Cliche Fantasy Story Part XIII

Shadow Man kept on running the cool night time air beating at his scarf. Not even the wind dared to take his scarf of. It it did he would kill the so called prince of the wind, or whatever he was called. They said that he was an unkillable element. That's almost absurd enough for me to laugh.

Shadow Man increased the distance of his strides. He had the stamina of a deer after years of vigorous often brutal training. He was the best at what he did. That was why Lion Claw had let him into his inner circle in the first place. Lion Claw had told him that his hardest tasks would be those that required him to assassinate a Gryphon.

How will Lion Claw react to tonight's failure? Does it matter? I fear no one, should he even look at me with a hint of doubt Ochria will spill his life blood. I'll take on his henchmen as well.

Shadow Man reached the Lostmen's Woods and was that much closer to his masters lair. Only those who were supposed to reach it ever did. The wild beasts made sure of that. Shadow Man had even befriended one. A large silvery white wolf the size of a small pony. It had the claws of a long extinct dinosaur known as the velicoraptor, teeth like a tiger, and fangs like a viper.

He heard a howl. It was one of them. Only his friend whom he had raised as a pup was trained. The rest would love to feast on his flesh. Shadow Man pulled out an amulet from his poisons and potions strap. The luminescent green stone shimmered in the ghostly moonlight that pierced the leafless trees.

Shadow Man cocked his head when he heard the sound of footsteps approach. They sound too gentle. They sound like... woman's. The wild beast continued to howl others joining in the chorus. And yet the faint feminine footsteps continued to near. Was I followed?

The amnesia was temporary and when Nikos came back, he was disoriented.

"Mallory," he called.

"Where have you been?" she snarled.

"Something happened. Whatever it was, it didn't last too long. Sit-rep?"

"Somebody tried to stick a knife in me, but some looney saved me. I'm okay." Nikos looked around. A man was unconscious on the ground and an elf was nearby.

"Is the elf the looney?"

"I'm Rissa. He's the looney," Rissa said, pointing to the man on the ground. The name sounded familiar, but Nikos couldn't yet place it. He cleared his mind and looked down at the man.

"He'll have a black eye, but no permanent damage." Something clicked in the back of Nikos mind.

"Now I remember, you wrote an article 'On the Application of Magic to the Mind.' I believe you work as the Court Psychologist?"

"I used to. After the last King died, it was decided that there wasn't any money to help these people out. I've been researching on my own ever since. Let's get off the streets. It's dangerous out."

"What about him?" Mallory said, pointing to the unconscious man.

"We'll bring him along. Just make sure he is unarmed before you put him on my back. I don't want you getting stabbed. Which way to the castle?" Nikos asked.

"It's just this way," Rissa said.

Out of Character: I (Snoink) am the one with the slight dyslexia... not my character. Sorry for the confusion! And it's really not a horrible mental disability, honest. Just a head's up if I ever completely misread your posts... ^_^



Psychologists. Ugh. Engineering was much better.

Nikos glared at me. Oh yeah... mind link. He probably wanted me to be all respectful and stuff. I feigned a cough and tried to look innocent. He just clicked his beak.

So. So far, a crazy elf had attempted to mess up Nikos's mind and a crazy guy tried to throw a knife at me. Joy. Did I mention that the former was leading us to the castle?

She didn't seem to know where she was going. She barreled through the crowd, twisting in and out of merchants and their products and laughing off the guys who cat-called at her. The crowd did part for Nikos and me, mind you, but only because Nikos was so big that the crowd had to part for him. Or else.

Rissa seemed to understand my confusion. She turned around and said, "It's best to go through the crowd. In the outskirts of town, it can get pretty bad."

Worst than here? I looked around and shuddered.

I looked around and squinted to a castle, which was slightly away from the sea and seated atop a small hill. "That's where we're going?" I asked.

"Yep, that's where we're going."

