• bandit swung his axe at Karel, his shout of triumph never left his lips as Karel’s blade flashed out tearing open the bandit’s exposed throat. The Sacean warrior was rewarded by a shower of blood, he quickly turned away, not wanting to see another die by his blade, too many had already suffered that fate.

    Raven grunted as he brought his silver blade crashing down onto the head of another of the would-be attackers, the man’s head burst like an over ripe melon. Raven roughly yanked his gore soaked blade out of the horrid remains of the man’s head before quickly helping his companion dispatch the remaining raiders.

    Karel ran a rag down the edge of his Wo Dao, cleaning away the blood that always seemed to find it’s way back onto it. With a heavy sigh he slid his sword back into its scabbard and looked across the campfire at his companion; Raven hadn’t changed much since they’d fled the destruction of Lord Eliwood’s army at the hands of Nergal, he looked more ragged and he was definitely thinner than when they’d run but he was undoubtedly still Raven, same tough as old boot leather Raven.

    “You think we’ve got a chance?” Karel asked, breaking the silence that always seemed to settle over them at nights.

    Raven looked up from the fire. “I don’t know…but I’ll never stop trying.” Karel nodded and let the silence drop back over them, each man quickly losing himself to his thoughts.


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    Eliwood’s broken body lay at Nergal’s feet, torn apart from within by the sheer power of Nergal’s dark magic. Hector had gone down under the endless barrage of morphs, the army was in disarray, everyone was fighting to escape. Just an arm length away from Raven, Sain went down, one of Uhai’s strange arrows buried in his heart. Raven winced as an axe sliced his shoulder, leaving a long gash behind.
    Outside the Dragon’s Gate Priscilla pushed back sweat soaked hair, out of nowhere a second army of morphs had descended on the already exhausted army. “Gods of the forge grant me this boon, FIRE!” a ball of flame leapt from her hand and engulfed one of the morphs, it went down without a sound, its strange gold eyes still staring blankly at her. She turned her mount and joined the others fleeing back towards Fargus’s ship.

    “I’m sorry brother…” she felt tears start to roll down her cheeks “We couldn’t hold out any longer…I’m sorry.”

    Karel smashed the hilt of his Wo Dao into a morphs face, the creature fell away, its skull crushed by the blow. Karel spared a glance at his beloved weapon, its blade was covered in hairline cracks and it would break very soon. He spun, -narrowly dodging a thunder spell- and drove his fist into another morphs throat. The swordmaster sucked a shaky breath into his burning lungs, he was tired, he was as good as weapon-less, if he didn’t get out now, He. Was. Going. To. Die.

    Raven struggled towards the exit, he had to get out. He had to get away, he had too much to live for, he couldn’t die now. He thrust his silver blade into the air. “For House Cornwall!” The shout rang out across the great hall as he charged at the dozen morphs that stood between him and a chance to live.

    Lucius looked up when he heard Raven’s shout, the young bishop closed his eyes for a moment.

    “Lord Raymond, please forgive your servant for what he is about to do.” Lucius tore the spell book Athos had given him from his belt and looked at the morphs that guarded the exit. “St Elimine” he began “Great Lady of the Holy Light, grant me your purity so that I may cleanse-” he felt his legs buckle as an arrow entered his knee, he swallowed and focused on the morphs that stood in front of Raven

    “-the sin from this world-” another arrow struck him, this time through the back, just below his neck. “Aureola!” he finished with a gasp. A blinding flash of white light engulfed the morphs that stood at the exit, incinerating them.

    Raven spun when he heard Lucius begin to chant. “You damn monk.” He hissed and began to fight back through the thick of the fray.

    Karel cast aside his shattered sword and headed towards the flash of light, he had to survive this day. He ducked an axe blow and punched its wielder in the stomach, he didn’t stay long enough to see if it had any effect.

    Lucius felt himself being lifted up. He desperately tried to focus his eyes. “Raven? Is that you?” There was no reply, just a feeling of cold dread.

    Raven watched in horror as the morph of Lloyd dragged Lucius up by his hair. Raven tore through his opponents but it was too late, he could only watch as Lloyd thrust his regal blade into Lucius’s back and through his heart. Raven felt his heart stop, and the sword slip from his fingers, as he watched the fountain of red erupt from his friend’s chest. He felt his knees buckle and a strange wetness on his checks “You damn monk.” He whispered “You damn stupid monk.”

    Karel wrapped an arm around the crying warrior, he wasn’t sure who it was but it didn’t matter, he was going to need the help of others to escape this island. He dragged the crying man to his feet and began to force him towards the door.


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    Raven looked up from the fire. “Karel?” His Sacean friend grunted. “I never did thank you for saving me.” At that Karel looked up. Raven closed his eyes and fidgeted with his armour. “Thank you” he said at last “you’ve given me a chance to set everything to right.”
    Karel smiled across at his friend. “You’re welcome.” He whispered, too softly for Raven to hear him. Without another word the two men lay down for the night and to prepare for tomorrow’s challenges.