Book 1: God of Ashes

(1) Night Hunting

"quiet" I raised my hand in a gesture for silence, and silence I received.

The soot-covered forestlands were glazed in velvety darkness, only being disturbed by the occasional squirrel or gust of wind. Or so it seemed. Eric silently walked to my side, spear raised at the ready, face grave but otherwise emotionless as we listened for the one noise we've been looking for all night.

Footsteps.

We heard it, one after another in slow, almost silent motion. We quickly but quietly glided over to a nearby tree, hiding behind it while we searched for our prey. I gently nocked an arrow into my string and glanced at my Elixir vile. Half empty.
I'm only going to have a few shots, and I better make sure they hit or we may be in deep trouble...

Our eyes glazed over the landscape and came to rest on a black shape fifty paces to our left. I looked at Eric and told him the plan. We looked back at the hulking shape and jumped down the slope into the valley the Demon stood in. The creature whipped it's head around and looked at us with soulless eyes. It was maybe eight feet tall and as thick as a few full grown trees. Me and Eric, though being over six foot each, felt diminutive and small compared to this beast. But it didn't faze us, we've slain bigger.

The beast made the first move, it lunged at us, but I was ready. I drew back the massive bow, and held the arrow at my cheek
"Solas!" I released the arrow. In mid-air, it burst into flames and smacked straight into the demons left eye. It dropped, screaming in agony as it clawed the arrow out. In anger, the demon ripped a large tree out of the ground and threw it at me. I dove out of the way, and Eric did as well. The tree hurdled by us, slamming into the snow bank we hopped down. We rolled to our feet and I already had another arrow nocked. I ran towards the demon, firing a series of arrows into it's chest, legs, and neck. With each resounding thwack of an arrow the beast progressively got angrier. I stopped maybe twenty feet from the beast while Eric continued his charge, spear at the ready. Eric lunged when he was close enough, falling into a roll as he sliced the demons though with his sharp point. I continued my relentless barrage, not stopping unless I was worried I was going to hit Eric. Eric dove under the beasts legs, slicing muscles and tendons alike with his spear, which jutted about the demon like a snake. Finally the demon swung his powerful arm in an arc and it slammed into his ribs, knocking the breath out of him and sending him flying into a ditch fifteen feet away
I drew another stroke and knocked it.

I drew the arrow to my cheek once more and aimed at the flailing demon.

"lasair naofa!" I felt the drain in my Elixir as I fired the arrow. It delves deep into the monster's ribs and burst into a bright light that lit up the valley and everything inside of it. I dropped to my knees as the power the shot took from me began its toll. The demon screamed once more, burst into golden flame, and laid down, silent. It slowly withered into Ash and blew away in the wind.

I hobbled over to Eric and felt for a pulse. It was light but it was there. Eric was still alive. I picked him up and wrapped his arms around my shoulders, and began the trek back to the path that would lead us back home.