Killing Monsters
Page 6
Bellethiel, having finished making his potions, joked with Hiroki. “C’mon, don’t give me that look Hiroki, it’s really not a big deal. We will be in and out in no time!”
“You know it’s dangerous Bellethiel, not to mention Yoshihiro will be fucking furious!”
“I’ll be fine, I’m not just a pretty green face!”
Bellethiel stood at five feet exactly, he was slim and toned which physically mimicked his flexibility and speed, he had dark green skin with matching green eyes, his hair was long, blonde, and tied back which revealed his sharp pointy ears. Bellethiel wore brown quilted leather trousers with matching lightweight knee-high brown boots, and his top half was covered by a dark red tunic with a black leather unbuttoned jerkin. Wrapped around Bellethiel’s waist was a brown leather belt which had a gold buckle and magically imbued jade stones which could illuminate the darkest of caves upon Bellethiel’s command, this was a gift from Ragrim that he received on his twenty first birthday and the belt had multiple dagger insertions which were filled expertly by crafted daggers made from meteorite, also forged by Ragrim.
Bellethiel knew it would be hard to explain his decision to his friend, so he nodded towards the seating area and Hiroki and Bellethiel made their way into the centre of the tent.
They both sat cross legged on a circular rug which had been expertly stitched, no doubt this was human craftsmanship. The rug was purple and had a gold stitched rim and a well stitched depiction of the grand dragon storm which was the centrepiece of this rug. The words ‘greatness always returns home’ was stitched into the rug which made Hiroki smirk inside, his feelings began to run away with him again. Storm is never coming back. I wish people would abandon this false hope, much like Storm abandoned us!
The two friends sat and Bellethiel gave Hiroki a mischievous smile and laughed, trying to make light of the situation. “Okay brother, is it because you have fallen for me and can’t bear to see me go? Poor Angelika, she’ll be heartbroken!”
“Fuck off Bellethiel! I’m pissed off, don’t go!”
Bellethiel and Hiroki sat side by side for what they both knew would be the last time.
Bellethiel took a sip of his honey wine and continued, “You know I joined the War Hogs after leaving my homeland, I was bored with the shit life there and wanted adventure, I wanted to take on the world.”
“It can’t be easy; I know the struggles of woodlanders and what the elves did to you.”
“It’s not just the fucking elves! To be honest, I’ve always been angry that woodlanders have been enslaved by other races, hunted down and used like fucking animals, bastards, who the fuck do they think they are!”
“And now you seek to try and save the centre from the East. That would be amusing, the race people have exploited over the years becoming its saviours!”
“Fucking too right!” chuckled Bellethiel. “You can’t relate but try to imagine, try to imagine being abused and heckled everywhere you go, try and imagine not being able to leave your lands as you’d be hunted and abused. Men and women of my species have suffered at the hands of many, what you would declare a nightmare are everyday realities for woodlanders . . . I won’t fucking have it!”
“Nor will I! The War Hogs will rule the centre one day, then you and your people will no longer live in fear.”
“But until then, I am indeed a cursed bastard, cursed by my own skin tone and race.”
Hiroki’s inner rage crept out. “If only the War Hogs were bigger, we could forge a new world with our swords and might. I would never allow any race to live in fear.”
Hiroki knew of the persecution and horrific treatment they received at the hands of the elves many years ago. Around the year 199, elven women would give birth prematurely by some months and those elves born premature were understandably born weak, undersized, and required medical spells regularly to ensure survival throughout their first few months of life. Elves are born slim and tall with natural slender frames, however the premature elves that were born were not only smaller, only ever reaching heights of around five four, but they were also considerably weaker, skinnier and had a skin tone of a light green, unlike the common healthy born elves, who had a naturally pale skin complexion.
The woodlander’s racial appearances were viewed as deformities which lead to bullying, harassment and segregation by the healthy born elves and things got worse as astonishingly it came to pass that the premature born elves harnessed no natural magic ability, nor could they carry out even the most basic of spells.
