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Posted By: dleon Jan 11, 2005 - 02:10 pm

Alex slept peacefully in the quarters given to those who were lieutenants in the kings army. Though he was a lieutenant in the army he was also the prince of the kingdom. Being the prince he could have rightfully asked for a more luxurious accommodation, but it just didn't seem practical in his eyes. He had more then enough space for his necessary belongings and his equipment. Alex may be a prince but he was also very simple in his necessities. As he lay there sleeping lightly on his cot a part of his mind that was always active caught the distant sounds of the gong. The gong signaled midnight, the beginning of a new day and also the changing of the guards that patrolled the perimeter of the base camp. Coinciding with that sound though was a barely audible sound of cloth tearing. Without even the change of his deep breathing, Alex went from deep sleep to fully awake and alert without betraying himself. He didn't even need the talisman on his chest to warn him of the danger he was in. Though it heating up did give him positive proof that his imagination wasn't running away with him again. Alex had been living a life on borrowed time ever since his mother had passed away without giving the current king any children of his own. Alex knew well that the man that married his mother the princess and later on became king was not his father. No he and his twin sister came from the loins of another man, one who wasn't controlled by lust or greed. His true father was the one that had given him the protective talisman that he now wore around his neck. This magical talisman that had saved his life many times in the past and would probably do so many times in the future.
The talisman grew warmer as danger to Alex's life approached as it did even now as the skilled assassin squeezed into Alex's tent. The sound of clothe ripping was when the assassin tore an opening into Alex's tent from the back of the tent away from where Alex had posted guards. This was not the first assassin Alex had to deal with. No this was one of a long line of assassins that had tried to claim his head at the kings request. But being hunted everyday of your life either meant you died early on or you learned to think like a fox. Cunning was something Alex had as he lay there on his cot feigning sleep. He estimated that the man was very small by the way his footfalls landed so lightly on the dusty earth of his tent floor. Small meant that he was probably quick added to the fact that he had managed to make it this far into camp without alerting anyone meant that Alex was about to face a high ranking professional. Still Alex lay still not even twitching as the talisman became almost searingly hot.
Then at the last moment just as the assassin lunged at him Alex rolled of the cot and to his feet. The assassin had been as quick as a cat jumping on a tasty morsel when he lunged, but soon found to his amazement that the mouse turned out to have fangs and claws of it's own. The only thing Alex could make out was the man's outline, and indeed he was of small stature. Short and wiry, but quick definitely quick. Although Alex was on his feet facing the assassin with a short blade in one hand and a knife in the other, since he always slept thus armed, he wasn't in a rush to call in the guards that stood on the other side of the tent flap. There were two main reasons why Alex didn't shout for help. First and foremost was after gauging his opponents skill and speed he knew that the talents of the guards outside were no where near the point were their presence might actually be helpful. They weren't even knights, they were only watchmen, so to call them in would be like sentencing them to death. The second reason was that not only were they not knights, but they weren't his knights, that meant that the king may have been able to bribe them and although they would only hinder him they might be a real help to his assailant if they were on the same side. So it looked like this battle would have to one or lost on his talents alone, a situation which Alex was quite comfortable with.
Keeping the cot between them Alex started to circle around to the right. Which inevitably caused his would be assailant to circle the cot as well to keep it between him and Alex. His assailant was stupid he knew that assassinations were best done with the element of surprise and that he no longer had that element. Instead of facing a sleeping defenseless man that he had been contracted to kill he was now staring at a fully awakened and armed target. Best to keep a distance from his prey to see how the situation presented itself.
