Havard 'the Half Seen'

Lightning split the slate grey skies and thunder shook the mountain side, rain had long since drowned the wall side watch fires and soaked the towns guard. Shadows moved in the darkness most were figments of the sentries' anxious imaginations, some however were not. Lightning burst amongst the nearby tree line illuminating the township in ghostly light and scattering flames amongst the foliage, screaming joined the thunder as the shadows revealed in the firelight began the killing.

"Hold! Cast them out!" a single rallying call went up, clear and strong amongst the riotous slaughter. Silhouetted by the burning trees and shrouded in the storms darkness a figure crossed the open gate way.

"Cast them back! Into the flames! Hold for your homes! Your lives and for your God this town will not fall!" His voice carried a commanding tone so much so that despite themselves the running guards stopped and drew long since used weapons.

Rain hammered the already weather beaten figure as he approached the watch captain, even through the rain the captain knew legendary man that approached but dare not hope it be true.

"These men stand?" inquired the stranger his dark eyes glinting in the murky firelight, the screaming had long since ended and with it the lives of those men positioned outside the village walls.

"They stand" answered the captain opening his arms to indicate his men with a false smile of bravado, only his eyes spoke the truth. The truth that they were all doomed.

"Then we die together" he answered walking away

"No we do not, do we Havard, you do not die such is your blessing" snapped the captain turning to his men with sudden anger.

"My curse" whispered Havard knowing that regardless of their bravery they would all indeed die.

***

The screaming began again as the pale moonlight died, guards fell their throats cut and necks broken. Those that survived long enough to scream did not die in vain.

***

Skull faced shadows moved long the water logged streets, each was silent even the water at their feet seem to still at their passing. Every living thing they met died quickly with a dagger or sword brought across its throat. He had followed them and watched them kill innocents. He had waited and bided his time until now.

"Good, but not good enough" Havard whispered to the rearward killer before his sword severed its skull masked face from black clad body, stepping over the falling corpse he relished in the loud splash it made. Turning towards the noise two more died chests carved open with axe and sword, another died faced laid open a scream bursting from his lips. In moments all seven warriors lay dead submerged in vermillion waters.

***

With a crash to rival the thunder the village gates gave way, black clad warriors flooded through with reckless regard for their own lives, the guards met them a bulk ward against their of darkness. Men died screaming as blades rendered soul from flesh, maces shattered bones and arrows pierced flesh and amongst it all one man moved untouched. Every blade that approached him was met by a savage counterattack; every arrow was burst by his axe blade before it could find purchase. Havard tore a swathe of death through the horde, his every movement designed to kill. Even as he killed he could see the town was dying around him, soon none but he would survive.

"Feed him, Feed the veil! Blood and darkness!" every warrior spoke as one, every voice combined in worship. The thunder rumbled and lightning illuminated the charnel scene, hundreds lay dead, all but Havard lay still upon the sodden ground.

Throwing aside the body of another would killer he drew level with the war bands leader, a giant of a man dressed in dark armour wielding a heavy blood stained mace.

"Only one of us will survive this ranger!" snared the tyrant his bloody only his bloody teeth visible beneath an ornate death mask. Havard smiled through the filth caked across his face. With a roar of anger the mace lashed out smashing into the ground that Havard had just been standing upon, surprise and rage filled the tyrant as he turned snarling.

"You made a mistake coming here" Havard shouted over the storm as he pulled his axe blade from the chest of a cult warrior, the horde surged again as Havard killed another warrior and dishonoured the tyrant by ignoring his challenge. Unleashing the affronted anger at the slaughter of the village he turned on the warriors, witch fire shone in his eyes as they came.

"A dreadful curse" he whispered to himself as a storm of light enveloped him, the screaming started again as a new storm took hold of the village.

By Ross Knill-MacArthur