These poor premature born elves were subjected to all kinds of harassment and were ultimately forced to the outer areas of the elven lands.
The king in power at the time in the year 199, King Bellcaunion past an elven law during his last years alive to have the premature elves banished and forcibly removed from the elven lands as they were deemed useless, weak, pathetic and a strain on pure elven resources. The kings new law passed decisively throughout the supreme elven court and the premature elves were rounded up and marched out of their homes which went down in Dragon Continent history as ‘The Mass Cleansing’
The Premature born elves were driven from their homelands and dumped into the local woodland forest to simply die out however they did not, they prospered and evolved, developing their own culture and tapping into their own natural magic and abilities. They became the woodlanders and were led by their first king hundreds of years ago, the mighty Erynion.
Bellethiel continued, “I stayed in contact with my king and queen, we exchanged information and updates and Yoshihiro was pleased as he knew woodlanders were a kind race and he hoped to one day develop a relationship with my people.”
“The king and queen of the woodlanders. What are they like?”
“Like all woodlanders, small, fiery and full of heart!”
Hiroki had seen Bellethiel write messages then his forest owl Zeke would deliver them, no doubt the king and queen would deliver messages to Bellethiel the same way, with their own birds that would be flown off to exchange information. “I can’t talk you out of this can I brother?”
Bellethiel’s face began to sadden and Hiroki could sense sinister news on the horizon. “My king and queen had heard of rumours for many years regarding the war in the East and of how the winning army would no doubt set their sights on us and the entire Centre Plate with their giant armies.”
“So, they took action! Not wanting to fall victim at the hands of wicked forces again, like your forefathers suffered.”
“Yes, we sent a spy to join the evil king Marius of the northern side of Eastern Plate. Our spy posed as a drifter, eager to offer his abilities of archery and animal taming to serve the evil king for the right amount of coin, with our botany and medicinal secrets the evil king did not hesitate to accept.”
“And no doubt the evil king believed your spy, blinded by a desperate desire to utilise anything or anyone he could against his rival?”
“That’s it! He's been providing us with updates for many years, but now a winner of this war seems to be emerging, and that is what will bring the evil.”
“How can there possibly be an end to that war! Both armies are huge, both command grand dragons and both kings enjoy slaughter and death. It was that fucking Marius that slaughtered Astaroth’s fucking tribe!”
Bellethiel looked Hiroki dead in the eyes, his eyes harboured fear and dread. “Vampires Hiroki . . . Vampires.”
Bellethiel explained that the evil king Marius had pledged a secret allegiance with the dark vampire race. If they helped Marius win his war over the rival king, that would make Marius ruler of the entire Eastern Plate, Marius would then in return help the vampires invade the Centre Plate with all the lands of Dragons Continent to be spread evenly between vampires and King Marius.
A chill ran down Hiroki’s spine. It all makes sense now, the vampire sightings across the map, the restlessness around Centre Plate and Yoshihiro’s sombre mood as of late. Yoshihiro knows and this is why he was eager for me
to train and help Thunder ascend into a grand dragon! Davorin must know as well!
Bellethiel placed his arm around Hiroki. “I couldn’t tell you about this while you were training brother, you needed to be focussed. Astaroth and I leave tomorrow, you will need to stay with Yoshihiro as once he has met with Darius, no doubt you will have to try to unify the Centre Plate in preparation for this war!”
Hiroki rose sharply, “Tell me my brother, who else knows.”
“Everyone knows now my brother, Yoshihiro told the commanders, though he does not know Astaroth and I will be leaving tomorrow, he’s going to be fucking angry! The rest of our clan do not know yet either, Yoshihiro wants them focused on Darius, he will tell them after.”
“It seems as though a war is on the horizon.”
“Go and speak with the rest of our commanders. Crow will probably be alone with a whore somewhere, Jadar likewise, the filthy bitch, Ragrim will be at his smithing station pissed as a fiddle, Archie will probably be in bed the sad bastard and I’m sure you’ll find Angelika and Yoshihiro on your own. Fuck knows where Tatsuya will be.”