Name: Joe Smith
Age: Very, very old but he looks young
Appearance: Dark hair, one blue eye, one green
Species: Unknown. Joe looks like a human in every way except that he cannot die. Or rather he can die and has done often but five minutes later he wakes up, usually stripped of all his valluables and sometimes also his clothes
History: Currently working as the king's new body-guard
Other: Feel free to kill as often as you wish

Shadow Man was still, listening intently to the footsteps. Yes, footsteps, there were two pairs. The wild beasts in the distance continued to howl.

"No, don't cry Hansel we'll find our way out eventually," said a boys voice.

A little girl sniffled. "But Gretel something ate all the bread crumbs!"

Shadow Man walked away from the voices. A couple of children posed no threat to him. The beasts would soon find them and devour their flesh. Should they be spies sent in to follow him, the two kids will still be killed.

The amulet dangled in his hand, shimmered in the darkness, it was a truly unique stone. It only lit up in the black of night, under the moon. But put it out in the sunlight and it had the appearance of a common rock.

The deeper that Shadow Man went into Lostmen's Woods the more his nostrils picked up the unmistakable smell of something sweet. He finally saw what the source was, the old witches house. She wasn't always a witch. Once she had been a lovely young maid, until the day the Stranger arrived to visit her.

Shadow Man had seen the Stranger wandering the woods from time to time. The man never carried any visible weapon. A very foolish thing to do in these woods. But it was odd how every time he appeared the howls of the wild beasts stopped and they seemed to whine and whimper like puppies.

So one night hen he was passing the young maids house he saw the Stranger knock on her door. Curious Shadow Man had climbed a tree as stealthily as a Corvaz, another agile human devourer predator of the Lostmen's woods. Shadow Man had watched as the maid appeared scared at first and tried to such the door in the Strangers face.

The man had put out a hand stopping the door from closing, and then he forced his way in. And then as if the woman had been put under a spell she gave her virginity to the Stranger. While that was all happening Shadow Man stayed in the trees hearing the woman's screams. A few minutes later the Stranger reemerged from the house, which at the time had not been made of candy.

Without a doubt the Stranger had seen him in the trees, and yet he did nothing off it and simply disappeared deeper into the woods. Shadow Man had jumped down from the tree and ran to the house. What he found inside was not a woman anymore, but an old hag. She had a crooked nose, and large moles on her face. Her hair was the color of old straw, too ancient to even be gray, or white.

And now three months later here he was walking by the Witch's new house. A witch who didn't used too be. Not until she was driven mad by a Stranger who brutally attacked her, and stealing something from her. That was something not even Shadow Man would do.

Although he wouldn't have hesitated to kill her had he been giving the order. She was after all, close to Lion Claws domain.

"Look Hansel, a house made of candy!" Shadow Man heard the boy say.
Foolish, child you will soon see that the owner of that house would enjoy eating you and your sister more than you could ever possibly enjoy disgustingly sweet excuses for food.

"Well, hello young one's!" the witch said upon opening the door. "Please, please do come in!"

Shadow walked out of earshot. The wild beast had stopped their howling at the moon. Shadow Man would have to pass through Lizard Men Bog before he reached Lion Claws domain. Lizard Men Bog always provided him with entertainment. The Lizard Men were a lot tougher than mortal, or even somewhat immortal beings. Shadow Man had a lot of Elf heads to his work. He smelled the sick and acrid aroma of Lizard Men Bog. He heard water bubble, the creatures were out on the hunt.

Out of Character: Snoink, I'm so sorry! I'm really embarrassed right now. I know that it's not horrible- I have friends with it. But when you said that you should meet up with Rissa, I immediately thought you meant your character was dyslexic... So, hows abouts we pretend that I made both Mallory and Nikos confused. Since it was temporary it wouldn't have really effected the story anyhow.

I snaked through the crowd, wondering why why WHY I was doing this. So much for you're low profile, Rissa I hissed to myself.

