good to see you my friend.'
Thane, huffed taking the stairs five at a time. He smiled at the thought of his elven master. Silvanrin Septhos had always chided him about his speed. He would berate him for not being Elven. It was a rare sight for a non-elf to become a sword saint. It had been an even rarer ability to make friends with a Kitsune, the Elven spirit of the fox. Thane smirked then again he wasn't entirely human.
He reached the top of the stairs. Kitsune bounded ahead. The fox was always faster. Kitsune never ran in a straight line ziging and zaging as it moved towards the entrance. Kitsune pattern saved it life, as the a bolt of blue rained down form above and shattered the ground just as Kitsune leapt out of the way. The fox yipped and bared it teeth.
Thane cried out when he saw the lightening bolt and brought his leather-covered arms together, as the shock rippled about the room. The hall was huge, and had at one time been a meeting place. But now it was dilapidated, it marble columns corroding due to age.
Thane slid back on his knees. The bolt would have taken out a lesser man. He quickly checked the child at his back and saw the elven babe rested. Deep was the sleep potion; it would be many hours before the child would awaken. Kitsune bounded back to it master and readied.
From the smoke arose a figure, garbed in green and black robes. A green-metal plate adorned his head, and his eye bulged form his head, as if he was caught in a mad rage. The man hand held a staff; carved expertly. The man's face was pale and his flesh was sunken back to the bone. Thane sneered. The man looked like a living cadaver.
'A Wizard no doubt.' He mumbled.
'Ahhhh a wizard indeed, little thief.' The man glided across the scorched earth.
'A master of the arcane. The bearer of the your death.'
Thane readied his weapon.
'Speak your name living corpse, and let us be done with this. I have a debt to repay.' Thane had to keep him talking. He gestured for Kitsune. The fox moved closer.
'Ahh in such a rush to walk the paths of the dead.' I will grant you your boon, fool," he outstretched his hand, and a great wave, ' before you stands Telemandus Arch wizard in the service of Belial.' Gaze upon me and despair! He cried and arcane words came forth from his mouth.
The spell words hit the sword saint hard, and he could feel his courage dwindle from the power of the fear spell. Thane held to his weapons, and his will. If he failed here and now, it would be the end for both the babe and himself. With a yell he shook off the fear spell, as did the Kitsune. The nine tailed fox exploded into action and quickly bounded toward the mage.
Telemandus gazed in horror as the fox leapt for his leg and jaws clamped about it. Kitsune flew by and landed behind the wizard.
Damn, Thane thought, an illusion spell. He brought up his blades and readied.
'You have a interesting companion thief. The wizard rose to the air. I have never seen a human and an elven fox as companions. You are a curiosity. One man would seek to defeat the order of the emerald claw and live. You must indeed be brave. I will enjoy tearing your flesh from your bones.'
Thane stepped forward.
'Indeed, your order is not so great. Displaced zealots in search of love from a Daemon. What did he promise you power? Wealth? Like most Daemon promises all I have seen is nothing put charred bones.' he laughed.
Telemandus face blanched and he screamed.
'Do not profane my liege! You are a bold one. If you think we are so weak, test your metal upon this. Pantherian, come your master bids you'.
From the smoking floor, mist arose, and began to take shape. A man stepped from the curtain of smoke, and kneeled.
The man was garbed in winter green. He wore a great breastplate with filigree, and his helm covered his head. He wore breeches of green. At his side were a magnificent elven long sword and a hunting dagger.
Pantherian smiled a row of razor shape teeth gleamed white in the torch light. The beastial, cat like eyes fell upon Thane in hunger.
'My master I have come. I see the little morsel before me. This shall be no contest.'
Smirking, Telemandus folded his arms against his chest.
'Give us the child and you shall die slowly. If not you shall die painfully. It is your choice. Your boldness ends here.'
Thanes grin angered the wizard.
'Then your bigger fool than I thought. You've been out maneuvered. Kitsune Ikinasi!'
Telemandus turned anger on his face, as the he gazed upon the fox slowly disappear along with the elven child straddled to it back. The wizard had been so intent on Thane, he never saw the bundle upon the nine tailed fox. In haste Telemandus called upon a spell, and lifted his hands. Streaks of black fire poured from the mages hands. The black streaks struck nothing but air as the fox disappeared.
