After much silent deliberation his infatuation for Vashni got the better of him. He considered that their relationship coming to a closure could cause her to leave the party, and he would never see her again.
“Mir§a Vashni... I accept this condition... Perform your whisper...”
She smiled at this, “Good... This whisper will take a long time to implant, I will have to embed it deep in your subconscious, you must embrace my words and accept them wholeheartedly... Now, lie on the bed, on your side facing the wall - I wish to get comfortable.”
Gingerly he lay prone on the bed, gazing at the wall. He felt Vashni lie behind him, her breath on the back of his neck, her leather trousers and shirt came into contact with the back of his tunic. Then her velvet gloved hand cupped over his expose ear and he felt her breath on his ear.
“Shhhh, try to relax Ri§ine... I am going to begin...”
Slowly she began whispering, the whisper took a different rhythm to the previous ones, it had a penetrating quality, the syllables and words sliding together and rolling around in his head, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end and sending a shiver down his spine. He did as she’d instructed, and embraced the words, accepting them with all his heart - though he didn’t understand the meaning. Occasionally she would go back into her normal voice and urge him, “Open your mind to me Ri§ine, I wish to go deeper.”
When she said this, he could feel himself inviting her deeper into his mind, whispering not just to his physical form but his mind also, on several levels of his consciousness. It felt intimate, caressing, the words penetrating him and imprinting themselves on his memory.
At a level the words started to resonate, she’d been performing this for over two hours, and her voice slowed and died down - but he felt the power of her words working their way through his mind, reinforcing themselves and repeating themselves.
Sighing deeply she pulled away, “There Ri§ine, we are done... Now go and lie in your place on the floor against the door, I have a surprise for you tomorrow.”
He was tired, and sleepy by this point, her hypnotic voice still echoing around his head, “Mir§a Vashni, can I not sleep alongside you on the bed?”
“Do not question me Ri§ine, your place is on the floor, now go before I decide you punish you further.”
“Sigh... Yes, Mir§a Vashni...”
He rose sleepily out of bed and took his place on the floor blocking the doorway, while Vashni spread herself out more comfortably. She did not change out of her clothes, she’d intended to remove his sight again, then disrobe to her undergarments, but placing the resonating whisper had been too tiring and difficult, and all she could think of doing was sleeping.
Back at the administrative building, the feast was dying down by this point. Saul had rejoined his companions. The fire had burned down to embers and the torches were growing dim. There’d been some banter and chuckles about Korhan being being ‘under the thumb’ of the elf and Saul had told them about the Bergers daughter and Gedric. The Berger himself had greeted them all again, thanked Saul and retreated to tend to his daughter who appeared to now be slowly recovering.
Votrex drained the last jug of ale into his mug and threw it back in one chug. Then he wiped his lips with his sleeve and stood, “Come, we’ve tarried long enough - we should get some sleep.”
Harald rose next, “Aye, we should rise early, re-stock our saddlebags and fill our flasks, then leave. I do not wish to watch Gedric’s head roll.”
Silus drained his mug and pushed his plate away, then stood, “Hmmph! He would have robbed us, and killed us... He clearly intended to ravage the elf... To lose his head is a more merciful fate than he deserves. I realise his pitiful life may have shaped him, but in the end regardless of how his choices in life were shaped - they were still his choices.”
Brael was already striding away from the table, “Hah! The loss of any sentient life is a tragedy, but better a vagabonds than our own. Enough of this moral debate - let us sleep.”
And so the warriors filed out and returned to the Freais Folly Inn, and took their beds for the night.
As the sun rose, illuminating the stained glass window in Vashni and Korhan’s room, Vashni was already on her feet. She strode up to Korhan and gave him an undignified prod with her foot, “Come Ri§ine! Wake up!”
Korhan woke, he still had the taste of last night’s feast on his breath. It should have made his mouth water - but instead it made him want to wretch, “Urgh, Mir§a Vashni... What did you do to me... I... urgh!”
