[spadacus]

Another chapter,longest one yet, stay with it

A dusty road bends its snakelike journey far into the distant sandy horizon, orange rocks and dry black prickly brush sporadically break up its path, while the rest of the surrounding area remains a bleak hot dry desert, straying from the road would mean a long and thirsty death.

Shading behind one of the larger outcrops hidden from view Sesss “The Messenger” lies in wait with his less than faithful servant Getthe.
Approaching slowly on horseback, a figure on the horizon slowly fills out to be a guard in bright silver armour and a red cloak, dust is kicking up behind him and his progress is typical of someone who has been travelling for many days in a hot environment.

“He looks big Master” Peering through the bush Getthe squints to make out the horseman though the dust.

“Shush, quiet you old fool he will hear us, its him I'm sure it is, look he has the red cloak!” Sesss peers through next to Getthe, face hidden in a black hood, his old eyes also struggling to make out the figure

“I don't think this is a good idea Master!”

“Look, I've been practising my dear fellow, my new skills are beyond equal, now keep your voice down, stay here I'm going to surprise him.” Sesss slowly pulls back in to the shade and stands fully upright, he is an imposing figure, and age has not yet taken his strength, flexing his arms and moving his head side to side, these past few years his old body seemed to ache more than it used to.
“He is not alone Master!” Behind the 1st rider is a companion, in furs and armoured helm, heavy set and grim faced.

“Look I don't care, I've been sent to kill this idiot and we've been hiding out on this road for 5 days waiting for him, this is as good a time as any, I'm going to smite him so hard his dead ancestors will feel it.”

Thinking for a moment Getthe looks towards the Dark Herald “Red or white?
“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Red or white flowers at your funeral Master, ill tell the guild, you know, your last wishes, do you wish to say anything heroic?”

“Mmm perhaps just to cover all angles, erm….. yes tell them, “If I should Die then two should take my place, for the good of the guild” Sesss stands head high and tilted to the left with his hands on his hips and 1 leg slightly forward,(Heroic pose number 4 from the book of heroic poses of old)

“Like worms you mean?” Getthe wiggling is fingers
“Yes ...no...What?,. No not like worms, what's worms got to do with anything? Look keep down they will see us.”

“Well with worms if you cut one in half ,which is probably going to happen to you, you know your not as young as you were, well anyways you get 2 worms you see? Getthe says pulling his fingers apart to illustrate the separation

“Well thank you Getthe, thank you for the vote of confidence in your Masters abilities, but I don't intend to die today if that's ok, now silence they are almost in range.”

“Well can have your stuff?”
“No!”
“Why not? If you're dead what do you need it for? I reckon that black cape will look good on me and ill get a few gold for that sword!

“Mark me well Getthe we will talk of your lack of faith after this, Stay here!”

The Riders are now within 20 feet of the hiding place, Sesss calmly steps out into the road and the horses stop immediately, nostrils flaring.

“Markus of Ang?”Sesss, calling towards the riders a finger pointing towards the nearest rider?
“Get off the road or be trampled wizard” The red cloak spits the words out as his companion rides level to his shoulder, already his sword is held firmly in hand.
The horses sense trouble and stamp their hooves and wave their heads, the foam of sweat on their haunches.
“I cannot and you cannot travel further on this road, in this world, Markus of Ang”.
“Gah, old fool you delay my journey and I'm thirsty, if you will not move ill move you into the nether world!” The Companions Horse rears up on 2 legs and charges forward with a screech.
Sesss pulls his sword from his back, its metallic song seems to slice the very air and he crouches against the oncoming warrior.

The Companion strikes down towards the Herald, but Sesss has already moved to the side kneeling low he takes the legs of the mare with the blunt side of his sword and it comes crashing down, hard!

The Companion is thrown forward and lands heavy, his face in the dust; the mare scrabbles for its feet and makes for the horizon empty saddle flapping.

The red cloak has already dismounted and now swings downwards hard towards Sesss, Swords crash and sing in the empty desert, Sesss beaten backwards defending the maniacal chops and hacks, this man is strong, but he is just a man and Sesss is more than man alone.

Red cloak grins to himself, he is winning, this old fool is strong, but he is stronger and quicker, but it hot and it's getting hotter.
Red cloak spins and kicks out, the boot finds Sesss's chest and the old Herald falls heavy,
Red cloak stops and smiles,” See old fool you are no match for me, ill take your horse and your water and leave you to the buzzards!”

“Sesss pulls himself to his knee, his cloak is dusty and his black mask is restricting his vision, he pants a curt reply remembered from the book of witty comebacks and replies by the now dead Author, Simon of Cressing, killed while trying to recite a languid poem in answer to a shout of “I'm going to rip of your head and fill your neck with something nasty”

“The err, buzzards will be feasting, but they will taste your warm meat not mine you,… milkmaids daughter!”