This being Alex's tent though gave him the upper hand. He knew the layout of his tent and everything in it. To him he was on familiar territory while his assailant was on foreign ground. Alex planned to use that knowledge to his advantage. He was doing so even now as his trek around the cot had the purpose of positioning his assailant unwittingly into an unfavorable spot. All at once Alex seized control of the situation by shoving the cot forward, cutting off his adversaries escape. Then before the would be executioner could even think to jump over the cot Alex hurled the knife at the assailant's head. The knife was visible flying through the air as the moonlight gleamed off of its sharp edges. The assassin could only dive sideways as Alex hastily followed the path of the thrown knife preventing a forward roll. Unfortunately the dive proved to be the assassin's undoing for it was what Alex had planned on him doing all along. The assassin didn't meet with the soft earth he had expected to roll on. Instead his arms came into contact with the glass lamps that Alex stored there. Many glass lamps, fragile glass lamps, that exploded into tiny shards of shrapnel when the assailant crashed into them. Before even of them pains of his own wounds registered Alex had closed the gap between them. The man yelped as searing pain flared up the mans tattered arms. That one sound was enough to give Alex something to aim for in the dark. His short sword arced through the air as it came crashing down on the mans head. Alex felt the jarring shock as his sword met flesh and bone and was vaguely satisfied when he heard the man slump to the floor in death.
Alex didn't think his life had high value, but that didn't mean that he would be willing to just lay down and die. He did have certain things to live for after all. His sister for one, if he died it would leave her almost defenseless in a court of vipers and charlatans. Only his presence kept the king from outright doing as he pleased. The king was only a regent, only holding the crown until Alex was of age to claim it and he knew it. That's why the desperation of these assassination attempts have gotten bolder and bolder as the years passed. Still there was yet five years until he reached his twenty-first day of life. Which meant that he could expect things to get even harsher for himself.
Alex lay down on the cot once again without calling the guards into the tent. He had slept around dead bodies before and at least keeping this body undiscovered until morning would have a purpose. His enemies would never send in another assassin without knowing what happened to the first. And as long as the dead body lay on the floor undiscovered they wouldn't know whether the assassin was killed before or after succeeding in the mission unless Alex showed himself outside the tent and still alive.
As Alex tried to drift off to sleep again he couldn't help but wonder at his incredible luck to have stayed alive this long. While he was still but a toddler he and his twin sister had only been a nuisance to the man who become king through marriage. All of the court knew that Alex and Amber were consummated out wedlock and that Kolesar wasn't their father, but instead of Kolesar producing a blood heir of his own he went about destroying all of his enemies and situating his cronies in places of power. It was too late before he had realized that without a blood heir of his own he'd only be regent until Alex came of age. By then Alex's mom had given up on life and departed this world for the next leaving King Kolesar with a royal predicament. He could only remain regent as long as he was a guardian of a rightful heir or else one of Alex's relatives would fight him over the crown. This left King Kolesar with only one option, he must keep one of the children alive so that he could remain king, but he would also have to kill Alex before he came of age and took the crown. Since the time of that decision Alex has been hunted almost daily by plots and schemes on his life. Alex knew that he would have been dead long ago if it weren't for the loyal knights that used to protect his grandfather before his heart gave out. None of them were young and spry any longer but they had a wealth of knowledge that Alex had learned from in order to stay alive. Attack after attack had dwindled the once hundred strong knights to half their original might.
Seeing the futility of trying to kill Alex in court while he had so many loyal protectors about him King Kolesar came up with the ingenious idea of sending Alex and his knights out to hazardous frontiers along the remote edges of the kingdom. To help maintain the peace between nations was King Kolesar's official statement, but to dwindle the numbers of loyal knights was his true objective. Sentencing Alex and his knights to fight in border war after border war. Only something happened that King Kolesar had not planned on. Alex arrived on the scene and immediately impressed his superiors with his vast military knowledge at such a young age. He quickly gained favor of those leading the campaigns and skirmishes on the border. Year after year his prowess and fame grew greater even though all he tried to do was to prevent any of his men from dying while still completing the missions he was assigned. Alex finally found blissful sleep as he was wondering whether or not this unending cycle of death would ever come to an end.
Alex awoke to the first rays of the sun peaking into his tent and quickly rose to his feet to wash his face and dawn his heavy cloak to ward off the morning chill air. One of his sub-lieutenants Sir Felrin entered Alex's tent to make his morning report. He took in the sight of the dead assassin without comment since he was one of the first knight's to teach Alex swordplay and had been a steady shield against the constant attacks of the king.