An awkward silence surrounded Bellethiel and Hiroki, they both knew tonight would be the last night they would see each other for some time, two best friends being torn apart by destiny. They embraced each other and Hiroki left Bellethiel’s tent to find Crow Cadogan.
Chapter 7:
Crow Cadogan
Roars of laughter, music and celebrations could be heard for miles as the War Hogs celebrations continued into the night. In the centre of the encampment around a mass campfire, a group of warriors were drinking merrily and filling their stomachs. The drunk men could be seen dancing, laughing, and telling stories of past battles whilst many whores surrounded the distinguished warriors and joined in with the celebrations and banter. Half-naked women kissed and whispered sweet seductive incentives into the ears of the warriors urging them to take them to their tents, for the right coin of course.
One warrior stood up and chugged an entire goblet of ale whilst a woman of the night sat just behind him and stroked his inside leg, upon downing the ale he screamed merrily. “FOR THE WAR HOGS!” This was met with cheers from his brothers in arms.
The man was a giant, broad shouldered and bald headed with scars all over his body, he turned to his whore for the night and grabbed her exposed breasts.
The woman was topless, her breasts were big and firm and her nipples looked like pink berries before the campfire. “You gonna pay up and show me what War Hogs can do in the bedroom then?” she asked joyfully. More cheers and laughter were heard and many of the warriors encouraged their friend to proceed to his tent.
The giant warrior rose again, he could barely walk and was clearly drunk, but that didn’t stop him, for he knew this was their last night of peace. The man threw two gold pieces and a small ruby into the crutch of the woman which invoked more cheers and laughter. “Sweetheart, I hope you’re ready. I’m gonna fuck like there’s not tomorrow!” he pulled down his cottoned bottoms and revealed his cock, it was big, and he grabbed at it with his hand and shook it round in a circular motion, much to everyone’s uncontrollable drunken laughter and shock!
The big broad warrior picked up the woman and cradled her in his arms and she laughed, she was happy as payment was generous and she knew she was in for a treat! The man began to walk off to his tent, not before he turned to a fellow warrior who was at the centre of these celebrations.
The mysterious figure was also drunk and sat down with two whores either side of him, the bauld giant engaged him. “Crow, I’m fucking her for you as well brother!” Everyone laughed as he walked off to end his night in sexual ecstasy.
The man in question with the two whores was the ringleader of this outrageous celebration, and was none other than Crow Cadogan, a commander in the War Hogs, famed warrior and bodyguard and one of Yoshihiro’s most trusted friends.
Crow stood up and addressed the women and his friends. “Well that’s ruined my night! I thought I had the biggest cock here!
Crow’s joke was met with laughter as he continued, “I’m going to have to bid you all farewell for tonight, you sick fuckers. I’ve drunk too much, I’m fucked! Tonight, I want my bed . . . alone! Sleep is on the menu, not sex!” Crow tied his red dreadlocks behind his head and began to leave.
The women seemed visibly disappointed, Crow was indeed handsome and a man’s man, however, on this night the so-called lady killer seemed to have things on his mind, things that no woman or any amount of alcohol could cure.
The two whores rose, one was red headed, slim and completely naked with smooth pale skin and the other had a caramel skin complexion, black hair and petite build, they both grabbed at Crow seductively, but their pleas fell on deaf ears as Crow began to leave.
Whores have a dark side too, especially when customers escape their grasp and they must restart their game of luring new clients in to earn coin, they had wasted many hours with Crow.
The redhead scorned Crow. “What a cunt! Waste of time, if I’d know he was gonna fuck off, I wouldn’t of spoke one word to him!”
The beautiful caramel skinned whore continued the scathing assault. “Cheeky bastard, I know the type anyway, he probably prefers men!”
The crowd of warriors laughed at their comrade hysterically, Crow laughed too! Crow couldn’t argue that he had wasted their time, so he turned to them and smiled. “Ladies, please accept my sincere fucking apologies.”
