The Scheme of All Things: Part I

9

After Dreghbatta threw the last of the lined soldiers to the ground, the crowd broke and the mysterious figure emerged. He moved confidently and crouched like a lion ready to spring on its prey, he clenched a bloodied sword in his hand, his finely crafted helm of bronze covered the top part of his face, obscuring his identity but underneath the panting sneer of his mouth was a long black beard, braided with trinkets of red, green gold and silver, typical of a Igre knight, or King. His exposed flesh was wet with sweat and blood as was the rest of his body. His breast plate matched his helm and was hammered into a replica of bare skin with small etchings around the border. Intricate and impressive one time but now it was battered and dented with a significant gash across the mid section; there was blood there, but it was difficult to tell if it was his or a victims but the way the man held himself, it didn't seem to matter. He was dressed well, but still as a warrior, something Etheckel grudgingly admired.

His cloak dragged in the dust of the trampled field as he approached the General, hissing as he breathed. General Dreghbatta stood his ground, even crossing his arms in defiance; Etheckel gripped his saber tighter and inched closer to the general.

"King Goumundr you foul beast, you are alive and foolish enough to challenge me? I should remove your head from your neck and hang it from my belt!" Dreghbatta yelled, his voice booming across the field incurring stark fear in the ranks, their knees noticeably wobbly.

King Goumundr paced slowly back and forth, his sword point always facing the general and his eyes locked on the soulless pits of Dreghbatta's eyes.

"I don't fear you savage; your dark words will have no effect on me!" He spat.

"I'm curious your highness," Dreghbatta's voice lowered to almost a whisper, why have you come to me to die son of god? Was the humility of losing your entire tribe not enough for you?"

The remark clearly affected the king as Dreghbatta had intended and Goumundr's knuckles turned white from his tightening grip. His sneer became a grimace and he stopped pacing, standing directly in front of General Dreghbatta. Behind him, the army looked on silently.

"I came to kill you. I came to take revenge for your unprovoked attack on my people. I came to kill you for your treachery and send you to the fires of Ust!"

The General immediately responded with a laugh, but it trailed off as he looked into the face of the King. Etheckel sensed a sudden uneasiness in his commander and he readied himself for combat.

Once Dreghbatta stopped laughing King Goumundr saw his opportunity and lunged at the foreboding general, the sword point driving towards Dreghbatta's stomach. The general, suddenly taken off guard, panicked and briefly revealing his true nature growled and threw his hands down, palms open unleashing a blast of dark energy that looked like a shadow exploding, sending black shards of negative energy careening towards the king. The force of the dark energy hit Goumundr solidly in the face as the rest of the released energy spread out behind him instantly slaying any soldiers it sliced through. The crystal in the kings hand glowed even more brightly as it seemed to absorb most of the impact, but not enough to save Goumundr from falling back beleaguered and stunned.

Etheckel had jumped forward when he saw Goumundr lunging but had stopped when the General unleashed the blast. The shadows missed Etheckel, but he glimpsed the true form of General Dreghbatta and was stunned by the image. His commander stood in front of him, exposed as a demonic beast. Those dark pits, he had taken for eyes, were vacant except for an eerie red glow its mouth was full of impossible rows of needle like teeth that looked as if they could gnaw through steel, a vile green liquid oozed from the corner of his mouth. He was hunched and a boney tail swung carelessly behind him, his black skin was etched with red streaks like markings on a snake, a wicked visage born of the underworld. Etheckel could do nothing but stare in awe of the beast he had for many years, taken as his commander.