HammerFall

Chapter 003: The Road to Castle Vara


Bones, and the skeletons of dead warriors littered the field outside the great city of Xasthur. It had seemed so far away and yet so close. That war fifteen years ago, when the Hordes of Iced Earth first came to power. They were mercenaries, and yet they had been the crucial key to defeating the armies of the Black East. However it was only known by the Wise that the Hordes of Iced Earth were also the ones behind the Western War, fifteen years ago.

He silently stood surveying the dead bones that had never been picked clean or buried from the battlefield outside the kingdom of Stratsovara and HammerFall. The silver haired warrior had not been back to this battlefield since the day he had killed Niklas Sundine. His long silver hair rested freely and easily upon his back; stretching almost down to his ass. He closed his eyes to heighten his sense of feel. The barely blowing breeze was warm against his flesh.

Mikael Stormblade moved by instinct. He smiled darkly to himself as he knelt where the body of Niklas Sundine still laid, or rather the skeleton of the warrior. He opened his eyes and knew the truth for his old sword was still plunged into the great warrior's body.

Mikael's hand gently ripped the skull from it's spine. "Niklas, so blind to everything. To think I had once thought of giving you my heart. Instead I gave you the taste of my steel."

He laughed darkly to himself and then kissed the bared teeth of the rotting skull. He held the skull in both hands, and then crushed it. He blew across the dust; scattering it across the battlefield.

"There is nothing here in the West for me." Mikael spoke to the shattered bones as he stepped on his former lover, grinding more of the great warrior's skeleton into dust among the fertile, tall grasses.

He headed once more towards the south. It was in the Kingdom of Dargor that he would meet his next oponnent. He hoped that this one would prove at least a challenge for him.

***********************************

Jasper silently rode at the left of the x-formation of horses. In the center of the 'x' rode Rosenbrim. He did not have to look back to know this. On the right side of him rode Johan Lersson. Jasper would never have picked Johan to be part of this mission. The novice was not nearly skilled enough for even a simple mission such as this one was turning out to be. If trouble would come Jasper felt the slightly younger man would undoubtly get in his way. He had protested this decision of Rosenbrim to the Wizard himself; but the wizard strangely insisted upon Johan's coming.

Jasper also didn't understand what had gone on in the chamber that day. He didn't understand why the novice warrior didn't want him to leave. It was a knight's duty to go on missions. This had been Jasper's most desired dream since he was old enough to walk. He had seen his brother dressed as a Knight of HammerFall as a child. Ever since then he had dreamed of becoming a Knight, and making a name for himself. He was a Stormblade, and as such he was destined for this life, and in truth he wanted no other kind of life. Fighting and protecting his People was all that he wanted.

Jasper heard something up ahead. He raised his hand calling for a halt of the horses. Jasper dismounted in silence. No one spoke at first as he started to silently walk towards where he had heard the noise up ahead.

Johan asked, "Sir Stormblade?"

Jasper gave him a look that silenced the young novice, and then continued his silent approach. His hand rested eagerly upon the semi hammer shaped hilt of his sword. A foul reek filled Jasper's nostrils as he came ever closer to the trees and brush that surrounded it.

Out of the dark brushes it launched at him. Sharp gleaming fangs snarling and eager to sink into human flesh.