"I thought I'd remind you that you'd have to meet up with the captains and field marshal later on along with all the other lieutenants, they plan to attack our adversaries around noon," Sir Felrin said, "The meeting won't take place for another two hours so you have time to get something hot to eat without having to shove it down your gourd."
"Thank you," Alex replied as he dried his face on a hand towel, "I'd like you to get someone to remove my late night visitor if you could."
"I'll take care of it myself, my lord," Sir Felrin said as he handed Alex the scouting reports that were received that morning about their enemies strength. After passing the paper work on Sir Felrin rolled up his sleeves and headed over to the carcass of the late assassin to remove it from his lords chamber.
Alex wanting to give Sir Felrin room to complete his task rolled up the parchments and left the tent but not before strapping his sword to his belt. Alex never traveled anywhere nowadays without being armed, even in his own camp. He headed down to where his personal knights sat around a cluster of fires breaking their fast. He was greeted by many respectful nods as he made his way to the biggest of the fires, the cooking fire. He was handed a piping hot cup of tea, along with a plate of bread and cheese. Again he could have requested better rations yet Alex only asked for what he believed he had earned or what the other lieutenants also received. If anyone walked into Alex's section of the camp they would immediately be able to pick him out from the rest of the knights since he was the youngest person by far. All the other knights were well above thirty with some even reaching half a century in age. But if Alex were placed in amongst his peers a person would be hard pressed to identify him.
This was partly due to practicality and partly due to increase survivability. Alex was of medium build and height, he was not the tall handsome prince that many farm girls read about in those romance novels that were all the rave amongst the working class. Though he was not dashing neither was he ugly, if one word could describe how he looked it would be unmemorable. If he choose to he could have long flowing curly golden hair like his sister, but instead he cropped it short so that it couldn't be used against him in a fight. He dressed exactly as the other lieutenants did, the only difference was in the amount of weaponry he wore when he went into actual battle. The only memorable thing about Alex was his eyes. The dark grey eyes that seemed to be void of any emotion or thought whatsoever while absorbing everything around him. Those eyes always remained the same no matter how exciting the situation became they were always calm and focused. By looking in those eyes you could never tell what was going in the mind behind them, but you could be assured that the mind was always at work, always alert. The only time Alex has ever been known to have shown any real emotion is during the rare times he spends with his beloved twin sister. Amber is Alex's only joy in a life that revolves around surviving the next deadly encounter with fate. Living day to day and wondering every morning when he wakes up if this will be the last day he lives. If he's seen his last sunset or experienced his last sunrise.
This morning though he was mostly about business. Silently smiling at the few jokes that were passed around the campfire as he studied the reports on the enemies strengths and weaknesses. To be honest he didn't even know what enemies he know faced or why. He only knew that they were testing Andonia's military strength along the border. Something that had never happened during his grandfathers reign. The former king had respected his neighbors and treated them as equals no matter the size of their kingdom's. King Kolesar trampled all over the weaker and smaller kingdoms no matter what previous treated there were, this in turn created a lot of enemies along the borders shared with those smaller kingdoms. One such kingdom was now trying to rush in and grab some land from Andonia and it was Alex's job as well as that of the field marshal and other captains to prevent them from gaining a foothold in Andonia.
Alex spent the morning going over the information he had about enemy troops and possible plans of attacks and sat thru a few meetings with various captains but he knew well what his job would be. What his job almost always was. He and his fifty knights were known for their mobility and versatility. Everyone of his fighters were skirmishers both afoot or on a horse. They were quiet adept now at finding the weak point in their militia's strength and compensating for it. Either by rushing to the spot where they were most needed or being the spearhead into their opponents main force. As he had expected that was to be their role again today. Sometimes it was an easy job and sometime it was the most dangerous job there was depending on the situation. Because Alex and his knights were the reserve cavalry as well as the skirmishers if they hit a situation where they were in need of help there would be none coming. Yet Alex had never failed in any mission he had undertaken nor lost ground to the enemy no matter what their numbers had been. As the sun reached higher in the sky as noon rapidly approached the scattered companies of the crown of Andonia came together to march towards the opposing army. Andonia's main force consisted of approximately five hundred soldiers, pike men, horsemen, and archers; with Alex and his fifty knights as their only reserve force. The opposing force outnumbered their own by nearly two hundred men but they were the attacking force. So their number would be reduced by Andonian arrows before the two sides met in hand-to-hand combat. If there was one thing that Alex knew though it was that anything could happen in war and he was going to be prepared for anything and everything.