Some half-crazy let out a cat-whistle in either mine or the humans direction. I couldn't tell which. I had very little power left for the day, so I decided I'd make him a full-blown crazy for a little while. Unlike splitting powers, this took little time and almost no effort. After I flashed a smile in the person's direction. They had dropped to the floor and started to suck their thumb.

I couldn't help but think that of course I had to choose the one pair in the whole plaza that would know me. Or, at least the Gryphon did. A bitter taste rose in my mouth as I brought them closer and closer to the castle.

I would bring them in there and leave. I hoped to dear god that I wouldn't have to go in. I hoped to dear God that I wouldn't come anywhere near seeing the Prince....

Well, King now. I scowled to myself. I hadn't seen him in month's and I sure as heck didn't plan on seeing him now.

We had finally made it through the crowd, and now all I had to do was get them past the guard, Joe.

I saw a few complications with this. First, it seemed that Joe wasn't in a very good mood. Getting past him might take some persuasion. And second, The 'King' was just coming out.

I turned to my companions. "Well! Here you are-" I stuttered out nervously. "Just through those Gates and you'll be fine. It was- uh- nice meeting you all and I really think that I better get going, so... Goodbye!"

I was about to turn and leave when I heard a male voice call my name. "Hey, Rissa!" I couldn't move. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I had no choice now. He had recognized me. I turned back around to face him, and plastered a fake smile on my face.

"Hello, you're Majesty. Fancy meeting you here."

Shadow Man had only been walking through Lizard Men Bog for thirty minutes and he had already killed three of the hunting beasts. He wiped the blood from his blades against soft leaf bristles. He would not put his precious blades in dirt or rub the blood off against rough trees, some of which oozed acid.

Lion Claws domain loomed in the distance. A moat full of savage reptiles was all that separated anyone who made it this far. Wind whistled among the moss covered trees.

Shadow Man ran the distance to the gray stoned fortress. The structure had been built many generations ago by enslaved giants, thus the reason for its immense size and height. The reptiles growled from the water below. Shadow Man like a few other members of Lion Claws inner circle knew how to have the men inside lower the draw bridge.

He pulled out a dead rat rolled up in a anti-decomposition wrap, and stretched out his hand to the black sky, full of swirling storm clouds. An eagle screeched and dove down from a high perch on the fortress. Shadow Man watched as it took the art out of his hands and flew into the fortress.

Howls and snarls rang out from the bog. The eagles screech always drew their attention. He heard the pounding of their footsteps on the wet earth. The bridge continued to creep down. Secretly he wished that the creatures could actually reach him before the bridge was lowered. It would be fun to take them all out at once.

But like always the bridge thumped on the ground and Shadow Man walked over it and into the fortress. A dozen knights carrying cross bows pointed them out behind Shadow Man and into the darkness of the bog.

"Hurry up, assassin!" a young knight said. He looked and sounded afraid.

Shadow man did not increase his speed and took his time on the bridge. A few of the reptiles beneath the bridge launched themselves out of the water, their snouts grazing the solid bottom structure.

When Shadow Man crossed the bridge many knights immediately began to raise the bridge. It was amazing how much stronger a person could be when in fear. Within seconds the bridge was half way raised.

But the Lizard Men are excellent jumpers. He heard one roar as it sprang. It thumped loudly against the bridge and fell into the water. It roar of rage was quickly cut off by the sound of foaming water, tearing of flesh, and the rumbles of the reptiles enjoying a feast.

"Why do you always do that Shadow Man?" a knight asked him.

Shadow Man turned to face him.

"Sorry," the knight said.

Shadow Man did not even nod his acknowledgment and went to meet his master. A master that would be dead before dawn streaked the horizon if he dared to even hint that he was going to be replaced by another assassin.

It hadn't been a pleasant day so far. It hadn't been a pleasant week. My new charge was infuriating, he was an intelligent, polite, attractive, friendly idiot. There was an infinity of deaths waiting for him and I should know, I had experienced most of them. This morning it was poison. A particularly unpleasant draught that took an hour to kill me.

