Dead Worrier

by Reja

  Casca continuously staring at them from a distance. They are walking through the camp everyone was staring them with intense piercing eyes. Kaal was also observing every one because he knows they can attack him any time if talks didn’t go as they though.

  After walking and observing everything for a while Kaal asked Griffin “So ..How are they ?.... all these guys with a little evil look in their eyes”.

  Griffin stayed silent for a second and says again: “.............The Band of Hawk ”.

  After hearing the band name Kaal got shocked for a second and started to remember about it

  !!!....... the Band of Hawk ?!....

  Griffin read his face and asked Kaal “did you know about us ?”

  Kaal strayed silence for a sec and replied “..... Just the rumors” and started to remember what he heard about them.

  The bloody Band of Hawks ....one of the last mercenary group you ever want to meet up on the battlefield ...the group that never got defeated in any battle ... thank to them being on another side, the last castle siege that has been done in 3 days took over 3 months to capture with heavy casualties. but still, I never notice it during the battle that... They all to be so young .... hmmm

  Kaal was still thinking all this and walking with Griffin, he didn’t notice when did he reach over the top of the small hill. he realizes it when he heard Griffin shout “What a view don’t you think ??”.

  Kaal “ahh !!!”.

  Kaal stray silent for a sec and after that he asked Griffin “..... Why ?..... Back there why you miss my heart ... If you want you can easily do that... Why you didn’t kill me ?” and for a minute everything became silent only the sound of blowing wind was there.

  Casca also silently follows them cause of Kaal’s violent nature and hide herself to a distance where she can hear all of their chat. Casca was also a little shock that from hearing it that the Griffin intensely didn’t kill Kaal and Kaal also know it but she didn’t make any reaction cause of Griffin.

  All world got frozen for a second Griffin and Kaal staring each other with intense eyes, after a minute Griffin replied Kaal with a determine serious look on his face “Because I realize I want you ... Kaal “. And after Griffin’s reply, everything got silent again.

  Both of them Kaal and Casca were shocked with Griffin’s answer for a minute they didn’t able to understand how to react on this.

  And after a min, Kaal collected his though and ask Griffin “..aaa!! I didn’t expect this but ......are you a homo?” After hearing it Griffin strayed silent for a minute.

  He understood that now this conversation is going in an awkward direction so he decided to clear the misunderstanding and continued his talk “We were also in that castle four days ago ... we were very fortunate enough to watch you one on one match with Bazuso .. it was admirable ... but .... it was also dangerous ”.

  Kaal “hmmm!!!!”.

  “ If Bazuso’s ax hadn’t cracked it would have been you with cloven head ...”.

  Kaal “... Probable”.

  “ Hmm...you’r honest .. the way you fight is almost like ..... you are gambling on your own life” after hearing this Kaal face suddenly changed his expressions to serious.

  Griffin continued “You don’t budge an inch against a monster like Bazuso or multiple opponents like Corkus’s group .... you didn’t run away instead of that you run in recklessly, swinging sword on them ...... well it’s no doubt courageous ... But it seems ...that while intentionally exposing yourself to the risk of death ... You are also struggling to make it out alive. That’s how it felt to me ”.

  Kaal didn’t replay to him and silently continued to listen to him.

  Griffin stopped for a second and then continued “You are interesting..... and I have taken a liking to you “. Kaal’s face became expressionless after hearing this.

  “ I want you ...Kaal” . Kaal didn’t reply anything he was trying to collect his thoughts on other hands Casca who was listening to the whole conversation from distance started fells on her knee from all this and started thinking about something.

  Kaal didn’t replay anything but his thoughts can be seen in his face.

  ...... What?!.....who’s he think... he is ..?! ... talking to peoples like that ...that shithead...!!!

  After a minute thinking, Kaal replied Griffin with a confused expression “And ..if I say no..?”

  Griffin replied Kaal with a poker face expression “Do you ?.... Really??”

