• The Change of battle
    A short story By: FoxDemonTaki

    The sounds of the large Cathedral bells could be heard from the dark windows of Sunraiders City. There was a haunted aura about this place. The streets were empty and no lights shone, but the moon, full and bright hanging in the sky has no care as to the disappearance of life in this once beautiful life filled place. All that made a sound was the bells, the horrible bong of the large bells once used to warn of night, now used to warn of bandits, evil and twisted, a scourge of thieves, rebels, and murderers.

    Half a mile from Sunraiders, the village of Nightblade was gathering for battle. They had hear the bells and scrambled from there sleep to their dressers pulling knife, and bow from them then to the fireplace where a sword would sit waiting for the next battle it would face. The distant pounding of hooves could be heard even over the grinding wheel, used for sharpening dull weapons.

    A little farther away two boys sat at a fading camp fire drinking tea, the younger boy, looked frightened his shaggy blond hair covering most of his face. His dark blue eyes stared at the ground. He shook all over, and even when he had a short sword at his belt, it was his only protection, for the village had no time to make armor. The other, older boy look more nervous than afraid he had put his long unruly brown hair in to a pony tail and his eyes looked around waiting for the moment when they must fight. His right hand lay limply on his sword. And then he spoke.

    “You alright Shane? Its not to late to go back to the city…it might not look it but its safer….”

    Shane looked up “N-no…I’ll stay…I promised you that I would stay by your side Noka...and that’s what I’ll do….” For a moment Shane regretted what he said but took in a breath knowing that he couldn’t take it back.

    “Alright Shane…if that’s what you want”

    It was silent, Too silent for a normal night, not a wolf howled, or a cricket chirped.
    The land seemed to become Death itself, silent, and cold. Noka and Shane sipped at their tea calming their nerves. Then the alarm was raised and the young men jumped up unsheathing their swords. The village also sprang to life the men ran to their houses to grab extra weapon to hang at their belts in case the ones they used then broke. The others from the city who had the will and guts to fight were there in minutes panting from their run, for even at a far distance, the safety of everyone came first and adrenaline ran high.

    The village gate was flung open and the men marched out their swords ready, and every heart raced. Noka was placed at the back for if the others in front fell then the stronger ones at the back could at least hold out. Although poor Shane who was considered the weakest was placed in the front, with others they called “Bait” Noka was worried and furious for Shane, He was his best and true friend, and for the village calling him weak and placing him in the front like that, it was cruel.

    On the other side of the battlefield the bandits stood waiting the horses stamped their hooves nervously and bobbed their heads uncomfortably, as their breath was visible in the cold air. The leader was at the very front her raven hair flowing gracefully in the wind and her face was proud and strong, she was confident that she would claim this victory.
    She raised her horn and blew in to it a low deep note played and the horses launched forward racing around her and towards the village. Only she stayed behind watching the scene unfold.

    The leader of the village raised his sword. “ATTACK!”

    The villagers launched forward just as the horses did, but as they did so, Noka grabbed hold of Shane and placed him in back while he took Shane’s place in front. And soon his sword meets the chest of the first horse causing it to stumble and roll over the rider, crushing him. It was a chain reaction the fall of the first horse had knocked the seconded down, startling the other badly giving the villagers a chance as they pulled the riders down and plunged their swords in to them or bashed in their skulls with war hammers.

    “NOKA!” Cried Shane through the defining sounds of battle, he had no thought on what happened to his friend and was to panicked to think he was alive, or why he had been pulled back, and his place taken by Noka.

    “THIS WAY SHANE!” Cried Noka hearing his friends shout.

    Shane rushed in the direction of Noka and found himself but his side avoiding the swings of the bandits as Noka fended them away from Shane only to get hit by a stray dagger that a bandit had randomly thrown hoping to hit someone. Noka fell grasping his right shoulder after ripping out the dagger.

    Shane was horrified he then dragged Noka away and laid his friend on the wet earth. Noka was losing blood, and fast.

    “Shane, leave me and go back to field…they need you more their.”

    “Noka, I can’t you’re my friend, and I’m no use to them…you saw where they put me…I’m weak Noka, and besides a little bandaging and you will be fine.” Shane’s words were empty for he knew Noka wouldn’t be fine, he had lost so much blood and he was fading fast.

    “Damn it Shane…listen to me, you have more power than you think…but you have never shown it…” Noka coughed his eyes misting over and a smile came to his face. “Y-you should talked to lily some time, I k-know you like her…she perfect for you.” Noka began to talk like it was just a normal day and this saddened Shane.

    “I know Noka…I will…” Again his words were empty, Lily was dead she was killed by the first attack on the city a few days before the real battle.

    “S-Shane…” Noka spoke more softly, and in meaningless gasps. “Your the best…F-friend I ever had…” Noka put his hand on Shane’s shoulder with great effort before it fell limply to the earth, cold and pail. His eyes remained open and the smile was still on his face.