"Are you much better Joe?" The young king asked as I came round. Groaning, I pulled myself up from the silk pillows and waved the attendants back.

"Do we know who?" I demanded.

"Oh I'm sure it was an accident!" The king said. "Not to worry, the cooks will be bringing me some other food out any time now."

"Oh joy." I rolled my eyes but fortunately when the second platter arrived there was no morsel of poison in any of it. The king ate it all up greedily as I sent for a damp cloth to recover myself.

"I would like to go out and see my people now," the king decided. I nodded grumpily. Opening the gate I strode out first and began to survey the situation. There was a harmless huddle of lunatics to one side and Rissa was leading a strange group to the gates. I put on my most menacing expression in the hope of persuading them to leave but the king quickly undermined me with his friendly hello.

"Hey Rissa!" I carefully placed myself beside him and slightly in front. I didn't like the look of the Gryphon. They were known to be great, regal creatures. I didn't trust them.

"Hello, your Majesty. Fancy meeting you here." I trusted Rissa even less. She was probably to blame for half the lunatics in our kingdom. By the same token I suppose I should have been greatful. Without Rissa we would have a much smaller population. For some reason that thought didn't make me feel any better about it.

"How can I aid you?" The king would be the death of me sooner or later. More than once.

Shadow Man strolled down the wide halls of Lion Claws fortress. While unimpressive in it's architecture, the place was indeed much larger than the King's castle. And unlike over there, the insane were not allowed within its towers. Shadow Man was not mentally unstable, as some people no doubt thought.

Simple minded vermin. If only you knew what knowledge and power I possess. I am the one person who can either bring your demise, or save your meaningless hides. For I am in Lion Claws lair. He is often within the distance necessary for me to slit his throat with one of my precious blades. But I don't kill him for you because I see no reason for you to live. You just shuffle around living life because it is inevitable. But do remember dying is also inevitable, sometimes sooner than you think.

He stopped in front of a sturdy looking steel and wood door that had been blocked by four knights. They had moved aside the moment they heard his footsteps. He struck fear in all that breathed. Except those foolish enough like Lion Claw who thought they were above him. Copperhead, the leader of Conqueror Lion Claws knight cavalcade known as the Armored Serpents also had the habit of being over assertive toward him. The man was lucky his throat was protected by his armor.

Shadow Man entered Lion Claws living quarters, he would no doubt find the man in his strategy room conversing with his army of elite knights. Copperhead being the most talkative. Shadow Man had to contain his anger. I really hate that man. His days are numbered. I could make it look like an accident.

Madman woke up and realized that he was sitting on the back of the Gryphon. But that was not what he missed the most. The shiny object unto which he had was gone, and he was dourly crestfallen. Oh how much he wanted that shiny knife. It was oh so shiny.

But imaginary Steve brought back him back to his senses by imaginably whispering in his ear; 'Psst, bud, we are on top of the Gryphon. Here is our chance to cook him. I heard they are supposed to taste like chicken, yet better.'

Madman scratching the back of his head, and softly licked his lips. "Boy, I do love chicken," he said blandly out loud. "But even if I was able to get off the Gryphon, how would I be able to cook it?"

The Gryphon seemed to tense at this, and it sent a furtive glance over its shoulder at Madman.

"Darn it. Look what you made me do Steve, now he know I want to eat 'em! There goes the awesome tasting chicken. Ah, but look over there, it is the King, Steve! The real King! Maybe the King tastes like chicken." Madman turned his head to the side and stared at the King. The King seemed to be talking, and he seemed to be talking to the girl who was escorting the Gryphon, and that other girl he didn't really care about.

"How can I aid you?" The King asked.

"You can let me nibble on your arm dear sir, I just wished to know if it tastes like chicken!" Madman called out to him.