Thane made note of where the rays came from, the center of the room near the door.
'Damn you. Damn you, Pantherian kill him. Let him be the sacrifice to our Lord Pantherian smiled. 'As your will demands.' The bestial, the by-product of animal infused blood, withdrew it weapons.
'Come little man, come taste death.'
Thane stepped forward. He sheathed, his wakasashi, and gripped his katana blade.
The only thing you will taste is my blade Thane said, his foot outstretched and ready.
'Kill him!' Telemandus roared.
They came at each other in a storm of blades.
Thane came in blade arcing in a vertical chop.
Pantherian slid to the side slicing with the long sword.
Thane spun, katana blocking.
He skipped and swung vertically.
The beast-man spun his dagger up, sweeping the katana up
Pantherian's long sword back slashed.
Thane movement was swift; he pulled back, and launched a back kick.
Crack
The foot hit the creature square on.
Pantherian rolled and spun, his blade made a screeching noise against Thane's breastplate.
Thane back peddled. His katana screamed in the air as it slashed down in a killing blow.
The shifter blocked.
He repositioned and came in dagger slashing against ribs.
The sword saint grunted, and spun. The spin gained momentum with the katana.
Pantherian was good and he danced away both his blades blocking the blow.
Thane smiled he had fought some tough fighters before; it was obvious this creature was experienced. He moved back in guard formation, his sword up. He saw the shifter before him. The creature had speed and agility at his side, and an extra weapon that would be able to aid in its defense. Pantherian had the advantage. This was a duel. Who was better? His katana had length and strength, as well as his martial art speed. He had the advantage there.
"Come let us end this, I weary of this battle, you are not even worth this struggle."
Pantherian exploded into action.
Blades whirled with lightning quickness
Thane's sword skill was magnificent, blocking each strike with equal speed.
Pantherian had thought to put him on the defensive.
Thane spun again to his left, leaving a slicing arc in his wake.
Pantherian reacted as before bringing his blade to guard.
Thane foot came in hard against the creature shin, and there was a bone-crunching crack. Pantherian cried out in pain. It looked up, and that was the last thing it saw as it buckled to it knees. The katana exploded through the creatures head, down the front of it torso, splitting it in twain.
Pantherian slid in two-piece and was dead.
'No! It can not end like this!' Telemandus voice cracked, and a blast of lightening exploded from the doorway. Thane tucked and rolled into a ball, barely escaping the blast. He reared up, in time to see Telemandus true form, no longer hidden by invisibility. 'Now you die!' The wizard spat.
Thane moved fast, and felt for his charkram, and the fox figurine. Then he cried out. Hiyaku Kitsune! Once again the mist appeared and formed Kitsune. Upon the back of the fox was the babe.
'No you will not escape you shall all die here.' Telemandus cried and readied another spell.
'Thane withdrew the child, just as Kitsune raced ahead.
Telemandus spell erupted as ice showers coated the entire room. Thane felt the stabs of the ice shards pierce his back. Kitsune ran, and with a spring, covered twenty feet, toward the wizard. It maw was open, and dagger like teeth ready, this time the fox would taste flesh. Telemandus screamed, as the fox bit into his shoulder.
Thane hand was lightening fast, and death was upon it. The charkram tore through the air, as the fox tore at the wizard. The circular blade struck home, tearing into skin, sinew, and bone. Telemandus death wail slowly rattled from his head ten feet away, as the charkram returned to it master.
Telemandus was dead.
Thane lifted the babe in his arms. Kitsune bounded back to him, and yipped playfully. Thane smiled, and he patted the fox upon the head.
'Come along my friend. Let us return this baby to it rightful mother. Then we can get some rest.'
Thane and his fox companion walked into the dawning of a new day, leaving the nights evil far behind them.
The goblin watched the sword saint walk away with his companion. It knew full well that it should warn it master. The goblin ran down the street, happily for the news it would bring. The master had told it to look upon the humans, and report back. The goblin knew to follow orders to perfection. One made sure to when the order was given by the Lords of Burning Throne.
The end