Except that what actually happened that day wasn't what Alex had expected at all. The battle started as he'd seen them done countless times before. He though of war as a grand scale song with all the sounds mixing together to form a symphony. There were the signal horns that started the two armies marching towards each other, their shrill notes splitting through the autumn air. The steady drum beats pounding through the surrounding hills as coordinated the movements of the large armies. The constant drumming of feet upon the earth both the hoofed feet of the horses and padded feet of the foot soldiers. The large flag of their individual kingdoms snapped in the wind creating a cracking noise that was at times soft and at time loud.
It was times like these when Alex would simply close his eyes and enjoy the undertones of life he heard all around him before the real symphony began and drown those sounds out. Then he heard the first hisses as the first volley of arrows sung through the air to find their targets. It was then that the true symphony of war began. The first agonizing cries of those struck by arrows were the first vocals to be added to the music. Those cries were few and only posed as a preview of what was to come. Another volley sung through the air and this time the resulting vocals was of a higher pitch and quantity since the closer range allowed for more direct and fatal hits. At this time the two armies were to close for the archers safely remain in front so the archers rushed to the back in order to send volleys high overhead their comrades in the from and dwindle the number of attacking soldiers down as much as possible. The only problem with that was that the enemy had the same idea and were sending volleys of arrows over to the Andonian side as well. Now the symphony came to full bloom as the crescendo of pain and agony were felt on both sides of the warring armies. Swords hissed as they were drawn from their sheath. Blades slammed together creating screeching sound that could only be born from metal on metal contact. The flesh of humans being mauled and mangled by the hands of other humans. Blood, gore, and carnage was the scene in the valley below him. All this Alex could tell without even opening his eyes, the music of war was very distinct in the foul twisted notes that it produced. Though Alex was considered the most skilled warrior currently on the battlefield by both sides in the conflict he himself only wished that there could be a time and place were the music of war never need be heard.
That will never be as long as Kolesar sits atop the throne, Alex thought sadly even as he listened for his cue to add his own tune to the melody. He listened for the sounds of the enemy breaking through and searched for them with his eyes as well. Then there it was, a portion of the line had fallen back due to the heavy losses they had received from enemy arrows. If the line was broken then the momentum of the battle might swing fully onto the side of the invaders. Without a second thought Alex spurred his trusty chestnut mount Tristan towards the failing portion of the line. His knights spurred their horses a split second later to follow their lord's lead. Alex had proven himself time and again on the battlefield and now his men followed his orders without question.
As he and his knights crashed in upon the invaders breaking thru the line Alex stopped being able to hear the music as clearly as before, because now he was actually a part of the music. The large scale notes were replaced by the smaller more pressing ones. The his of a pike aiming for his head that he parried almost effortlessly before Tristan hooves crushed the offending man's skull. Tristan spinning about and using her hind legs to send both opposing horse and rider flying. The two horsemen that urged their horses on either side of Alex hoping to attack him in pincer formation from either side. The effort had been sound, but the skill difference between Alex and the other attackers were just to great for them to effectively hedge him in. Alex sent Tristan crashing in between the two and a double backhand slash sent both of his opponents to the ground in death throes. The next challenger Alex faced was another pikeman but this one tried to attack Tristan instead of Alex himself. Tristan danced sideways out of the way of the first attempt. Alex's blade flew through the air shortly thereafter lodging itself in the challengers chest preventing a second attempt.
