Last War Of The Necromancers

The rain beat down in torrents.

Occasional forks of lightning split the air, lighting the stranger's way, to be followed a short time later by a deep rumble of thunder. The cobbled streets of Lorneria ran with rivers of rain, their surfaces pockmarked with circles left by the raindrop, water sluiced off roofs, adding to the liquid which ran down the streets.

A lone figure strode confidently through the night, a dark shadow wrapped in a nondescript brown cloak, making his purposeful way down roads and along walkways, occasionally cutting down an alley between two buildings.

He paused for a moment, head held up turning this way and that, checking for signs of pursuit, his actions and movements appearing more animal than man. Pulling his cloak and hood more tightly around his bulky frame he started forwards once more.

The streets were deserted, a combination of the late hour and driving rain. As the stranger moved through the city, seeming to glide, he saw no one but could hear people behind doors and in buildings. Some would be engaged in games of chance, some eating and drinking while others were spending precious time with loved ones.

Approaching an intersection of roads, he saw the buildings around him spread back from the road to form a large marketplace, rows of empty stalls, devoid of awnings, stood here like bones in an elephant graveyard.

Merchants from countries the world over competed with local craftsmen here, vying to earn every scrap of gold, silver and copper they could. Shouts and calls would fill the air proclaiming that each product was the absolute best quality the world had to offer at the lowest possible price.

Others gathered here just to talk and often to gossip, catching up on the latest news from far distant countries adding to the generally raucous sound of the place. Inevitably, with so many people here to spend money, pickpockets and thieves thrived in the milling crowds and the local Watch maintained a high presence.

The dark, amorphous figure paused at the edge of the square, eyes alert for any sign of movement, ears straining to pick up the slightest sound. Eventually, he began moving once again, skirting the edge of the square and hiding himself in the darkest of shadows.

A scream shattered the night and the stranger froze immediately, crouching in the space between two buildings.

The sound had been close, coming from just up ahead, forcing the stranger to wait for what seemed like hours, yet no further noises came to his ears and he could detect no movement.

At the moment he rose to continue, two figures emerged from a side street, half carrying, half dragging what appeared to be an adolescent boy.

The lone figure watched from the relative safety of his hiding place as the two rough looking men made their way boldly across the square. The youth, he saw, was really no more than a child, his young features framed by dripping hair that was plastered to his pale face and neck.

The two men dragging him through the square were both nondescript, both dressed in dark cloaks pulled tight against the weather. He was sure, however, they were not of the city Watch

The lone figure remained hidden in the shadows watching as the scene played out. He could scent fear, adrenaline, anger and greed but above all hate. He knew what these two men were likely to do to the boy, every signal they gave off screamed it aloud.

They had almost cleared the square and were about to disappear down a narrow road, where they could lose themselves in the twisting streets of the poorer sections of the city when he made a decision which surprised even him.

Moving soundlessly and with incredible speed, the stranger crossed the space between his hiding spot and where the abductors were in just a few strides. Landing a blow to the temple of the closest figure, the stranger watched as his eyes rolled back into his head. The abductor fell backwards and slumped to the cobbles without a sound as his knees collapsed. His counterpart on the other side of the boy remained oblivious to the stranger as he hissed.

"Baliol! We can't get our revenge here," the eyes widened in his scarred face as he realised his partner was out cold, the rain spattering into his unseeing eyes.

The remaining criminal threw the partially conscious young boy roughly to the floor, where he struggled to rise, while he pawed at his belt clumsily, attempting to pull out a dagger. The stranger stepped in quickly, gripping the hand that probed for the weapon with one of his own. His remaining arm shot forward and fixed the other man's throat with an iron grip which he maintained effortlessly.

The young boy attempted to focus his eyes. In what dim light penetrated the storm clouds, he could make out a large, dark shape that looked like a person. Although it stood statue still in the dark and rain, he could make out a fist beating ineffectually at its side. As the large figure was positioned between the boy and his attacker he was unable to see the claw like talons that gripped his assailant tightly. As the second attacker slid to the floor, unconscious, the large figure turned towards the young boy, pulling his cloak tightly around him as he did so.

"Are you harmed?" His voice was a rasping whisper, almost indistinguishable from the hiss of the rain.

The boy attempted to look inside the cowled blackness and see the face of his saviour but his vision could not penetrate the dark.

"No, I do not believe so, sir," the youth answered, rising slowly and moving towards the tall man. "I owe my life to you, such as it is," he added.

The large hooded figure turned to leave and panic swelled in the young boy's chest.

"Sir!" His voice was shrill. "May I be so bold as to ask your name?" The dark robed figure rotated slowly back towards the young boy.

"You would not want to know me, lad," the rasping voice had a strange accent and seemed as if the mouth that formed the words were misshapen. "You should try to get home."

"Please sir," the lad almost begged. "I have no place to go. Could you not take me with you?"

A wave of terror gripped the young boy as two clawed hands reached up and lifted the dark cowl down. The creature had an almost reptilian head; small, dark slits for nostrils, tiny raised circles for ears. Its lipless mouth was partially open revealing a row of short, white, sharply pointed teeth. Set under bone ridges which served as eyebrows, were two lidless eyes which, in the darkness, appeared to be completely black.