A New Cordell

(I know I'm taking another post but I figured I'd let you all know this now rather than later.)

I was hurrying along behind Nila, what she didn't know, what no one knew, that was to my advantage. I had known the day would come that I would no longer carry the burden of the world in my back, now that it had come my only purpose was to protect the new bearer.

We had gotten out of the dungeons and were running through the streets. It was getting dark out and the streets were artificially vacant, as if the town had sensed the danger and the citizens were in hiding. I saw a blacksmith shop that still had a hot forge and a weapon being crafted, still hot.

"This is where we part ways Nila," I said. "Your destiny is not to destroy the weapons, but to find and preserve them and bring an end to the unrighteous reign of Bartholomew. Yours and your son's. Yes Nila I have known all along he was your child, my mother taught me from before the day I could walk how to fight and you know that you were second only to her in skill. Go now and hide, I'll hold them off."

I grabbed the weapon and took a deep breath before connecting it with my back, where I had been bleeding. I let out a scream that would alert most of the nearby enemies where I was, but I couldn't have a blood trail leading them to my position. Rule number one when facing multiple enemies, use stealth and your ability to hide.

I heard someone nearby and I moved quickly inside the darkness of the shop, still holding the weapon. The darkness was settling in more fiercely and I closed my eyes and focused on hearing.

There, I moved forward and stabbed my sword into the man as I wrapped my free hand over his mouth. He didn't make a sound. I put down my weapon and took his. He had a superior craftsman sword and I would be able to use that. The clouds parted above and the moon started to shine.

"Larry? Is that you?" Another man asked.

Rule number two, if the enemy thinks you are a friend let him. I nodded and he turned around. I moved quickly up behind him and slit his throat and covered his mouth as I did so. I pulled him into the shadows and set him beside his friend.

Rule number three, take away the opponents basis for advantage. My mind flashed back to my mother's words.

Leerans think they are so powerful, but they have never mastered blind fighting as you have. You are, perhaps, better than I.

My mind shot to the present and several Leerans jumped down from rooftops all around me.

"You don't have a chance Nila," One of them said.

"If I was Nila," She said slowly. "You'd be right. My name is Marianna Cordell Neethak and as I named for my mother."

Rule number four, if you can inflict fear into your foes, do it.

They all took a step back as I jumped into action, my mother had been a legend among the Leeran people. They didn't know that I was in fact not as good as her, in a normal fight, but at night, I was like a tigress stalking prey for her young. Nothing, short of death, was going to stop me from my goal.

A few moments later and ten leerans lay dead in the street. I had to keep moving, I had lost a lot of blood and continously fighting would lead to my weakening, as I was already beginning to feel dizzy.

I headed back to the hotel Will was staying at. I could see the hotel in front of me when I felt a chill run down my spine as I felt them coming. Will was looking out the window but he couldn't see me.

I heard them running up behind me and I spun around, "What do you want?"

They spoke in unison, "Where is the Legend of Madness?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I said. She turned back to the window but William was not there.

"You shouldn't lie," One of them spoke. "She might also have been called Tristy or Abatha, her old names."

"Tell us where she is and we won't kill your precious William," Another said.

I saw Nila behind them and she dropped Tristy on the ground and spoke, "She's right here now be gone. I have no use for her anymore."

One of them had picked up the Legend in the blink of an eye and they looked satisfied, "We will leave, but consider yourselves warned. If you dare approach or kidnap her again, we will kill you."

Nila shook her head, "No you won't. You are too afraid of me for that and too afraid of my son William."

"Son?" William's voice chimed in. "Your my mother?"

The seekers took this opportunity to escape and disappear with their prize.

Nila took a deep breath, "Yes William, my full name is Annila Mary Thrisfalen." She came closer and gave him a hug, he wasn't sure how to react.

Nila moved back and looked at me, "William is your charge now Cordell. More are coming, I must be off. I'll try and lead them away, do you understand?"

I nodded slowly, "Goodbye Nila."

Nila ran off down an alley. I turned to the street, "Time to go where no Leeran wants to go right now. The dark district."

"Isn't there some kind of monster down there?" Will asked me.

"That's why the Leerans will be more hesitant to follow there." I began running. The clouds had decided to bless us with rain, that would make us harder to track. The moon still shone on our path but we never made it to the dark district before we were surrounded.

"Go Cordell," William said. "I'll hold them off."

I smirked, "That's why I like you Lord Dinli." I didn't want them to know his real name, just in case it got back to Bartholomew or if any of them recognized it. "They are after me. I looked around for the leader but I couldn't tell which one was in charge.

"Make a path for my Lord or I will carve a path of death in the name of Marianne Neethak," Some of these did not believe the legend about her evidently but enough did to make a small path. I turned and whispered to William, "Hide my lord. Go to the dark district and make yourself invisible, you can't have two lives anymore. Only the one that does not exist can exist now. You are too valuable."

He did not like it but he ran off into the night and I turned back to the mass of Leerans.

"You look like you think I should surrender now," I grinned. "I made no such deal and he is in the dark district now. Come on then if you think you can beat me."

There were at least fifty of them, all for me. I should have been flattered but I know Bartholomew had been hoping to catch Nila with these numbers. It doesn't matter, I'll take as many as I can with me.

* * * *
* Flash to William *
* * * *

A lone man dropped into my path, "Just so you know William. Your mother barely escaped with her life but Cordell fell unconscious from blood lose and was taken."

"Where?" William growled.

"I can only assume to Bartholomew. A few weeks from here." He dropped a piece of paper and quickly left.

Will picked up the paper and put it in his pocket.

(Hope you like it. Oh and where is Amber? Who knows.)