He pulled a small brown leather drawstring purse from his pocket and threw it at the two women. Upon opening the purse, gold coins and gemstones were revealed. The amount here was more than any whore would expect, even for the two of them.
The red head shouted to Crow as he continued to walk off into the dark, “All of it? Are you sure?” Crow didn’t say a word but instead raised his hand and gave them a thumbs up before disappearing into the dark. The red head called out again. “Thank you Crow! May your life be blessed by the grand dragon Storm!”
Crow laughed. “I’m a cursed man, no blessings will help me now.” He turned and walked off into the night.
The whores' comment made Crow smile as he walked off to his tent, much like Hiroki, Crow grew frustrated at beings still using Storm's name as a blessing. The dragon that abandoned the world still being celebrated . . . it just didn’t feel justified.
Crow began to whistle a melody as he walked merrily back to his tent, the cold air of the night had a sobering effect on him and he began chuckling out loud to himself, still drunk and laughing at the comments from the whores who insinuated that he preferred men!
“Cheeky bitches.” Crow hissed jokingly.
The comments didn’t bother him. Crow was a man’s man, a bringer of banter and he had an intoxicating personality, he had slept with plenty of women, so much so, he’d lost count!
As the crow approached his tent, he paused, looked up into the night sky, put his hands on his hips and took one last sobering deep breath before venturing into his tent.
Crow was a handsome man, he stood at six-two, with a firm muscular physique and he had blue eyes and long red dreadlocks which were quite eye catching. Crow had a long black goatee and perfect white teeth; his skin was dark but flawless and shone during days under the sun. He wore a baggy jerkin made from the fur of a war bear and he wore quilted brown cottoned trousers and short brown boots. His belt was brown with a gold buckle, the gold buckle matched the multiple gold hooped earrings he wore, and he had one giant gold gauntlet on his right arm.
In battle Crow was a monster, his silver sword and helped carve a legacy of legend whilst he fought for coin in battle pits and worked as a bodyguard. Many stories are told of Crow standing side by side with Yoshihiro on battlefields and slicing men in half.
Crow yawned and looked visibly tired and as he approached his tent, he found Hiroki standing in wait!
“I was expecting you to be with female company Crow, what’s wrong? . . . are you unwell?” asked Hiroki playfully.
Crow was around the same age as Yoshihiro, he viewed Hiroki as a little brother and the two were very close.
“I tried to find you earlier, you must have been talking to somebody else, I’d imagine today has been quite eventful.”
Crow placed both hands on Hiroki’s shoulders and continued, “My little brother . . . to think that one day you’d hold your own against our leader, the fearsome swordsman Yoshihiro, I bet it still hasn’t sunk in yet has it brother!” Crow could sense a sadness emitting from Hiroki.
Hiroki looked Crow in the eyes, a sombre look that didn’t really suit the usually happy young swordsman. “I know Crow, Bellethiel and Astaroth told me about the East and the two warring families, there leaving tomorrow to go east, its fucking suicide!”
Crow sighed and released Hiroki from his warm embrace. “We better go inside my tent for a talk little brother. I know you're angry, but we must all walk our own paths in life.”
Upon entering Crow’s tent, Hiroki couldn’t help but laugh. “Fuck, this tents a shithole Crow!”
Crow jousted back playfully, “Organised chaos Hiroki! there’s a difference.”
The inside of Crow’s tent did not mimic a tent of a warrior. The bedding area was a mess, pillows, covers and silk sheets were scattered everywhere, and different sets of lady’s undergarments were all over the floor which made Hiroki blush, he tried to pretend he didn’t see that. The bathing area was fairly clean, no doubt Crow took pride in his handsome appearance therefore made efforts to keep himself clean. Random armour sets, helmets, gauntlets, and weapons were scattered throughout the tent which infuriated Hiroki.
Hiroki had to make Crow aware of his dissatisfaction. “Crow! Fuck sake, this is dwarven armour and weaponry! Its priceless, Ragrim will go fucking mad if he sees you treating his finest work like this!