“Hah! I see my resonating whisper has taken - good, that should prevent any further temptation for you to partake of meat. Get up, quickly, it is time I announced your reward for your obedience... My surprise.”
He struggled wearily to his feet, “Surprise? Reward? What re-”
“I have decided not simply to train you in the art of mental offence and defence, but in physical offence and defence... I have decided to advance your skills in swordplay.”
He smirked at this, “Hah! With respect Mir§a Vashni, I doubt there’s much you can teach me in that area... I am a renowned swordsman, I have fought in many battles, my name is not just feared by men, but by the Orcs of Garzbad and th-”
“Hah! We shall see Ri§ine... Come, bring your sword into the courtyard, I wish to test you.”
Smiling with amusement Korhan picked up his great sword and slung it over his shoulder. Vashni strode confidently out of the room and he followed her all the way to the courtyard. From somewhere within the folds of her cloak she mysteriously drew a sword, as if it had been hidden in the lining or something. It was a strange blade, curved, thin and sharp looking, longer than a short sword, but shorter than a great sword and with a handle suitable for single handed or double handed combat.
She stood apart from Korhan and swished her blade in a complex, pattern, which was in fact a three dimensional representation of a tesseract. Korhan drew his mighty blade and held it upright alongside him, “I do not wish to hurt you Mir§a Vashni...”
“Hah! If you can touch me with thy blade Northman, I shall allow you to bed me. I swear it by Orion, the master creator!”
Korhan grinned, clearly excited at the prospect of this ‘prize’ and stepped forward, he considered his options, after a short deliberation, he decided a playful smack on her bottom with the flat of his sword would be the best option. He shifted his weight one way as a feint, watched for her reaction then slipped his blade in... Except by the time his blade was where he intended it to be, Vashni had slipped sideways, raising her blade to gently press the tip into the bottom of his chin.
“You fight like a child Northman... So slow...”
He growled and pulled away whipping his blade up. Instead of contacting her blade she lowered her blade and performed a back walkover in a fast, fluid motion. He glared at her, and adjusted his grip. She was smirking at him, he moved in, gesturing that he was going to tap her on the shoulder with his blade, but sweeping it around to her rump. Vashni saw it and leapt high above the blade, and sideways, landing with her blade gently pressing against his stomach. If she’d used force and the edge of her blade she could have easily slashed him across the torso.
“I’ve seen ‘the dead’ move faster Ri§ine, are you alive? It looks you are moving in slow motion.”
Korhan glared at her and renewed his attacks, swinging high, low, alternating and shifting his weight around to vary the attacks. Vashni seemed able to predict everything he tried and counter it easily, almost effortlessly. Korhan continued his efforts, working up a sweat and fighting until the muscles in his arms burned. Every effort, every attack failed utterly, Vashni was simply far too fast and skillful for him to even trouble her. Eventually Korhan slowed, and stood panting, Vashni was not in the least out of breath, “Your offence is almost non-existent Ri§ine, you could not best an elf-child! Now prepare yourself, let us test your defences...”
Vashni raised her blade and strode in, bobbing left and right...
She was so fast, at times she was a blur, and she moved unpredictably, when she shifted her weight onto her front foot and started to rain blows on Korhan he found himself giving ground and desperately blocking and parrying, while she laughed as she fought. Eventually her slender, rapier-like blade swirled his hefty sword and sent it free of his grasp, clattering across the courtyard floor.
“Have I proved my point Ri§ine? Do you yield?”
He thought about gathering his blade and trying again, but he could not imagine any way of beating her. When she was moving fast, he could barely track her with his eyes, let alone land a blow on her. The speed and ferocity of her attacks had been greater than any warrior he’d ever faced, despite her slight frame. “I yield Mir§a Vashni... I will accept your tutelage with the blade.”
“Hah! Good... The first thing you can do is stop wielding that lump of metal you call a sword, it is crude and unbalanced, and it is not right for you!”
“Huh? Tis the finest blade I have ever wielded, forged for me by Hangmar, Master of the Star Forge!”