    Shane closed his now dead friend’s eyes and looked at his face carefully, he looked peaceful now like he was still asleep in his home after a hard days work in the fields. Tears of sorrow and rage came to Shane’s eye’s that now trailed to the dagger still in Noka’s hand. He turned around in time to see a bandit rushing towards him he grabbed Noka’s sword, for he had dropped his while trying to carry Noka away, and plunged it deep in to the bandit’s chest.

    “That’s for Noka…” he killed another bandit making his way to the leader who had joined in with the fighting once the numbers of villagers had decreased. “That’s for lily…” two came at his back only to be brought down by his rage. “That’s for my Mother and father…” his voice became louder catching the attention of the leader, her amber eyes flashed with interest and cruelty. Soon he took down several more bandits that began to surround their leader knowing Shane’s target. “That’s for the City, and my home.”


    Then, Unexpectedly the bandits began pulling back till the leader was exposed but the villages, so few they were now, dare not attack her instead they stood back as well, all for Shane who stood panting heavily glaring at the damned woman.

    “I will fight you boy...and only you” She said a cruel smile came to her face. “And if anyone has any objections, then please take his place.

    The villages looked amongst themselves and the Village leader began to step forward.

    “No Kirin…this is my fight…my burden…she wants me...then she has me” Shane’s voice was strong and loud enough for everyone to hear. “I Shane Wolfsfang gladly accept your challenge, For the village, for city, for my mother and father, for Noka, and Lily…” Shane paused and then cried out “AND FOR MYSELF!” he raised his sword high then pointed it at her. “And you cannot take that promise from me, I will win this battle. From a tree a Raven crowed as a Golden Eagle circled overhead.

    The woman smiled again and reared her horse. “Then I Ashena Blackwing will gladly take your pitiful life”.

    Ashena’s horse plunged forward towards Shane. As she got near he rolled out of the way and sliced at the back legs of the horse who tumbled while Ashena jumped off, pulling her sword from its sheath and running at Shane who side stepped quickly, her sword slashing his side. Shane gasped in pain, but stood strait holding his sword ready, it was his turn.

    Shane ran strait for her swinging his sword sideways in front of him as Ashena just blocked his sword with hers. Shane jumped back and swung downward again to be blocked. Shane stabbed at her a series of times some were blocked and others were dodged only to leave cuts and scrapes on her face and hands. Then he got her in her right shoulder, the same spot where Noka had been stabbed.

    Ashena Backed up and so did Shane, and for a brief moment he looked up where the Eagle and Raven had been fighting, because the Raven was careless and had killed the Eagles chicks within the range of her sight. And now she began to tear at the raven plucking its feathers one by one, and ripping out its eyes with her powerful talons. It was revenge. The raven fell, and as it did Ashena thought this distraction an opportunity to attack. She ran one last time towards Shane. And when the raven hit the ground, barley alive, the Eagle dived and grabbed the raven using its strong legs to rip the raven in half just as Shane drove his sword in to Ashena’s chest and into her black heart.

    She died instantly and the bandits frightened at Shane’s power turned and fled but the villagers Cheered and whooped at the victory. Shane fell over holding his side where Ashena had wounded him. Two men came and helped Shane into the Village where they cared for his wounds.

    ~

    The next morning Shane found himself lying in his own home, in a soft bed, his wounds dressed and cared for only every time he tried to sit up his side shot a large stabbing pain through his body causing him to lay back down again.

    “Good Mornin’ Master Wolfsfang” Said an old gentle voice from a large chair by the fire. “Good Ta see ya up, I was wonderin’ how long it’ll take ya to get yer lazy bones outta bed.”

    It was the village healer, Tambra was her name, she was a kind old woman. Her face wrinkled with the wisdom of time, her voice gentle and kind for those who needed the most comfort, and her violet eyes were so deep it was like falling through a never ending pool.

    Shane nodded politely but didn’t speak. First of all he couldn’t his throat had been striped raw from all the shouting he had done during the battle. There was also the fact that he refused, no one ever knew why he just didn’t, and in fact Shane didn’t know himself. Possibly because he had used that same voice to laugh and mock Noka when he would trip or become embarrassed when ever a pretty girl walked past and winked at him. But now those days were over to Shane, he couldn’t smile anymore, he wouldn’t talk, or laugh. He would just lie there staring at the ceiling his eyes only reflecting the candle light but nothing more. No memories not even a flicker of life, his eyes were dead even if he wasn’t.

    Tambra stood and walked to Shane’s bedside a little bowl filled with porridge in her right hand and a spoon in her left. She held out a little bit of the sweet food to Shane, but he turned his head away. He didn’t want to eat either he just wanted to be left alone.

    “Common Shane dear, ya must eat sommthin’ don’t want to starve now do ya?” Tambra smiled, she had always tried to make the best of things, even if they weren’t so cheery.

    Shane didn’t say anything the only movement he made now was just a quick blinking of his eyes, but nothing else. Tambra nodded and sighed, placing the bowl on the little table next to Shane and walked out of the small home, quietly shutting the door behind her. She had done all she could but nothing had worked, now it was up to Shane to decide weather or not he was going to get well.