  Now it made Kaal seriously angry and he replied Griffin with shouting “You bet your ass !!... Bastard... It’s hell no !!!” Cause of shouting with too much power Kaal started to feel pain from his chest wound.

  After somehow enduring it Kaal started talking again “Talking like you know who I am ...... What do you even know anyway ?!..... What can you know about me when we have never met ?!” Kaal was looking Griffin with the anger on his face.

  Griffin replied Kaal with a very confident look “I dint know you at all... But it’s just that the way I felt about you”.

  Kaal with pain expression on face “... That type of thought makes me sick ......!!!”.

  “ You are the one who stabbed me and now you think we all can become buddy !!..... Remember this”.

  He shows his chest wound and said” You are the one who attacked me !!!! ..... and I have no intention of just forget that or forgiving you !!!....... and I m the one who killed one of your men and cut off arm of another one, so I m also not going to telling you to forget about that either !!!...... we are .... you and me.... enemies ... remember that”.

  Griffin asked Kaal with a serious look on his face “..... So what do you want to do now....”.

  Kaal replied with a smile on his “Oh ..that ....that’s simple” and took his sword out from its sheath and take his position to attack with some serious killing intension.

  His killing intent is high enough that even Casca was able to feel it from behind the tree.

  Kaal said to Griffin and pointing his sword toward him “We will settle our problem with this ... If I win I will also give a matching hole in your chest !!!!”

  Griffin also replied with a smile “Hmmm.......? What if I win ??”.

  Kaal shouted with excitement “...Then you can make me your solider.. your fag boy or whatever you want I will not refuse”.

  Griffin calmly accepted his condition “All right ..then !!” And Griffin also took his sword out. Both of them are standing on top of the hill with point blades toward each other.

  Griffin smiles and said to Kaal “Well... I don’t dislike doing things..... by force ..... sometimes”.

  When Casca noticed the sudden development she came out from behind the tree and shouted “Griffin !!!”. Kaal also noticed her after her voice.

  Griffin replied Casca in order “Stray out of this Casca ”.

  Casca “But ... Griffin !!!”.

  Griffin saw in Casca’s eyes and said: “I must obtain the thing I desire !!”.

  Kaal started attacking Griffin with few inner conflicting thoughts in mind

  These guys... it’s that dame superior attitude .... this attitude is making me sick.

  And both started to fight with a swing their sword with full power. Kaal’s and Griffin’s sword clashed with each other and made a huge sound that can be heard by everyone. Casca and a few other band members heard that sound and were able to realize how intense this fight is. In camp, Pippin was one of those who realize about the fight and started looking toward the hill, other members still unaware of it.

  Other members to Pippin “Hey Pippin what are you looking ??? “. Pippin didn’t answer but suddenly Rickert shouted “Hey ... look there !!!!” And everyone started looking toward his finger’s direction.

  In that direction on top of the hill, two people were fighting an intense battle. After seeing them a minute everyone realizes they were Kaal and Griffin and started to move toward them to see the fight.

  Kaal continuously attacking Griffin with his brutal power
but Griffin was easily able to deflect all his attack by making a little slope with his sword. Griffin was using defensive play cause he knows he can’t overcome Kaal in terms of pure physical strength. Seeing there it looks like Kaal was fighting with water it didn’t matter how much power he put he wasn’t able to break his defense. but in reverse Griffin was playing his role calmly he was using minimum power and trying to drag this battle long for his advantage and he was also using every opportunity he gets to hit Kaal.

  Kaal again charged recklessly and got wounded on his hand. After continuously charging, again and again, Kaal realized this method will not work on him. On the other hand band members were cheering his captains for his winning. Griffin now aimed his sword edge toward the Kaal who was still on the ground after his last attack failure.

  Kaal was still on the ground and still thinking

  How did he do that??.... I m confident I can easily cut through a steel plate like butter with my sword ..!!!.... but sill he is parrying all my attack with that narrow blade ..... and worst .... damn ...he is doing it all with only one hand...

