by Greg Wilburn
relationship, but the two of them continued despite knowing the risks. It wasn’t until a year and a half later, when Daleli and Juniel came to Hanlem asking for permission for a certificate of marriage, that the issue was for him to take care of.
After months of fighting, and both Daleli and Juniel threatening to leave the armed guards, Hanlem finally relented and allowed them to marry after the war was over. He defended his decision to his superiors and King Fareldan by saying it was better for them to stay and be engaged than to lose two of the best warriors the Limphelm had ever encountered. The superiors and the encampment soon accepted the union between the two and treated them both with distant and cautious respect.
The only thing that changed between Daleli and Juniel was that Hanlem forced them to operate in different companies so that no complications would arise on the battlefield or on scouting missions. Juniel was placed under the care of Ghandel, and Daleli was forced to work as a solitary scout who performed the most difficult missions the 47th battalion had to carry out.
Although separated on the battlefield, Juniel and Daleli remained closer than ever. Whenever they could find time together, their favorite activity was venturing out into the forests and finding secluded spots where no one would disturb them. The spot in which Juniel was killed was a spot they’d discovered the night before Daleli was sent on a two month long mission into the badlands of Eslardia, where there was a heavy presence of Mintelm.
Ghandel and Rawren watched the tired and seemingly bitter Daleli leave the edge of the encampment, slipping seamlessly into the shadows of the forest. They knew he was leaving grudgingly because he hadn’t gotten to see his betrothed, and cold shiver crept down their spines at seeing the foe they would soon encounter. They looked at each other with worry, gave secure nods to give confidence to one another, and then set about gathering the four warriors they needed.
They chose the most capable from the 47th battalion: A woman named Sylvein, who was a master of stealth. A noteworthy swordsman, Julein, who carried a giant broadsword and could swing it with one hand like it was weightless. Ghandel’s good friend Markellon, a famous archer. And Rawren recruited an assassin by the name of Tristel, who was responsible for taking out a major faction of Mentil generals.
The hunting party trained for two full days before setting out after Daleli. They tracked him easily for the first six days, but as they neared the Valley of Bordein, his scent and noticeable markings disappeared completely. The party wandered in the wrong direction after entering the valley’s main fork, which set them half a day behind Daleli. Upon returning to the right path, they moved twice as fast to make up for lost time. They finally caught up to Daleli near the entrance to the haunted forest of Skidlem, where a Mintel encampment stood.
They decided to wait a good distance away from the Mintelm, hidden in the gnarled trees of the forest, expecting to run into Daleli before he would spy out the enemy. But near the middle of the night, screams of agony and horror rose into the starred sky, which prompted the hunting party to action. The six of them drew near in the dark shadows of the trees and watched the chaos unfold.
The camp before them couldn’t be more than forty strong, an easy kill for a warrior of Daleli’s skill. The killing spree was over before the hunting party could reach the edge of the encampment. Ghandel and Rawren led the way, driving into the camp as they glided over piles of dead Mentilm. They reached the middle of the encampment and entered the blood-spattered captain’s tent.
They entered at the moment Daleli was sliding one of his blades into the heart of the Mentil captain. The middle-aged male coughed black blood through his shaky whimpers as the blade went deeper into him. The blue uniform he was wearing turned a sordid purple color that brought a subtle smile across Daleli’s worn face. Ghandel stepped forward in approach as Daleli dropped the male’s corpse and faced him. Confusion swept over the blood-smattered half-breed as he asked “Ghandel, what are you doing here? And why do you have these Limphelm with you?”
Ghandel took a deep breath and opened his mouth, but Daleli stopped him short when he asked, “And where’s Juniel? I don’t see her with your company.” Rawren saw that there was no time for words. He pulled out a throwing dagger as Ghandel opened his mouth again and threw it at Daleli’s heart. Daleli deflected it easily with his sword, and his expression changed to one of anger.
