Drethek vs Konrad

[Konrad Knox]

They stood, two tall men, on the northern cliff over the ocean just as they once stood when they first met. The sea was raging rythmically against the sharp rocks.
Drethek was facing the steep edge of the cliff where was a single path down to the water. Konrad was in his way, separating him from that path. He arrived here just on time, calculating it well.
Drethek brushed his graying hair away from the temple as he exhaled, in his eyes was predicament of things to come. Konrad nodded.
Wind was ravaging both men's hair, Drethek's short Salkamerian military cut and Konrad's free-dancing mane. It was clear however that the wind was not of Konrad's summoning - the Bow was not with him.
Drethek knew Konrad enough to be an honorable man, he'd never use a force divine to settle a mortal affair.

-We meet again, old friend. - Said Drethek in a friendly, cool, collected tone.
-The sea is beautiful in the early summer. I greet you in friendship on the first of Zas. - said Konrad.
-Beautiful, aye. Looks like a storm is coming.

For a few moments two men stood silent. Weapons sheathed. Both looked out into the sea and back at each other, almost simultaneously, as if driven by some ancient instinct of two predators, placed generations ago into their very blood. Evaluating, estimating one another, they both shifted weight.

-You can't board that boat, Drethek. - Konrad said.
-There is no boat I see, I was only planning to walk the shore and enjoy the breeze, Drethek replied.

It was an hour till the boat would arrive for Drethek.

-I found out, Drethek. I know who you are.
-No Rothman is an outcast, isn't that right?

Drethek's cool eyes looked directly into Konrad's warm, dark hazel eyes. Konrad's right side of the face was black. Drethek studied it, and kept his focus on it. In some way, he feared it. With the times he had to duel Konrad, he learned to read his moves by that side of the face, and could also see how tired Konrad was by the way his sweat mixed with paint.

-You have nothing to be ashamed of, Drethek. I never for a moment thought that you were really buying any of that noble divinity garbage.

Drethek smiled. Konrad stayed tense. He looked at Drethek's shoulders, and his neck, he was getting ready to start manipulating the environment. He saw the rocks, and the sea, every bit of the cliff they were standing on, the gravity of it, the structure of space itself, and the ways he could position himself in it.

Finally moving, the gravel under his iron boot crunched and hissed as he swiveled a bit, flapping open his heavy coat and revealing a set of silver knives. As well, a pair of reversed blades, hilts jutting out from behind his back.

-Think about it. What do you owe them?, inquired Knox.
-Nothing. But why should I betray them with you, old friend?, retorted Drethek, letting a black-gloved hand rest on the hilt at his hip. He tilted his head, staring at the man through a passionate, but scorn-filled eye, as the short gray bangs were driven over by the wind. Konrad's hair was thrown to the side by the same breeze and let him see the other man clearly.

-Don't be ridiculous!, Knox sneered. - You're not betraying them. You'd finally stop letting them use you, right now you are only betraying yourself. - Knox countered.

Drethek snorted and shouted "Nonsense" down the rocks to the Gypsie.

-You think you're a noble mercenary? You freelancers have become their best mercenaries, Drethek. You're just being used by the big brother. Stop lying to yourself. Tell me, of all the people you killed, how many of those kills made you feel noble? - He paused, letting the last word ooze out in dearest contempt. -Admit it, there was only the money, your honor, your loyalty, your faith, and your skill, nothing else!

-How did you know anything about me?
-It wasn't easy. I knew you weren't a Rothman right away. At first I did not know that you were involved so deeply. But the second attempt to spy on you already cleared some things.
-Then you would know what I have to do then, don't you?
-Drethek, by the Five, you are the personal bodyguard of the Rothman family, you are so close, do you think they did not have such plans?
-No, I knew from the start. How did you find out? Where did I slip up?
-You did not slip for a moment, my friend. In fact, you showed innovation, incredible skill and creativity in evading pursuit. You were followed in Salkamar.
-The market woman...

Konrad nodded.

-It's time to decide, Drethek! To do good or to...
-Or to be loyal, Drethek finished. - Doing what you say is good or being loyal. Your ideas or loyalty, that is the choice it comes down to for me.
-Drethek, don't take this boat. Another invasion must not be.
-I have sworn and my word has been given, friend.
-Lives can be saved.
-You know the codes.
-The codes, who cares about the codes?!
-It's what separates man from animal, Konrad. Discipline.
-How about humility?
-No man is forced to resist. It's a mission of peace.
-I present you with a choice, suggested Knox. - Join me, embrace your friendship and leave the Rothmans behind you. It's only about you, Dreth. Are you going to throw yourself away like this?

Drethek looked into the horizon. Miles away from the rocks, just barely showing in the moisture filled foggy air, appeared a quivering single white sail.

Konrad's hand reflexively landed on the hilt of the sword behind his back, fingers circling around it.

