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.)

Bonita

Silence was my strength. I hid behind the wall as Nila had ordered. I wasn't sure what was going on, but I had a feeling that may it be the last time I see Cordell or Nila. I waited in the dark passageway for what seemed like hours, when I was sure everyone had gone. I had heard a lot more footsteps than expected.

When I entered the dimly let room Nila had led me to, I noticed a small pool of blood on the floor. There was a blood trail leading from it to the dark tunnels ahead. They don't have a chance. I thought sadly to myself. I couldn't let those thoughts cloud my mind, I had a job to do.

I quickly looked over the paper Nila handed me. Ah, finally, someone who speaks my language. Some of the words were off, but I understood most of what she wanted me to do. The only thing I couldn't make out was the name of the man I was to meet.

Her map led me to a small blacksmith shop on the outskirts of town. The blacksmith seemed to have been expecting me, as I hurried past, he slipped a small dagger into my hand. "You'll be wanting this." he said almost inaudibly.

It was starting to get dark. I had to get to my contact before it got dark, otherwise I could be attacked and would have no backup. After a few minutes I arrived to the meeting place. It was a dark area by the outer wall of the city. Alright, where are you? I thought to myself.

Suddenly, the ground beneath my feet collapsed and I fell into another dark tunnel. "I've been expecting you. Did you have any trouble finding me?" A voice came from the darkness.

Bartholomew

The messenger came quickly to the temporary fortifications we had made along the front line where Batholomew was staying. He rushed inside and knelt before Bartholomew.

"What news do you bring?" He commanded.

"Nila has been very distracted lately and has dropped her guard," The messenger started. "The Leerans managed to kill several of her underlings and found the location of her secret lair inside the catacombs she created under Westport."

"What of the medallion?"

"The young girl Cordell was the last we have seen with the medallion but that was months ago," The messenger squirmed under the glare he was receiving. "But I'm sure if we catch Nila we could get the medallion's location from her."

"You are assuming she still has track of it," Bartholomew mused. "Alright tell them to continue their pursuit and bring me either Cordell or Nila."

"It shall be done."

Nila

(I know Bonita didn't post yet.)

We arrived in my underground base located deep inside one of the various buildings. I'd had to move Tristy several times already, the seekers were good at finding my bases; almost like they had a sixth sense on where she was.

I copied the markings the best I could, while keeping the order onto several pieces of paper.

"If you had this why did you bring me here?" Bonita was agitated.

"In case I copied anything incorrectly," Nila explained.

"I don't understand."

"The markings came from her body," I answered.

Bonita nodded and her face became one of concentration, "These markings don't make any sense. Talking about places and distances, like some kind of map."

"Make a map then," I suggested, handing her a paper and quill pen, along with some ink.

She began writing fiercely and I could see the images almost being burned into her mind and I grinned. I heard someone coming down the hall.

"Quickly Bonita," I commanded. Tristy was still unconscious. I moved to another secret passage and motioned inside, "Hide here while I see who it is."

Cordell walked into the light and I smiled, "I'm glad you made it."

"Please forgive me Cordell."

Before she could respond I turned her around and grabbed a small knife that had been heating over one of the torches in the room. I had been using it to torture Tristy between her fits of unconsciousness.

I forced Cordell to the ground and tied her down and gagged her. Then I found the crescent shaped scar on her back and reopened it. I pulled out a small metal object from inside her back and sighed. I heard more commotion coming down the hall.

"Oh no," I called out. "Bartholomew is finally making his move." I grabbed the piece I had made of the map and threw it over the torch and unchained Tristy from the ground and untied Cordell. "Come on Cordell, I know you hurt and wonder what I did but we must go. Now!"

I left Bonita in her spot knowing I didn't have time to get all three of them out of here. Bonita would be safe in there with me so close to their grasp, little did they know I had slipped the map into the secret chamber with her. I turned back for a moment and a crossbow bolt landed in the wooden support beam an inch from my head.

I'd also left her a note in her own rune language, hopefully she could make sense of it. I wasn't very good at writing it. It was with a second note and instructed her to deliver the note to my contact in a small tavern on the far side of town as fast as she possibly could.