All through the battle the talisman on his neck barely registered above lukewarm. Suddenly the talisman became almost unbearably hot. It's not someone already in my presence, Alex deduced calmly but rapidly, or else I would have received an earlier warning. Then it must be a danger on its way to me. Alex pulled Tristan back from the midst of the melee and the opening he left was immediately filled in by one of his men. Alex scoured the surrounding terrain for anything out of place, anything that could be deemed truly dangerous to him and his men. Out of the corner of his eye he saw three dark riders emerge from the concealment of the forest and hurtle towards his position. The three figures were still a long way of maybe three hundred yards but they were closing fast. It didn't take long to identify the creatures for what they were. The long flowing black garments and the black armor fitted on their horses could only mean they were Deathstalker's. He knew what they were yet he did not fear them. Instead he feared for the lives of his men. They would undoubtedly throw themselves in the Deathstalker's path in order to save their lord, but they would just be throwing their lives away. For there were only two ways to stop a Deathstalker.
Deathstalker's were created with fire magic and molded out of the poisonous fumes and fires of the Dreagan Valcanoes of the far north. Their presence this far south meant that the king was finally getting serious about killing the rightful ruler of Andonia. Because Deathstalker's are created with fire magic the only was to defeat them is to attack them with their opposite elemental attributes. Unfortunately though an Andonian for this small didn't carry a water mage with them, or a mage of any kind. Other than dousing them with water they were nigh unstoppable. The only other way to kill them is to remove their head from their body which is an amazing feat in itself since Deathstalker's have the innate ability to cast fire spells. Added to the fact that they ruthlessly hunted down their target destroying anything that barred their path made them the most sought out type of assassin this day and age.
Alex made a split second decision in the face of these new adversaries. "Hold the line and do not follow me," Alex shouted to Sir Felrin before yanking on Tristan's reigns sending the horse off in the direction of the forest edge opposite the one where the Deathstalker's emerged from. He was pleased to see the three Deathstalker's veer of after him, completely bypassing his men without attacking them. At least now I know for sure that I'm their target, Alex thought as he looked over his shoulder at his pursuers, no matter what happens though my men will be safe. Or as safe as they can be in the middle of battle.
He put all thoughts of his men out of his mind and concentrated on the task at hand. He had started out with a large lead when he had spurred Tristan on, but the Deathstalker's rode the faster and stronger northern bred horses. They were gaining ground on him even as he raced towards the forest edge. Alex tried to recall everything Sir Felrin had taught him about the Deathstalker's. Alex knew that although the Deathstalker themselves couldn't abide the touch of water they could still pass over it if they were on a boat or bridge. As long as they didn't come into direct contact with the water they unaffected by it. Their magic was effected quite differently though. Their magic could not pass over open water and it lost it's effect when cast against its opposing attribute. Water is my only hope then, Alex deduced calmly, I remember that there are several streams and rivers around here but which one is the closest one? Alex went over in his minds eye all of the maps he had studied over the coarse of his stay on this frontier. Soon he had concocted a plan that he hoped would shift the odds a little more into his favor.
By this time Alex was almost at the tree line at the border of the forest. The Deathstalker's sensing that their prey just might escape in the maze of trees let loose the first of many fire spells. One Deathstalker raised it's hands and pointed at Alex and called forth fire. Luckily enough it was the tree next to Alex that burst into flames and not Alex himself. It seems that the Deathstalker's were still to far away to cast spells with great accuracy. Still a tree bursting into flame right beside them did startle Tristan a bit. Tristan even fought the reins for a split second before he remembered his training and obeyed Alex's commands once again. More and more trees burst into flame as Tristan and Alex hurtled towards their destination. Some of the blast were more than too close for comfort as Alex's nosed filled up with the distinct smell of burnt horsehair. Alex didn't know whether it was a slight burn or something serious but he couldn't afford the time to stop and check. Though he didn't think Tristan had been hurt badly because there was no change in his gait or signs of weakening. Alex's mind raced ahead, faster than even Tristan's powerful legs could carry him and tried to remember every detail about where he was going. Trying to find any flaws in the plan his mind had meshed together under these grueling circumstances.