    While Shane lay there he started thinking back through all his happy memories of when Noka was alive. How he had introduced Shane to Lily who quickly started to fall in love with her. Her golden hair flowed like a smooth river and her eyes were as greed as the pine trees. Then he began thinking of how she was killed by an arrow that had flown over the gate and struck her in the heart.

    Shane moaned and pulled the covers over his head trying to block out the painful memories but they just kept coming, and soon he fell back into a deep sleep and his dreamless sleep began to form a nightmare.

    Shane was standing in a boat in the middle of a great lake, Noka and lily were at the back of it smiling at him as if it were another day Shane laughed but his voice dropped and it disappeared he tried to cough, but nothing came out. Then he saw the faintest movement and heard a sound of fluttering wings. He turned his head to see the bodies of his two friends being pecked clean by large black crows. He stumbled and fell in to the water, which had turned to blood the bodies of the fallen farmers and bandits alike were floating side by side, one of the crows had spotted Shane and began flying towards him he tried to scream but no sound came out.

    Shane awoke screaming his arms flailing in the air trying to fend of some invisible force, he was crying to like a little child who had hit his head, but when Shane opened his eyes he found Kirin, Sprawled on the ground with a broken bowl lying on the ground, a greenish substance had spilled all over the floor and he didn’t notice or feel the scabs on his wound begin to crack.

    “K-Kirin…what are you doing?” Said Shane in a hoarse voice.

    “Ah…Finely the dead has risen and is speaking at that….” Said Kirin in an almost harsh sarcasm “so how long did you plan to hid out Wolfsfang? Hum? Until you withered and died feeling sorry for your poor self?”

    “Shut up…”Said Shane now irritated.

    “Oh giving orders now aye? When my best friend gave me the honor of being your god father I never new Jonathan’s Son would be a whiny coward…”

    “I SAID SHUT UP KIRIN!” Yelled Shane sitting up quickly. But it was too much strain for Shane’s body the wound had reopened and blood seeped through the bandages leaving Shane to fall to the floor grasping his side.

    “Shane!” Kirin ran to his side and lifted him back to the bed he knew he had gone to far. I mean Shane could barley sit up because of the wound, so why shouldn’t he have been lying in bed the whole time.

    Shane looked up at Kirin his eyes strained with tears of pain.

    “I’m Sorry Kirin, I-I didn’t mean to yell…I guess I am a coward…” his voice had become even more quiet because of the yelling it had put too much strain on his already stripped throat

    “No Shane, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say that…just the battle took a lot away from us all, even the little children don’t want to play outside anymore, just stay inside and watch time pass them…”

    After Kirin Patched Shane back up with fresh bandages, he began to clean up the mess from the floor.

    “Kirin…What is that?”

    “It’s a herbal medicine that Tambra made for your wound, but its gone to waste now, ah well I guess she can make another batch tomorrow.”

    Kirin left after another few minutes and Shane felt better and that it was safer to go back to sleep.

    But as soon as he did the crow came back, this time he was in normal water and as he tried to swim away the crow began to peak at his neck. When Shane reached the shore he ran for his life until the crow stopped following him.

    Shane collapsed breathing heavily, then he felt a slight tickling feeling around the wounds of his neck and side. Maggots had found their way to his fresh bloody flesh and began eating him alive. Shane panicked and began tearing at his side wound and then went for his neck digging his nails down in to the flesh and tearing at the maggots as he screamed, this time sound came out, a most horrible scream that could awaken Death itself.

    ~
    It was late after noon when a messenger came to Kirin’s house and banged on the front door.

    “Master Kirin! Open up please!” he cried desperately.

    Kirin opened the door and grabbed the messenger by the shoulders

    “What is it Martin? I have no time for games!” Said Kirin frowning at the boy.

    The Boy looked up and his breathing became fast and his speech became the same pace, as this matter was no game but a serious issue that the news had affected the Entire Village and the city itself.

    “Its Shane sir, Tambra found him dead this morning!, She said that his side had been torn apart and he had clawed open his own neck!”


    Epilogue


    After the death of Shane Wolfsfang, the City of Sunraiders and Nightblade Village became puzzled at the death, for they knew no reason for him to die a most gruesome death or even to die at all, The Hero of them all would surly not kill himself for no apparent reason. But soon time passed and he became a legend the only proof of him ever being alive was a large statue in the middle of Nightblade and a inscription long warn away. And the death of Shane was twisted by story tellers of how Shane was really murdered in the night by the ghost of the bandit leader Ashena Blackwing was the culprit. But even the old stories die and the only ones left to tell the real story were very old, or even dead.

    Some people even told stories of Noka who had protected Shane from the dagger and even looks of pity when Shane had not been looked upon as a hero but as a coward.

    Kirin was found by the statue telling the little childern what had really happen to Shane Wolfsfang and that he did exist and that old nightmare is what brought his lively soul to its early grave, but also that his spirit resides in Nightblade, and if you listen closely you can hear the faint laughter of two teenage boys as they raced down the narrow streets of the Village.