(FYI the contact is Shilon and it is the whereabouts of his daughter if no one minds.)

Cordell

Bonita had been in the bathroom for a long time so I went to check on her, leaving Will and Amber with the bodyguard in the next room.

I saw a note on the floor with my name on it, it was from Nila. It read, "I need you to come to me as well but I can't let Mira as known as Amber know, I have my own reasons. There is a map on the other side of this letter follow it to me and Bonita."

I raised an eyebrow as I walked up to the wall, following the map and pulled a candlestick attached to the wall. The wall slid open and revealed a pathway, I found a torch inside and followed the map until I heard voices ahead.

(Short post but it's setting up for the next one.)

Bounty Hunter

(Deana there is a tid bit of violence, but nothing compared to most my other fighting posts)

I walked through the open doorway that Randolph Debterson had gone through at the back of the bar. I looked down a small hallway where two closed and two open doorways stood against the hall’s walls. I heard movement and voices from the nearest room to the right. I drew Ole’ Sammy, my sixteen inch skinning knife, and peered slowly into the room. Another maid, this one quite the opposite from the girl in the bar room, stood over a basket filled with clothing. She cursed several times, apparently about something that Randolph had done.

I quickly pulled my head from the door way as she turned around and walked out of the room. She moved down the hallway away from me, continuing to curse.

I strolled quickly behind her and, with my free hand, covered her mouth. I then reached my knife arm around the front of her neck and pulled toward myself. I flexed my arm to constrict her neck. It was difficult to keep her large body mass under control, but luckily it didn’t take much longer before she fell unconscious. I laid the fat maid down easily and moved to the remaining open doorway at the end of the hallway.

I peered around the door way slowly after the fashion I had earlier. Sure enough the despicable dog was pacing around the room, probably waiting for the maid to return.

I considered my attack carefully. It was apparent that he had no weapons, and the walls had no conventional weapons, but I knew that I had to still put him down quickly or it would be like gettin’ stuck in a potato sack with a crazed cat. I remember him being very quick on his toes and being able to use various everyday materials for lethal weapons. The story is still fresh in my mind how he defeated a town militia with some simple farming equipment. Not to mention how he killed ole’ Barney, the town Sherriff, with nothin’ but a shot glass.

I pulled my head away from the doorway and recalled the events of Randolph’s long visit to my hometown. “A wolf in sheep’s clothin’, that’s what he is.” My temper grew as I recalled the faces of those “Sweet Boy Randy” had killed or permanently maimed. I just wish I had been there to do somethin’ about the whole thing.

I wasn’t there, though. No, the events were told to me in a letter from my brother. The tale was written on an invitation to a funeral for my niece. Boy, I was ready to rip his worthless guts out with my bare hands after seeing sweet Lily at her services. She was the gentlest, sweetest little thing to ever grace our town and that animal in that room took her precious life. I could feel my body burn with anger. “Time to put down this dog.”

I whipped around the corner and charged at Randy like a bull. He turned around slowly and passively, probably being accustomed to the sound of cows judging by the size of the recent maid. But his quick reflexes caught my thrusting knife, however, I caught him in an embrace and slammed him through the stucco wall.

We were both slightly disoriented, but I was not the shovel in that dig, so I was able to rise a bit faster than he. I used the time to grab my knife and run back to him.

The story my friends had relayed was not exaggerated, he was fast. As I jumped at him with my knife he threw a small stool in my path, bruising my knee and elbow. He then leaped up and grabbed a walking stick that sat in the corner of the room. He used it to exchange blows with my knife and gloved fist. I could feel some of the bones in my hand breaking, but I was gonna’ kill this mutt if it was the last thing I did. He stepped to my side and landed a good swing to my lower ribs. I didn’t let the blow go through for no reason though. I grabbed his weapon hand and then gripped his arm. While he attacked my snaring hand, I used my knife hand to land a flat smash to his jaw with a small knick with my knife. I then brought my knife back to try to get him in the neck, but only grazed his collar tissue after he launched his head back.