“Hmmph, yes, yes, I’m sure... It is crude and unbalanced! It would be more useful for splitting logs than fighting with...”
“What do you suggest then?”
“Well, first I shall measure you up, pick up your sword and wait while I gather my tape measure Ri§ine.”
Wearily, Korhan gathered his blade up. His arms were shaking with exertion. When Vashni returned she carried a small tape measure, “Now Ri§ine, hold out your sword, I want to examine your grip.”
He did as he was told holding the sword in an offensive pose. While he held it she took the tape and measured the circumference of his wrists, his grip, the handle of the sword, the length of the handle, the length of the blade, his shoulder span, arm length and leg length. It was becoming quite intimate when she was measuring his inner leg. At times he would quiver, and she would scold him, “Keep still Ri§ine!”
Eventually she stood up and eyed him from head to toe, “You’re sword is too long, and too heavy Ri§ine, I am amazed you have not been killed in battle trying to fight with such an unwieldy weapon. I will customise ‘Harbinger’ so it suits your height and build better. You will feed our horses and prepare me a light breakfast now.”
“Yes, Mir§a Vashni...”
As he went about tending to their horses, Vashni wandered back inside. She’d neatly stored the measurements in her head, the first task was to ‘unlock’ the sword. To do which she returned to their room and laid the elvish blade on the bed. Then she leaned close to it and began whispering quietly, almost invisible to the naked eye, the runes started to glow... Gradually the handle altered its angle subtly with the blade, and the blade altered its width and length, slowly reshaping itself. Eventually her whispers died down, but the blade continued to subtly, slowly morph.
Korhan eventually returned bearing a wooden tray with bread, butter, cheese and some fruit on it. Vashni was curled up at the head of the bed and she gestured for him to bring it to her.
“Good Ri§ine, once I am finished, you may sit on the floor and eat my leftovers.”
Korhan sat on the floor and leaned his back against the foot of the bed. He’d seen ‘Harbinger’ lying on the bed and had mixed feelings about wielding it. On the one hand it looked like an amazing blade, the craftsmanship seemed to be without equal, but it also seemed very alien to what he was used to. With its curves and curly engraved runes on it, it almost looked... Feminine? It didn’t have the hard, practical look of his great sword. It looked almost delicate? He sat listening to Vashni munching away, his thoughts and feelings a whirlpool. Despite her domination of him and her strange ways he felt himself more and more attracted to her... He wondered if she’d subtly enchanted him with one of her whispers... But then she showed him no affection at all, simply disdain and disappointment...
He was roused from his thoughts by the tray nudging the back of his head, “Here Ri§ine, you may finish...”
He sighed, then reached up and took the plate. She’d left him a little of everything, he knew he’d be hungry later, trying to sustain himself on such a light breakfast, but at the same time he was careful not think about his desire for meat - as doing so would make him feel ill.
When they had finished they left the room, Harbinger still configuring itself as per Vashni’s instructions. Saul and the rest of the party were already waiting for them in the courtyard, horses loaded with fresh supplies, purchased from the innkeeper and ready.
“Good morning Mistress Elf, Korhan... I’ve secured some supplies and refilled our flasks at the inn, we’re ready to go.”
Vashni cast her eyes accusingly around the group, “Good morning all, my Ri§ine has received a stern warning for his transgressions last night, I would thank you all not to interfere with my plans for him again.”
This brought a round of mumbles and muttering, but they all climbed into the saddle and started riding, Korhan fetched Vashni’s steed and watched her tie Harbinger loosely at the side of her steed. Korhan took his place at the rear, riding a respectful distance from Vashni.
As the riders left the courtyard and rode through the town towards the north gate they noticed a small crowd gathering in the town square. It was clearly execution time. Unlike in Trest, there was only one candidate - Gedric, who sat on the hay, in the caged wagon, drooling and looking vacant.
As they drew level, the Berger, Karras, trotted up to Saul on his horse, “Good morning Saul Karza.”