"Ah, Shadow, it is such an honor to have you in our midst," Copperhead said. Lion Claw, Copperhead, and his most trusted knights were in a circle. A stair rail on one end of the vast room. Torches bathed the place in their rich fiery glow. Orange and red glistened off the knights armor.

Shadow Man said nothing and took his Place at Lion Claws left. His left! The arrogant Copperhead being his right. And for what reason? He was not the the one who did all of the Conquerors work, all he did was lead an army of metal headed young boys. Boys who probably contracted diseases from raping prostitutes.

"Shadow, I am glad to see you," Lion Claw said, "what news have you?"

"Master, a madman thwarted my perfect kill," he said.

Armor crinkled and rustled around him. This was all new to them. He had never before failed in an assassination.

"A madman you say?" Lion Claw said. He didn't sound angry, but nor did he sound like he would simply forget the matter. Lion Claw never hinted at how he felt. He was a mysterious man. Almost as mysterious as even him, the Shadow Man.

"Aye master, a bloody barking madman. He caught the blade that was not a heartbeat away from penetrating the woman's heart.

"Are you feeling tired Shadow?"

"No master."

"Then, I want you and Chameleon to kill the Kings heir... tonight," Lion Claw said. He made a gesture wit his hand.

There was a soft almost inaudible plop behind the knights at the other end of the circle as a black clothed figure jumped down from a stair-rail. "As you command, master," the man said. His voice was emotionless, as were his dark blue eyes.

"Shadow, go with Chameleon and end the life of the Kings precious son," Lion Claw said. "And should he wish to defend his son, take his life as well. And do separate their bodies, I do not want to give him the luxury of having dying with his son. Slay all in your way."

Shadow Man walked toward Chameleon.

"Are you ready Shadow?" Chameleon said.

Shadow Man pulled out Ochria and Misty. "Yes." They left the group of the others in the glow of the torches. Shadow Man could already smell the stench of madness. If he ever saw that madman again he would end his life. This world has already reached it's limits with madness. One less would be like removing a single ozone molecule from the stratosphere.

"You can let me nibble on your arm dear sir, I just wished to know if it tastes like chicken!" Shouted the Madman, still perched upon the back of the Gryphon.

I put a hand over my mouth to stifle my laughter. The look on the King's face was priceless. It only lasted a moment, though. He had encountered too many madmen in his lifetime to let one surprise for long. Instead, expression checked, he shouted back, "Maybe another time, Good sir."

A good response, in my opinion. The Madman was just that- mad. A bit delusional as well. Maybe schizophrenic? It would explain the 'imaginary friend' he had been talking to. But either way, he was harmless. He wouldn't hold the King to his word.

Speaking of, the King brought his attention back to me. "You know, Rissa, just because I'm King doesn't mean you can stop calling me by my name. I think we've known each other for long enough that Aiden will work just fine."

"If you insist," I said, trying to avoid looking into those dark, beautiful brown eyes hiding behind that tousled chocolate-colored hair...

Beautiful??! Really, Rissa? I shook my head. No. Absolutely. Not.

It seemed he knew what I was playing at. He smirked at the way my eyes carefully avoided his, and I remembered why exactly I hated him. His cockiness was him dominating feature with women, and I was a feminist at heart. I had already given him his chance, and that was the only chance he was ever going to get.

"So, what brings you here?" He spoke, finally, looking at my companions with mild interest.

I answered honestly. "I'm not a hundred-percent sure. I think it would be easier if I let them explain." I motioned to the two behind me, hoping that Aiden might be intrigued by the other girl instead.

"Who could have destroyed the witches house?" Chameleon said as they passed the melted mess of sweet smelling candy.

"I would have gladly done it myself," Shadow Man said.

"Shadow?" Chameleon said.

"Yes?"

"Do you think we'll get much trouble from the Kings guards?"

"I hope."

Chameleon shivered. "The wind sure is biting tonight, is not not?" he said.