As Alex neared his destination he glance behind him to gauge how far off his enemies were while Tristan continued to plunge forward at a breakneck speed. A single Deathstalker was right on his tail, barely twenty yards back, a little closer than Alex had anticipated. It would be cutting it close for him to pull of his plan but it was still possible, just not easy. The other two Deathstalkers were a lot further back then the first one, almost double the distance. It was probably do to the foliage, shrubbery, and undergrowth of the forest slowing down their horses. This meant that Alex would have to make another adjustment to his plan because he had originally estimated them all being bunched together. One of the earliest lessons Alex had ever learned though was that as soon as a plan was cemented in stone was the instant it sunk into failure. Remembering the words of his teacher/tormentor Sir Felrin Alex could almost here his gruff voice in his head even now, A plan must be fluid and changeable. Any plan that doesn't leave room for error, mistakes, and the unimaginable happening is bound fail. A plan can never fully take into account the unexpected but you must leave room in your plan for it to change according with the changes in circumstances.
Then there was no longer anytime for thinking and planning as he reached his destination. Tristan burst out of the last stand of trees and hurtled towards the stream that was barely fifty yards away. The path between the trees the stream was flat and grassy so Alex asked his loyal mount to give him a little more, though he wished he didn't need to. Tristan responded by putting on a burst of speed and calling on the last of his strength. Alex was halfway to the stream when the first Deathstalker finally burst forth from the forest behind him. The Deathstalker also forced its horse to increase the pace when it saw that its prey was headed for the stream. Sensing that its prey just might escape if it reached the water the Deathstalker drops the reigns and raised both hands aiming at Alex. Now without any trees blocking its path the Deathstalker was finally able to let loose a true fireball. One that leapt from hands with an audible crack nearly sending the Deathstalker flying from the saddle, the shock of the recoil staggering the horse as well. The fireball went screaming through the air faster than even a horse could travel quickly eating up the distance between it and Alex. Alex could feel the heat radiating from the huge blast even while it was a ways off. Tristan could feel it as well because even in his exhausted state he managed to increase his speed yet again. The streambed, their safe haven, was within reach, but it would be cutting it close even at Tristan's top speed. Risking another glance backwards Alex eyes took in the huge ball of fire barreling down on him in midair. The fireball was half as large as his horse and would be the death of both him and Tristan if it reached them before they reached the stream. Though even as those thoughts passed through his head he heard Tristan's foot fall not on solid earth, but rather splashed in the cold water of the knee deep river.-
The fireball was so close that it hurt Alex's eyes just to stare directly at that miniature sun, but he was in no danger from it any longer since they were already over open water. As soon as the fireball crossed over from hovering over solid ground to being over water it halted it forward motion completely. Then the fireball started to spark and flare while still hanging in midair over the edge of the stream. Then as Alex watched the huge fireball imploded upon itself and then fizzled out of existence as if it had never been. A few more forward strides and Tristan began clambering out of the other side of the stream that was only fifteen yards wide. He pulled on Tristan's reigns to get him to slow down, but even before his horse came to a complete stop Alex had already unhooked his bow and jumped from the saddle. He knew Tristan would only go a few paces father before stopping to wait for his master, so Alex focused his mind on the task at hand. He ran back towards the stream while pulling out two arrows and cocking them in his bow.
On the other side of the stream the Deathstalker had just halted at the other side. A little afraid to cross over one thing that could bring about its demise. Once it saw Alex on the other side of the stream horseless the hunter in the Deathstalker could not simply stand by, it wanted to hunt it's prey to ground. The Deathstalker knew that the water wasn't high enough to touch it while it was upon the horses back so it spurred its mount forward to cross the stream and claim its prize. The Deathstalker was almost at midstream when the other two Deathstalkers reached and paused at the edge of the stream.
Alex waited until the Deathstalker was exactly midstream, at the deepest part, before drawing the bow string as far back as his muscular arms could manage. He aimed the two bolts not at the nigh indestructible Deathstalker, but rather at the all too mortal horse it rode. Alex waited a moment more to be sure of his shot before he let the feathered shafts fly. The bowstring snapped to with a twang as the two bolts speed through the air to strike true. Alex's aim had been perfect as the two shafts protruding from the horse's chest attested to. Alex said a quick prayer of forgiveness to the horse's spirit for it was not it's fault that it was born to bear Deathstalkers. The animal spud forth blood from its nostrils once before teetering to the sideways. What was about to happen registered on the red smoldering face of the Deathstalker just before the horse toppled forward. The Deathstalker was sent headfirst into the slow flowing stream.