  .... This guy ...... he is good

  Kaal stood on his feet again he was smiling with the excitement of battle. After seeing Kaal condition Griffin said to Kaal “..... We can postpone it, you know you are at the disadvantage cause of your injuries”.

  Kaal replies with a shout and attacked Griffin again “Can it !!!!”.

  Now Kaal started attacking Griffin continuously without giving a moment to react but still, Griffin was still able to block all his attack easily

  Kaal thinking

  I will win ..... I will beat him !!! ... I have to get faster ....stronger

  Seeing the intensity of fight Casca started to get worried about them. But she suddenly notices Corkus and some other man was coming toward them with weapons.

  Corkus shouted, “That prick..kill him ..”.

  Casca “Hold it ...do not interface!! ....it is Griffin’s order !!”.

  Casca was trying to stop them but Corkus put his hand on Casca’s shoulder and try to side her and said “Don’t be stupid ...this is our chance to kill !!.... You got out of the way !!..”.

  When Casca saw the talking will not get them she took out her sword and put it on the Corkus throat and said “Since when did you become boss Corkus??...... don’t you remember Griffin’s order are absolute....here ?? ... you remember ... right ?”.

  Corkus strayed silent he knew Casca will never go against Griffin’s order.

  On the other hand, Kaal and Griffin were still in battle but like before Kaal was the only one who was getting pushed back and getting injured. Griffin was injuring Kaal but he was also taking care that he didn’t receive any critical. After getting several injuries Kaal took a chance and swing his sword on the ground and took dig some dirt with sword and threw it on Griffin’s face. Dirt got into Griffin’s eyes.

  Every band member started hooting Kaal “No fair ...fight fairly ”.

  Kaal saw this time as a good chance for victory so he instantly attacked Griffin with his full power with an overhead swing but Griffin heard his sound and dodge the sword by jumping upward, the Griffin was standing on the edge of that thick sword in mid-air. everyone got shocked from seeing this, after a second the sword was got buried a little deep in-ground cause of Griffin’s weight and Kaal power. And when the Kaal sword touched the ground Griffin points his sword right in front of his face.

  Band members talking to each other

  “Ohh !....!Wow !! ”.

  “ Did you see that ?!....that was unbelievable ...he is godlike being... ”.

  Corkus “Griffin beat him !!!”.

  Griffin was still standing on the sword, point his sword toward Kaal and talking to him “I m starting to like you more and more ... you will do anything to win ... right ..... but now in your position, u can’t swing your sword like this ..... now you can feel free to give up anytime you like ”.

  Kaal replied Griffin with a smile and said “... You are a talkative bastard .... didn’t anybody tell you that..... you really talk too much ....... Then I will show you how a mouth should be used in a fight ...”. And after telling this he caught Griffin’s sword with his mouth. He caught Griffin’s sword too tightly Griffin was not able to budge his sword a little in all this Kaal mouth also started to bleed but didn’t let go sword from his mouth and took his sword out from the ground.

  Everyone became shocked by this sudden development. Every band member was shouting Griffin’s name. Kaal still holding Griffin’s sword in the mouth. Kaal realizes that he can’t win Griffin in sword fight so he made both of them fall from hilltop to the slop. After seeing them everyone started running towards them to check on them.

  On other hands, Kaal and Griffin were still rolling on slop going downward on the hill and suddenly they hit the ground. Griffin lost his grip on his sword in midway and still unable to stand cause of fall. Kaal took this chance again and mount on Griffin’s chest and started hitting his face with punches and kicks. After a few punches, Kaal kicked him again and made him fly to a little distance. Griffin got on the ground and facing downward crawling on the ground.

  Everyone saw all this from the hilltop and started chatting again

  “ No ..no way ....!!”.

  “ Don’t tell me Griffin is the one losing ....”