Shadow Man thought that he was only shivering because he felt uncomfortable being alone with him in the woods. It was windy, but the air was as bearable as any. He saw swift movement on the trees ahead of them. The Corvaz were on the move.

Chameleon drew his sword. "You'd better stay away you predators," he said. "Or my blade will cut off your roar."

Shadow Man pulled out both his blades. He rubbed them together, making a scraping sound. The corvaz in the trees cocked their monkey heads in their direction.

"Shadow, don't you've gotten their attention," Chameleon said, almost whining.

Shadow Man stopped. "Is that not what you wanted?"

"I didn't want them all to come, no. We are no match for them all at once."

"Are you afraid of a bunch of blind brain eaters?"

Only if they out number us," he said scanning the trees. "And they do." Branches crackled and creaked under the corvaze's weight as they jumped from one tree to another. They swept all around them like shadows.

But I am the shadow of shadows. Shadow Man had killed plenty of corvaz throughout his ten years as Lion Claws assassin. They were always a thrill, they were fast and cunning. Though they were blind they provided much more of a challenge then any other race of creature or being. They may only be the size of a grown man, but they string, and those claws. They were sharp enough to split ones skull in one swipe.

As they neared the border of Lostmen's Woods Chameleon became noticeably less tense.

How could I have gotten stuck with a man who is good at hiding, But is a frightened rabbit when it comes to fighting?

"Your Majesty, I am Nikos, of the Forest Eyrie and this is my trustant, Mallory. We have been sent to deliver a prophecy to you. We were attacked shortly after we landed, but this man thwarted the attack, and Rissa lead us to yourself." The King didn't seem surprised.

"I did not expect you to come so quickly Lord Gryphon. We'll discuss your mission after dinner. I hope all of you will join me."

"We would honored Your Majesty," I answered.

"I can't," Rissa said.

"Why not?" the King asked.

"I've got to tend to this man here," Rissa said.

"You may use our hospital. I think it is better stocked than your laboratory and it is the least I can do for a man who saved our honored guests. Joe?"

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"See Rissa and this man to the hospital. I'll see to my guests." Joe clearly didn't like leaving his King in the hands of a gryphon, but Rissa took off so quickly, that he had no time to start an argument he would lose. The King watched her leave, before leading us back to the Castle.

The Castle was well fortified, with multiple lines of defense. As they went by, servants and subjects would bow to the King, until they arrived in the court. There, they were handed over to the steward, who quickly took them to a suite of rooms. Dinner was to be at Seven.

A plan formed in Shadow Mans intelligently cunning mind. They were almost to the end of the woods. "Chameleon, are you fast on your feet?"

"My profession requires it," he said. "Why do you ask.

Shadow Man pulled out two concoctions of powders that when mixed made a crippling explosion. It wasn't fatal, but he wasn't going to use it for that.

Chameleons eyes grew wide under his mask, "What are you-"

Shadow Man threw the powders into the trees behind him. The explosion boomed echoing throughout the woods. Corvaze's and every other beast that heard the explosion roared and shrieked.

The pounding of dozens of footsteps and snapping of tree limbs sounded behind them. Shadow Man was already running.

"Why did you do that!" Chameleon said running along side him. He was fast, he had to be if he wanted to make it out alive.

I just hope that for his sakes he has stamina. Shadow Mans plan was to have the wild beasts follow him all the way into the Kings Kingdom and into his castle. The guards would be busy with the beasts, while he and Chameleon tracked down and killed the Prince.

They broke out of the tree line and the beast followed. Only once had a beast gone out of the Lostmen's Woods, many had been killed by it. Back then there hadn't been so many guards, but then again there wasn't so many beast either.

"They're gaining on us!" Chameleon said increasing his speed. Snarls and hisses boomed behind them.

The moon bathed the grass in it's ghostly glow. Shadow Man could already hear the people screaming. The castle wasn't too far off.