-It's time, Konrad. I have to go.
-I'm sorry, Drethek. I can't let you do that.

Drethek stepped forward.

-You can't change the future, Konrad. You can't change the future.

Drethek's sword bared, now the setting sun could be seen reflecting in its flat blade.
Konrad sighed, and then nodded, accepting the challenge.

-Maybe not. But I can make sure Rothmans are not in it.

Konrad stepped forward and his blades flashed bared.

* * *

Strike. Strike. Turn around. Side step. Strike.
The sail is nearing. Strike! Parry, dash to the right, lifting off the rock. Caution! Parry. Dodge. Second blade. Action. Protect the face. Breathe.
Side step. Parry and another blow. A stab weaved with a side slash, and a forward jab. Turn around, block.

What do I know about him? Everything. What will he do?

Turning my body with the other flank takes one eighth of a second, that is enough to cost me my life.

Strike. Jump and land. Neck slice. Parry, parry and parry. Breathe. Turn around. Strike!

...it was just like in the duels, except now at stake was something each one of them valued...

Strike. Side step. Block. Strike! Turn back. On guard.


...where does that fine line begin and where does it end, that border at which friends can no longer disagree without fighting... what is worth fighting for? what is worth dying for?..

* * *

Like two titanic statues coming alive, the swordmasters fought, sending sparks flying high, air itself seemed to be cut by their blades. Lightnings crackled between their swords, sending charges to ground and to air, dissipating in the droplets of ocean water rising up with each wave of the tide. Konrad looked at the sail, it was nearing, just some seven miles away. The fight would soon be spotted. With the corner of his eye he saw Drethek's blade flash. Looking at the ship cost him a second, and Drethek immediately punished him for it. Konrad's left blade lost balance and flew out of his hand. Konrad ducked and sweeped Drethek's inside knee with his shin. Drethek rolled as Konrad dashed to the right, to take hold of his sword, but Drethek had it first. Now armed with two swords against Konrad's one, he advanced. Konrad lifted off the ground and crossed swords with Drethek midair. Landing behind his back and elbowing him in the neck, he took posession of Drethek's big sword. Both turned around to face each other, but Konrad cried out as he received a deep wound to the side between his fifth and sixth's ribs.

"Aaah!"

Drethek spun as Konrad flexed and rotated with the rest of his remaining might, allowing immense energies to exit his body, blood squirting from the wound, he flicked the blade, and another cry of pain, now lower, rolled over the cliffs.

Drethek's arm, cut one inch above the elbow, landed in a few meters to his side. Konrad spun again, and with all his weight slammed the flat side of the sword against Drethek's chest, sending him flying down the cliffs into the water.

A loud splash, consumed by the high wave. Blood was pulsing in Konrad's head, he was losing strength and vision. He could no longer see Drethek's black clothing in the water. The sail was in some five miles from the shore.

Konrad retreated.

* * *

The sailors looked around but saw no man standing in the place agreed upon.

"Maybe plans changed?"

Sailors pondered. There were only seven of them in a small fishing boat, powered by one sail and six ores.

"No, look!"

A man held in his hand a freshly bloodied sword and a piece of black cloth.

---------------------------------
inspired by works of Wratts aka Moirear Sean

[The Less]

Months had passed since the battle of the two. The day was storming with wind and rain, lightning clashed the sky with pounding thunder heard throughout the lands.

The shores of greenbriar were not so desolate on this threatening day, a boat with a large white sail was tied up at the lands end. Two sailors stood a short distance inland, they looked at eachover, hair and coats drenched while squinting their eyes through the strong rainy winds.

The sailors looked ahead of themselves to a third man, dressed differently than the others. Water droplets slid down a black leather trench coat.


"Is this the place sir?"


Yes, yes it is.

The two sailors nodded and looked at eachover a final time before turning and heading back to the boat. The third man however did not look back, he began to walk south towards the mountainous depths of Hellbriar.

[Avalyon el'Hattarr]

The mage taps his fingers slowly over his fierly throne, smirking amused at the man held kneeled by two armored creatures.

So, like the others baring that name.. came for my assistance. Good, good.. I was beggining to wonder when you will. he says, laughing maliciously and waving his hand dismissivly at his two soldiers. He stands and nods lightly towards the one handed man.

I am sure that I shall find ... something useful. But know this.. pain is only a small price we pay for greatness. The mage laughs and walks away slowly towards a certain room, allowing the man to follow.

[The Less]

Weeks were allowed to pass, markings were finally complete.

The man reaches up with a new arm to take a strange piece of cloth from the dungeon wall.

No one needs to know about these scars...

The man raises to his forehead a blackened bandage, he adjusts it into place, then turns with a grunt.



The man left the lands of hellbriar at full strength, though he felt a strange new feeling...

Aggression boiled deep in Drethek's veins.