  “ Don’t be a fool ... It must be a strategy ...ya strategy !! ”

  “ Yeah .. but I have never seen Griffin like this ...crawling on ground ..!! ”.

  Kaal stood near Griffin and spit the blood from his mouth and said “How’s it taste ... I mean your own blood ??..... I bet it would be your first time... That this pretty face will ever be hit !!..right”. Griffin was still looking towards the ground.

  Kaal took a small stone in his hand place it inside is the fist to finish the fight with this last attack.

  Kaal in mind

  Now ... it’s over

  But after seeing the Griffins smiling face he realizes he was wrong. Griffin dodged his punch and caught his hand with lighting fast speed and pin down him to the ground.

  The band members started cheering Griffin “Yeah he did it!!”.

  Griffin talking to Kaal “That last attack ... that was quite effective .... but it’s all over now ....... now it’s time to accept it ...... Now, will you concede your defeat? ... or... should I dislocate your shoulder? ”.

  “ Now .....chose carefully ”.

  Kaal was still on the ground struggling to get free but he was unable to do that, after a minute he replied “... asshole ...”.

  And with the answer, Griffin dislocated the Kaal shoulder without mercy. The sound of shoulder dislocation and Kaal scream were echoing all over the place. All band members came down from the slop shouting “Oh yeah ...that’s our Griffin”. And started congratulating him.

  The other band members started chatting with him

  “When you fall from the cliff ... We don’t know what going to happen ....”.

  “Moron did you think something like that could finish off Griffin ??”

  “Wow, you are tough ...man ”.

  Kaal was still on the ground he was unable to stand up the cause of pain Corkus saw this and took this chance to pay back for last time.

  Corkus said, “That’s what you get ...now stand up ”.

  Corkus forces full lifted Kaal with his dislocated shoulder but suddenly Griffin came towards his and stopped him.

  Corkus wasn’t able to understand this so he only called his name “Griffin ??...”.

  Griffin didn’t reply to him he got in his knee and caught Kaal face with his hands and said to Kaal “From now on you belong to me ...”.

  Kaal saw a strange shine in his eyes when he was talking to him.

  Suddenly Corkus asked, “What that’s mean ?”.

  Griffin replied, “From now on he is one of the Hawks”.

  And everyone started discussing it. Casca was seeing all this from the top of the cliff.

 
; Casca’s inner voice

  He never said that before ... Griffin never said a thing like that ...”I want you.” .....he never said it to anybody !!

  Kaal was resting in his tent after his defeat.

  Kaal’s inner thoughts

  I lost ...I lost !!! ....no...not lost ..he crushed me!!...it was pathetic damn it !!....

  Damn ...that innocent grin .....ear to ear smile, like a little kid ...but that bastard didn’t even think twice about pulling my shoulders outer join, he yanked it like a doll’s arm...

  God damn it.....what the hell is he ..?!

  Kaal snapped out his thought after hearing noise from outside

  On outside the tent Corkus and his few friends were making a plan to attack Kaal at night, they are discussing their plane

  “ You are really going to kill him Corkus ?”.

  Corkus “*shh!!* Don’t chicken out now!! There are seven of us !!!...don’t you all say you hate him too ??...”.

  “ Yeah but ...he is frigging powerful besides Griffin... ”.

  Corkus “He killed Dante !!... don’t worry if we are lucky we will kill him in his sleep beside, he can’t use his sword when his hand is like that .... if we ditch his body somewhere in woods even Griffin will think he ran off some were”.

  Kaal heard there all talk and took his sword in uninjured his hand started thing

  These guys will be no problem at all

  Outside the tent, everyone prepared to start the attack

  Corkus “Okay ...go Sam !”.

  Sam “Why me ??”.

  “You always do this”.

  Suddenly Casca came from nowhere and said: “That’s fair enough ... even if he is wounded he is not someone you can beat”.

  Corkus “Casca !!”.

  After seeing Casca Kaal didn’t make any move and started observing the situation