“What’s the meaning of this, Ghandel?!” Daleli yelled as he drew his second sword and clenched them with his fists so tight the rough handles made a cracking sound. “None of your concern, half-breed.” Rawren said, signaling for the others to draw their weapons. They took a step forward, but Ghandel raised a hand to stop them. “Wait, Rawren. Daleli, you have to understand that this is what has to happen. Not just for the safety of the Limphelm, but for the cause of the war. And about Juniel, she--“
Rawren cut him off, yelling, “Ghandel, no!” He stepped towards them, but Ghandel raised his large sword and pointed it at Rawren, silencing him and preventing the advance. He stared intently at Daleli and said, “Daleli. This is it for you. But before we dispose of you, you have to know that Juniel was killed days ago, the night before you left on this mission. I’m sorry, it was my fault. But don’t worry; you’ll be joining her soon. It’s nothing personal; I deeply respect your swordsmanship. But this is simply the way things have to be.”
Daleli stood there in silence, frozen by pain. Ghandel raised his sword and commanded the party to take care of the half-breed. “Do it.” He said as he stepped towards Daleli. Markellon loaded an arrow and shot it so fast that no eye could track its movement. The arrow hit Daleli in his left shoulder, hitting a vital point that forced him to hold the second sword he’d drawn limp in his left hand. Ghandel and Rawren rushed him, but Daleli deflected their blows and pushed them back. Sylvein rounded the fight and pulled a poisoned dagger out. She didn’t know that Daleli knew her position and had already prepared for her attack.
Sylvein leapt towards Daleli’s neck to land the finishing blow, but as she neared her target, Daleli parried Rawren’s oncoming blow, knocking him off balance, and ducked underneath his forward-falling body. Sylvein’s dagger hit Rawren in the lower part of the back, running right into his kidney. The two were sent tumbling to the side as Daleli rushed Ghandel, knocked him back, and fought Julein, Markellon, and Tristel single-handedly.
Daleli took another arrow in his side as he traded blows with Julein and Tristel. He gained the upper hand quickly and decapitated Tristel with one fell blow. His head rolled to Ghandel’s feet as his body fell to the floor, coating it with thick blood that spurted from the neck. Daleli deflected the third arrow that neared his heart and knocked Julein through the side of the tent into the cool night air. He chased after the giant Limphel, and Markellon followed them outside. Ghandel rose to his feet and rushed to Rawren’s side.
“Can you stop the poison?” He asked as he looked over Rawren’s puffed up and convulsing body. “No. There was never supposed to be an antidote.” Sylvein said as she held Rawren’s head in her lap. Tears slid down her face, landing on Rawren’s convulsing head. “It’s not your fault, and Rawren wouldn’t blame you. You were simply carrying out your mission.” Ghandel said in a low tone. The two of them stayed there until Rawren died moments later, and then went outside to exact vengeance upon Daleli.
Sylvein and Ghandel exited the captain’s tent and listened to the night. They heard muffled clashes and headed in their direction. They rounded a few rows of tents and turned a corner to the sight of Markellon and Julein’s dead bodies. They were torn to pieces, and various limbs lie strewn across the grass in a large pool of blood. Sylvein held the vomit that rose in her throat and passed by the strewn limbs in the direction of the clanging noises. Ghandel let rage fill him and he charged past the corpses towards Daleli, leaving Sylvein behind.
Ghandel reached the edge of the encampment and followed the sounds of scraping metal until he reached a small creek a few meters away from the camp. He saw Daleli’s silhou
ette smacking one of his swords against the other as he stood at the bank of the glimmering river. “Daleli?! You half-breed bastard, I’ll rip you apart?!” he bellowed as he charged Daleli, slashing at him with all of his strength. Daleli easily dodged his sloppy blows and used the hilt of the sword he was holding to disable him. He strategically struck Ghandel in the sternum and neck with great force, knocking him to the ground.
Sylvein came rushing to his aid and engaged Daleli. Daleli fended off her blows at first, but Sylvein was able to use the environment to her advantage. She threw sand and blinded him, sticking one of her poisoned daggers into his thigh and another into his shoulder. Daleli staggered back and knelt while holding onto the sword that he planted firmly in the sand.
“Die, you disgusting half-breed!” Sylvein said with finality. She walked past Daleli, rushed to Ghandel and helped him stand. The two of them looked over in astonishment as they heard Daleli laughing hysterically as he knelt by his sword. A cold fear swept over them when he rose to his feet and walked over towards them in stride. Sylvein left Ghandel’s side and ran towards Daleli. “Wait! Don’t, Sylvein!”