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Black and Red, 915 words
This is my 2nd attempt at posting work on these forums, a short introductory segment that I titled Black and Red for no reason other than it felt right.
Black and Red
Jeremy walked calmly between the columns. Light of a thousand skylights filtered from the monochrome sky shown upon the hunter’s gray tower hat as he walked. The cold light formed a path for him and Jeremy followed it high into the ranks of orderly pillars. The hunter felt tiny for a moment as he looked up the infinite distance to the skylights then down at the pit far below him. It’s not my fault. As he walked across path of light it narrowed until finally Jeremy stood on a point in the midst of the room. With casual certainty of doom Jeremy stepped over the edge. I couldn’t help them.
Jeremy landed on a disk of black stone, his tower hat beside him. Sweeping up the hat Jeremy searched the disk with his eyes but a sudden cloud of mist engulfed his sight. Calmly and certainly the hunter drew his saber from it’s sheathe with a crackle of electricity as he powered it up. Switching his weapon from hand to hand Jeremy gave a hoarse call:
“Come on Sam, let’s see what you’ve got!”
From out of the mist the sound of a saber powering up answered him. Jeremy’s smile left his eyes grim as he raised the weapon.
“Defend yourself Captain Black.” Sam came whirling out of the mist his saber sparking along its razor sharp edge. The swords clashed as Jeremy caught Sam’s weapon and forced it upward. With a kick to the chest the hunter sent his opponent stumbling backwards. Sam recovered quickly. Slash to the left. Cut to the right. Swipe at the throat. Clang, crackle and clink. Thrust. Parry. Slash. Dodge. Jeremy and Sam were a single dervish in the center of the disk.
As Sam feinted high and Jeremy’s saber tore his uniform’s sleeve along the seam the hunter caught a glimpse of the crowd. Where the mist had been rank upon rank of bystanders stood. Whistle. Clash. Jeremy deflected Sam’s blow. As the last of the mist faded Jeremy and Sam drew away from each other Sabers on guard.
“Shall we call it quits then Captain Black?” Sam called from across the disk.
“You look tired Jeremy.” It was a young woman standing beside the hunter’s mother in the front of the crowd.
“I’m fine Brenda. Besides, he’s weak.” Jeremy glanced over his shoulder. Reminded of those at his back the hunter turned back to Sam. “Prepare for combat Jarl kin.”
“Really Jeremy, you look tired…”
“I can handle him Brenda.”
“Weak as I am, Jeremy, I can’t help but hear your fear.” Sam stepped forward saber raised. “Now face my blade or die.” The sabers’ clash was like the toll of bell.
“A fight to the death now, Sam? How suddenly you change your stance.” Jeremy nicked Sam’s gloved hand with the tip of his saber.
“Is that uncertainty I hear in you commoner?” Sam swept forward in a flurry of electric steel. “And why shouldn’t you be? You cannot win.” Sam came in low and Jeremy sidestepped. “Fool.” The hunter stumbled as the inside of Sam’s saber caught his leg.
Jeremy lay on the center of the disk the tower hat rolling into the crowd. Rising above him Sam’s ruddy face grinned. An electrified dagger sparked in Sam’s left hand while his right lazily retrieved the saber.
“Well done Captain Black. Well done.” Sam raised the dagger.
“Stop Sam. He’s learned his lesson.” Brenda stepped out of the crowd, her face framed by dark hair and her eyes shining. “Just don’t kill him.”
“Fine, I’ll spare him. I don’t think he has learned well enough though.” Sam switch handled his blades. A grin spread across his face as Sam glanced down at his opponent. “A Jarl kin may do as he pleases Jeremy. You couldn’t win even if you destroyed me.” Sam stepped back, and Jeremy pushed himself into a crouch a hand on his saber. Sam took another step back and threw the dagger.
The dagger’s electrified tip sliced cleanly into Brenda’s chest and she slid to her knees. A jolt of electricity pulsed into the young woman’s body and she slowly fell onto her side, a trickle of blood oozing onto the blade.
“That should teach you Captain Black.” Sam turned his back and walked toward the edge of the disk sheathing his saber. Wordlessly Jeremy stared at Brenda’s fallen form, the crowd, Sam’s back… It’s not my fault; she brought it on herself… Why should I die too? Jeremy was on his feet, saber flashing toward Sam’s neck.
Crackle. Sam caught Jeremy’s saber and forced it and it’s wielder backward.
“I guess you don’t learn Jeremy.” Sam brought his saber around in a waist level sweep. Flash. Jeremy’s saber bit into Sam’s wrist. The saber spiraled out of the wounded man’s hand and skittered across the black disk. Sam dropped to the ground cradling his bleeding arm. Jeremy raised his weapon and brought it down in a slash at Sam’s head. Silence. Darkness. Emptiness. Jeremy glanced around. He made out Brenda’s body on the edge of the disk but of the rest of the crowd there was no sign. Jeremy glanced down at Sam but he was gone. Sorrow. It’s like a bad dream you can’t wake from.
The fishing booter sped over the frozen sea. Jeremy Black gazed out the open door across the ice flows. A great man once said that he who does not punish evil commands it to be done, but what if you’re powerless against it?
EDIT: Sorry about the font and size, I couldn't get them to work properly (As stupid as that sounds)
EDIT 2: Edited story slightly
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Last edited by dwellerofthedeep : 04-18-2006 at 07:06 AM.
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