Preview: The Stone Slab

Don't worry if your confused. You haven't read the first two parts yet. Here is a brief synopsis. The King was killed, supposedly by the Head Knight, Sir Constantine Maebus, because he supposedly had an affair with the Queen. Before the murder of the king, however, Sir Zurthrang the new head knight, Mathias, a forest ranger, and "Saito" a man cloaked in black, participated in a tournament of fighting challenges. When the king was killed, a sorcerer named Eleminster sent these three on a quest. The story is told from the point of view of "Saito"
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We entered a clearing. Pale moonlight shined, but its light broken and scattered by the branches above. Zurthrang, who led the group, got down off his horse, followed promptly by Mathias. He looked around cautiously, his hand ready to grasp his sword. In the center, the remains of a fire ring and fire wood lay.

"They look to be about a day old," Mathias assessed.

"This must be his, then. He fled last night," Zurthrang contested, "One day ago. If this is indeed his, then we should search for clues."

I finally got of my horse. What was I getting myself into?" I thought to myself. I could kill them right now and no one would know. All they would find are two bodies and two black roses on the corpses. No, its still too risky. They knew I set out with them. Dammit! Still, they wouldn't find the bodies until tomorrow morning, at least. Maybe longer! That is plenty of time to escape to the Brotherhood. I would hide out there for a few months, take some time off. Hmm, I think this is a good idea. But suddenly, I felt something stir inside of me.

Why would you kill them. They helped you out.

They did help me, but they are holding me here against my will, for all intensive purposes.

Then leave.

"Hey Saito!" called Zurthrang, "Would you help us out?" By the tone of his voice, I knew he was only asking as a formality and really meant for me to actually help.

As I began to search for signs of this traitor, I couldn't let what happened in my mind slip me by. I needed to know what the hell was going on.

"Hoofprints?" Zurthrang said puzzlingly

"Did he ride out on a horse?" Maebus asked

"No." Zurthrang said, seemingly disappointed at the idea that we were not on Maebus' trail. "Well, I shouldn't say that. He didn't take his regular horse. He may have taken another one"

"Does anyone else find it slightly ironic that this knight is the bad guy?"

"Is this? Yes, it is!" exclaimed Zurthrang, "This is a piece of traveler's cloak"

"Quit trying to change the subject. Lets face it, something fishy is happening at Contier." I interjected.

"Look at the material," Zurthrang said, undoubtedly annoyed with my questioning.

"That's the same material as yours." Mathias observed.

"You don't find it ironic that Maebus is accused of killing the king because he had an affair with the Queen?"

"Footprints!" Mathias exclaimed. "Zurthrang, let me see your boot. They may match."

"And yet, no one questioned the fact that the queen-" I continued.

"They are the same design, but different size," Zurthrang said, "These boots are regulation boots of Contier. The design indicated high ranking, as the design is more intricate than the average boot. This is Maebus' foot print."

"-had an affair with Maebus?" I continued.

"See if you can find more footprints." Mathias commanded.

"This smells like an elaborate lie thought up at the last-" I began, but stopped suddenly. A chill ran up my spine. I had just realized what Mathias had said. I swiftly glanced around and began to step backwards in terror. What I saw before me were my own footprints. I must cover my tracks, I thought. Assassins are taught to cover all traces they may leave. Better yet, don't leave any.

Suddenly, however, what felt like whip slapped itself around my neck and began lifting me off the ground. I threw my hands around this tendril to prevent my suffocation. I gasped once I was able to get some air.

Mathias and Zurthrang shot around to see what was happening. I looked at them, then shot a quick glance at what had attacked me. The vines began to constrict the rest of my body.

"An Assassin Vine." Mathias said. "A vine that has a mind of its own." He drew his bow and shot an arrow.

What was he thinking! This is a vine! Shooting an arrow at it is probably the worst thing you could do. You would rarely hit. I guess what worried me most was the fact that he shot an arrow at something that was holding me hostage!

The arrow flew through the air and hit a leaf that was fairly close to my head, pinning it to the nearby tree. The vine seemed to wince in pain and lessened its tension of the vines constricting my neck and body, giving me breathing room. I freed one hand that was protecting my neck and with a flick of the wrist, I released a dagger that was hidden in my gauntlet. I sliced myself free.

As I got to the ground and shook off the remaining vines, I heard this ungodly screech. "The vine?"

"Yes." Mathias said, "Assassin Vines are alive and intelligent. They were vines that were corrupted. No one knows what corrupts them. It could be toxins, evil spirits. No one knows, but the only thing we do know is that they crush victims and then drain their fluids."

"Well. That was a nice lecture on evil killer-vines, but I suppose we should finish this bastard off!" I exclaimed. I preferred to fight from the shadows, but when the mood strikes me, I could have a fighter's spirit. I sheathed my dagger back in my gauntlet and drew my two short swords and joined Mathias and Zurthrang in the fray.

"Do you think those bee stingers will do anything against this plant?" Zurthrang mocked jokingly as he dodged a vine's swing.

"Hmph.." I said, " Just wait and see."

****

"Dammit!" I cursed. The three of us panted. I don't think any of us expected a plant to be that difficult of an opponent.

Mathias began to look at the plant's remains, while Zurthrang cleaned its cytoplasmic blood off of his sword. I walked around puzzled. What was happening to me? I go from master assassin to a friendly fighter. Am I forming a bond with these fighters? No, I will not become soft. Friendship is for the weak. I can only count on myself, anyways.

I glanced around the area once again. What was this? It seemed out of place.

"Hey guys, look at this." Behind the remains of the vine lay a stone tablet.

"I doubt this has anything to do with Maebus." Zurthrang said, trying to dismiss the discovery.

"So. This could be important too." Maebus said as he cut away the remaining pieces of dangling vine. He examined the stone and the carvings upon it. "Demonic."

"No doubt left by a cult." Zurthrang dismissed as he and Maebus walked over to their horses.

A cult? That's for sure. I looked at the writing. The Brotherhood's language is Demonic, so no one would be able to understand us. But even this was beyond my comprehension. Ancient Demonic? I didn't know, but I couldn't read it anyways. I guess it also helps that the Brotherhood has foundations in a demonic cult.

I began to walk to my horse, but something told me to take one last look. I gasped.

"What is it?" Zurthrang inquired.

My back was to Zurthrang and Mathias as I removed my glove and looked at the emblem on my Brotherhood ring. It matched the emblem on the stone.

"You alright?" Mathias asked.

Reality slapped me in the face and I realized could not share this with the others. I put my glove on. "Y-Yes. I am fine. I thought I had a thorn in my hand from the vine."

"Did you?" Zurthrang asked.

"No."