The Deathstalker tumbled head over feet once in midair before hitting the water with a loud splash. A large steam plum erupted from the surface of the water at the exact moment that the Deathstalker touched it. The water around where the Deathstalker was submerged quickly heated to its boiling point, boiling bubbles began to reach the surface. The air surrounding that point quickly became very foggy as is in a sauna as the water around the Deathstalker flashed into steam. Under the knee deep water the Deathstalker's body began convulsing and contorting viciously as its burning hot skin began cracking and giving way to the cooling waters of the stream. Cracks began to become great rifts throughout its body, splitting the Deathstalker open in many different places at once.
The lava that was the Deathstalker's blood began to gush from its body to float of downstream, later become unnatural obstinate glossy black rocks. Finally when as the last drop of lava blood flowed from its body the waters of the stream rushed in to fill up the vacant veins and blood vessels coursing through the Deathstalker's barely living body. Once water was both in and outside of it, both surrounded by water and filled by water the magic that held the Deathstalker together suddenly and violently gave way. The Deathstalker's body convulsed wickedly once more into a final tortured pose before it exploded underwater.
On the surface only but a few moments had passed, but already the two remaining Deathstalker had dismounted and drew their weapons not knowing what to expect. That's when the stream exploded upwards nearly a dozen feet into the air completely draining the stream at that spot for an instant uncovering the very earth beneath the stream to be viewed by the naked eye. Of the Deathstalker that had fallen in Alex saw no evidence that it had ever existed, even the clothes that it had worn had been either destroyed or now floated downstream. The water that erupted into the air came cascading down on either side, sending the remaining two Deathstalker scampering for cover underneath their horse's belly. Water droplets came splattering down upon their horses and a few of them came into contact with the Deathstalkers. The water droplets sizzled as they came into contact with the stone-like skin of the remaining Deathstalkers causing them temporary agony. Once the air was once again free of liquid the Deathstalker removed themselves from underneath their horses and remained a few paces away from the stream's edge. Alex couldn't tell whether they were calculating their next move or if they were just fearful of coming to close to the stream that had devoured their comrade. There was just no way to read their impassive stony faces from this great a distance. Still he kept them in view even as his mind raced ahead forming and discarding plan after plan until he reached one to his liking. When Alex made up his mind of what he was going to do he squatted down to wait.
After a few minutes of inactivity on both sides the Deathstalkers slowly ventured down to the stream's edge once again. They eyed Alex balefully across the stream as he squatted against one of the few trees that littered his side of the stream. The Deathstalker were hesitant to cross the stream for fear of ending up like their predecessor had. Instead of trying to cross the river they withdrew their own bows and began firing arrow after arrow across the stream at Alex.
This was a tactic Alex had been prepared for, one that he knew would be coming next, which is why he picked one of the biggest trees on the bank to squat against. A faint heat at his chest was the only warning he needed as the Deathstalkers shot their first arrows. He smoothly eluded the first of the arrows by slipping behind the tree. Alex was already safely behind the protecting thickness of the tree when the first arrows hit the ground where he had been. There wasn't an answering twang from Alex's own bow as he waited behind the tree. It wasn't because he only had three remaining shafts after this mornings battle or because he was afraid he was going to miss. Alex knew that at this close of a distance he could easily cripple both their horses with his three remaining arrows, effectively ending the chase, but he didn't want to lose those that hunted him. Two Deathstalkers loose in a kingdom that he still considered his own by right, no matter who currently wore the crown, was just unacceptable. He would sacrifice his own life first before he allowed any of his flock to fall at their hands.
So Alex waited calmly behind the tree as a seemingly endless amount of arrows thudded into the tree he hid behind. He both bow and arrow held in one hand, just incase either of them tried to cross the stream. In his other hand he held a small ornate mirror a little larger than his palm. The outside of the mirror was made up of two silver dolphins forming a circle by touching nose to tail, dolphins being the sign for both twins and the month he'd been born in. Even as the reflection of the mirror showed him two dire enemies hell bent on his demise, Alex couldn't help but smile. He smiled to himself as he recalled his twin sister, hands on her hips, berating him for his appearance before handing him her favorite mirror. You twin may act like a ruffian and go gallivanting across the entire kingdom, but at least with this mirror you won't have to look like it she'd said in reference to the scraggly adolescent beard he'd always worn back then. He now went clean-shaven wherever he went and kept the mirror always on his person as a reminder of the one person that loved him unconditionally. Though I doubt she ever intended for me to use her mirror in this fashion, Alex though to himself bemused at his own situation.