“Berger... How fares your daughter?”
“She sleeps, yet we can tell she is recovering, I only wish I could find the means to thank you and the erm, young- “
“Has Gedric’s family been to visit him?”
“Aye, his son would not... Though his wife did - I believe she is the one he let down the most. She had no words for him Saul, she slapped him and spat in his face.”
“Hmmm, I hate to say... But maybe you are right, a good woman should not be shackled to one who has thrown his life away consistently, always failing to provide for his family and ever making bad decisions in the name of stupidity or selfishness.”
“Will you stay to watch the execution?”
“No... As evil a man as Gedric was, I am not so voyeuristic as to enjoy watching men butchered, whatever their crime or the walk of life they have taken.”
“You still sound critical Saul! You are too sentimental and not pragmatic... Look at the man; he has been rendered incontinent, drooling and mindless, like a vegetable... He soiled himself last night, or so I am told... What would you have me do? Return him to his wife? Condemn her to spend her days cleaning up after him and feeding him? Condemn him to a life of suffering and indignity? If you would do that Saul Karza - you are a colder man than I.”
Saul sighed, “Farewell, Berger, at least ask the axeman to make his aim true and his blow swift.”
“Aye, I will at that... Farewell Saul.”
As the riders filed past the Berger towards the north gate, the Berger held out a hand to stop Vashni, who had raised her hood hiding her face and pointed ears, “Thank you Mistress Elf...”
“Hmmmph. Think nothing of it - but speak of my presence here to no one - lest you incur my wrath.”
Saul snapped his reins, “Come, we ride for Duramer, tis the last village before Brunwelt.”
As they trotted across the square, they couldn’t help but notice Gedric being helped from the cage and laid on the chopping block. It tore emotions apart, was the mercy withholding the axe or allowing the axe to fall? By the time they had all left the square, despite their varying opinions, all of the warriors deemed it the more merciful to allow the axe to fall, though the thought was troubling.
Once they were clear of the city gates they were soon back in the forest, though it was not as green or densely forested here.
The Road to Duramer
As the column rode, Brael dropped back level with Korhan. The gravian looked across, “How fare you Avil?”
“Well... Though -”
“Do not trouble yourself, Vashni is treating you with some disdain, the others do not understand... But you are receiving a great gift, a gift which has always been withheld from mortals. Try to please her, and listen to her - she can teach you much. I may even be able to teach you myself... That is if I can rid myself of this blasted curse!”
“Thank you...Brael? I haven’t had much time for anyone since... Hmmmph, I should learn more about my companions. I never expected to meet a gravian, let alone have one traipse around after me trying to save my life.”
“Hah! Do not trouble yourself too much Northman, despite her ill-treatment of you the elf seems to find you amusing and will probably not allow any harm to come to you... I do not mind, the gravity of our quest is a welcome distraction from both my curse and my banishment... I feel I have some purpose in life now - that is a good thing.”
Korhan chuckled, “Purpose in life? It seemed back in Trest, that you were to be relieved of your life... You being thankful for a purpose in life is amusing.”
“Amusing? Hmmm, I see your point, the truth is Avil, when my head was in the block I am not sure I was too concerned about ‘losing my life’ but ‘the truth’ made me... Hmmm, fearful? Yes... Can you imagine how it feels to ‘not want to live’ yet, ‘not want to die’ at the same time?”
“The Truth, you keep speaking of it - what exactly is ‘the truth’ ?”
“Hmmm, what is ‘the truth’ ? It is a difficult question to answer Avil... My curse prevents me from being able to explicitly explain it. It is... Hmmm, the nature of things... Of many things! So much about what people think they know about the world is wrong. I will try to explain it better if ever I am able to remove my curse.”
Vashni, who had been allowing her horse to trot along casually, looked up with a startled expression on her face. She snapped her reins and cantered up to Saul, forcing Korhan to struggle to maintain the right distance between them, “Master wizard, we have company.”
Deathsworn Arc: 01 - The Last Dragon Slayer Page 13