“What?” red coat looks taken aback.

Getthe looking from the brush moves his eyes upwards and lets out a small sigh; it's not the best comeback.

contd

[spadacus]

“Here, did you drop this?” Sesss looks down to the ground and picks something from the floor.
“What is it?”
“Your brain!” with this he throws the hand full of dust up to the face of the red cloak.
“Arrgh” Red cloaks hand goes to his eyes wiping at the dust.
Taking the advantage Sesss moves forward striking quickly, but his blows are all defended by the skilled swordsman.

Behind him Sesss is aware of the companion rising up, groggy but upright he is also now staggering forward.

“Your good but your time is over now!”Sesss presses hard, his speed increasing. Now bright flames ignite in his hands and travel to his arms.

Red Cloak feeling the heat of the desert and the exertion of battle now also feels the hot sting of unearthly fire.

“Now feel the power of Xotil” The change is fast, where once an old cloaked dark Herald had been ,now stands a nightmare, taller stronger and much faster, the demon that had been Sesss was more than red cloak could handle and he knew it, he was tired and the demons strikes were heavy but fast as lightning.

At that moment the companion's shoulder crashes in the Demon Sesss and knocks him to the floor, this moment is enough for Red cloak and his companion to gather themselves and face this abomination as one, the fight is not over yet.
Within this form Sesss knows the advantage is his and he is up in a second and rushes forward, fire in his steps, his advantage will last only so long and already he can feel the change back coming.
His charge is ended in a ball of fire and his sword is now ablaze, its path is swift and both the red cloak and companion back away defending the cuts for their very lives.
The Companion is not fast enough, he parries one and then another stroke but the third is missed, too slow and the Demon's sword finds leather & soft flesh between neck & shoulder, it cuts hard and deep and the companion sags to the floor, just then the demon now vanishes and is replaced by the old herald once again.

As a seesaw the battle turns again, weak from the change Sesss is pushed backwards, red cloak is angered, his companion now lying mortally wounded, his fury pushing him on red cloak shouts with each cut and sparks “zing” from the blades as they meet, a practiced feint and shove knock the herald again to the floor he lands hard and feels as though he cannot move.
“Ah an end now at last….. You…. warlock, ….you killed…… my friend with unearthly magic……. now you will die on this road,……I curse you!” Red cloak pants through his curse, heavy breaths of air needed
“Just ….one …more thing…!” Sesss replies…he also is in need of water and rest.
Fire leaps from the heralds hand to the red sweating face of red cloak but his reactions are quick enough and he moves back, away from the heat.

“hah not even close…whaaaahhhhhhh!” with a thump he falls back over the couched body of Getthe in a small ball, positioned just behind the back of his knees, Red cloaks fall looses the sword from his hand, Getthe scurries out of the way like a large rat and makes for the nearest rock for safety.

Sesss is up, the rest has been just enough to catch his breath; “Here!” he kicks the sword to the red cloak,” Die with honour, sword in hand, at least!”

Grabbing his sword Red cloak rises up, he feels tired and the fall has knocked the wind from his lungs, he makes a half feint and rises up, goes up for a chopping down movement to the top of Sesss's head, too slow the attack is obvious, and Sesss ignores the small cut to his arm from the feint and thrusts forward to the top of the chest, it finds no armour only flesh and bone, Sesss twisting the blade, brings its downwards, splitting red cloak from chest to crotch.
Twisting away Sesss does not watch him fall back, knowing the cut had ended this fight.

Sesss staggers over to a small rock and sits down on it resting his forehead on the hilt of his sword, grabbing long hot breaths; he takes off his black mask and rubs the sweat from his eyes.

Getthe brings over a flask of water and hands it to his master. Sesss takes a long drink of the warm water.
“Close!”
“Yes Getthe, thank you!”
So, we can go back home now?”
“Yes, it will be good to get back, help me up will you”
With an inward breath, Sesss stands up and eyes the cut to his arm, nothing to serious.
He walks in front of Getthe to the body of Red cloak.
“Right we will bring this cloak back as evidence of his demise, Getthe take his cloak”
“Yes master, ew..It's got guts on it, …..Erm oh look his coin bags has fallen out too, I just as well take it eh?
“I suppose he will not be needing it, leave him 2 coins for the ferryman Getthe!”
“Ok let's see what you got for Getthe you little beauty”

Getthe opens the bag and looks in, “Ooooh, shiny coins, and there's something written in here master,…. if lost return to Robert of Moor Castle!”
Sesss spins around “what?”