As he watched his foes movement out of the mirror he heaved a huge sigh of relief when they ran out of arrows and just milled about. If they had been creatures of higher intelligence I would have been in serious trouble. It would have only taken them splitting apart in different directions, one upstream and one down, to seal my doom. I could have only followed one of them while the other would have been free to cross the stream wherever it wanted as long as it was out of my sights. Then it could have backtracked on this side of the stream until it caught up with me. But I guess it's only fair that their not nearly indestructible and good tacticians at the same time.
Alex continued to watch their reflections in the mirror for a while longer to be sure they didn't have any other projectiles. Then Alex came out from behind the tree and pulled out one of the arrows that was lodged init. He knew instantly that the tips had been coated in poison. Although harmless for the Deathstalkers to fire, if Alex mishandled the arrows they could prove to do the Deathstalker work for them. So instead of replenishing his inadequate supply of arrows with theirs, as were his original intentions, Alex withdrew his sword and set about destroying all the shafts he could find.
Never leave an enemies stronghold intact behind you and if you can't use an enemies weapon destroy it so that it can't be used against you later, Alex hear the words of his old tutor Sir Felrin in his head as if the old knight were whispering in his ear.
Another wise lesson from his mentor about planning was to always have a back up plan, and another plan to spare just incase the first two failed. Although his first plan wasn't a complete failure he did only manage to kill one Deathstalker. At the moment he was waiting to initiate his backup plan. It won't be long now, Alex thought as he eyed the cloudy heavens above.
Along with learning the lay of the land Alex had also learned the weather patterns of the battlefield and the surrounding areas. He'd known since early this morning that there was going to be rain. He was simply waiting for it to start raining so that he could move on to the next phase of his plan. Alex didn't have to wait long before the first drops of rain fell to the earth. Alex had been wishing for a torrent of heavy rains, but he'd known since he laid this plan that he'd only receive a slight drizzle. Still a slight drizzle was much better than no rain at all.
Across the stream the Deathstalker moved with panicked frenzy as they quickly unbuckled their gear from their horse's saddles. Though they looked like a couple of fools dancing in the rain Alex knew that the Deathstalker were experiencing something similar to a person standing beneath a waterfall of glass shards. Though not instantly deadly, it could prove very painful and eventually fatal if a person didn't remove themselves from the jagged onslaught. The Deathstalkers were finally able to extract and erect their shelter against such an occasion. It was a tent of sorts made up from waterproof canvas, effective against any kind of rain no matter how heavy. This was the moment Alex had been waiting for. He knew that the Deathstalker would not move from their shelter until the rains came to an end. Guessing from his previous experiences with this areas weather Alex figured he had at least an hour, maybe two before that happened. That would be long enough for him to get to his next destination and set his plan into motion.

Posted By: dleon Jan 11, 2005 - 02:11 pm

there are two parts ill post the second part later tell me what you think.

Posted By: chowder Jan 13, 2005 - 02:23 am

dleon

I've only a few minutes this morning, so just took a quick glance at your first paragraph (look forward to reading more later). I can't comment on the entire post but...

Just a couple of notes about the first few sentences:

You've told the reader, three times, that Alex is a prince. Twice we're told he is a lieutenant. Much of the info in those first few sentences could be condensed.

This sentence is redundant and telling. You can get rid of it:
Alex may be a prince but he was also very simple in his necessities.

The last bit of the paragraph has far too much info in it. Save all that stuff about his mother and father and sister--that info can be doled out later.

Try not to overexplain things to the reader. For example, the cloth ripping was the tent being torn, etc.

Liked the talisman heating up to warn him of danger.

Posted By: Magus Jan 13, 2005 - 01:07 pm

Dleon, I think that you should put a space between each paragraph. It simply makes it much much easier to read that way. I'm going back up now to read more, but I thought that I should tell you that first.

Posted By: dleon Jan 13, 2005 - 09:37 pm

thanks any comments are well appreciated i'll try and revise it so that the informantion is leaked out throughout the story instead of at the beggining