I released my grip on his arm after my broken hand ceased to function. I stumbled back over the stool he had thrown at me earlier and hit my butt on the floor. He fell back against the opposite wall tripping over a small center table.

We stared at each other, panting like two of hounds. I loved a good fight, it really made a hunt more satisfying. I tried to rise, but my ribs screamed with pain. I could tell that Randolph was having a hard time coping with the blow I had made to his head by the way he was trying to shake out of it.

I thought it was an appropriate time for a good Hunter Hunted dialogue. “So boy, I see that they let you out of that holy cage pin. Does it feel good to have blood on your hands again?” I drew a smile.

He spoke between heavy breaths. “Who… Who the heck are you?”

“Why… don’t you remember me? Cause I sure as fire and brimstone remember you.” He looked me over, but his face still reflected uncertainty. “Come on now, boy. Name’s Chrissy… Jasper Chrissy. You recognize that name dontcha’?”

Randy’s whole body loosened. “Jasper… Look I know why you’re here. And… and we need to talk about this. Fighting will not bring anyone back.”

I laughed. This kid is hilarious. “I didn’t come here to talk or to bring anyone back. I came here to kill you.” I stopped laughing. The blend of my memories and the pain from my ribs caused a huge surge of emotion to pass over me. Tears began to squeeze out of my tear ducts. “Why did you kill her Randolph? How could you have possibly killed that beautiful, precious little angel?” The dam in my mind broke and I let the tears fall hard and fast. I hid my face and tried to wipe away the tears. When I looked back Randy was crying hard as well.

“She was… she was my heart.” Randy stopped for a moment and looked up to the ceiling and then continued. “She… I… I never would have wanted anything to happen to her. Lily was… the first time I had ever felt love for anyone. I wanted her to be happy… She was so beautiful when she was happy. Nothing could make night-to-day or rain-to-sunshine like her smile. I would do ANYTHING just to see that smile.” He paused again and then looked down at me. His tears stopped. “I was going to ask her to marry me. I was going to forsake my oaths for her. I would lose my soul if it meant I could be with her for what time this life offered. She was worth a soul.”

I stared into his eyes. They displayed sincerity. I had seen deceit and desperation in the eyes of the animals I had collected bounty for, but his eyes were genuine. He really did love her. I did not have the strength to rise and kill him, but I had the strength to rise and help him up.

If there was one thing I had learned in the past, it was to have patience. I needed to think things out. Some screws weren’t tight. But one was very tight and that was that Randolph had loved Lily. I collected my hat and dusted off my trail coat. I gave Randolph what money I had to pay for the wall and the fat ladies time unconscious. I then holstered my knife and limped back to my faithful steed still standing outside the tavern.

As I left I thought about those folks that died or were hurt in my town fighting off the “Sweet Boy Randy”. I had always imagined him as a sneaky fox that appears beautiful, but steals the chickens. But now I realize that Randy is no fox, heck he ain’t a dog either. He is a wolf. And wolfs don’t kill members of their own pack, especially their mates.

I suspect I was after the wrong fox.

(The bounty hunter posts were created to give a bit of background on Randy. It was a joint effort by Luke and Myself. I hope no one minds that Jasper came and went.) 

...See ya later Cowboy.

Vahn Grey

I stood and smiled at the man, "Well I hope you are as good as you think you are or you won't have a chance. Anyways, I'd best be on my way."

He grunted something at me and I walked out and down to my office, "If I was as stupid as him I'd be a bounty hunter too." I smirked at myself, "I just hope he doesn't get wind of Cordell or Will being in town. He'd probably make the mistake of trying to take him on and wind up a corpse."

I continued perusing my documents until I found the one I was looking for and grinned, "Yep, here it is." I frowned slightly as I read, "I hope he doesn't hurt Randy too much, Will would be out for blood and that bounty hunter is a member of an organization full of them." I shook my head, "What can I do though?"

I wrote a letter and dropped it off at the mail office with some spare cash and whispered, "Send this out tonight and I'll give you ten times that amount in the morning."

He nodded, "Consider it done Mister Grey."

I walked back to my office, "This won't do at all."