"Tell me doc," said Erasmus, though not in the final version. "Is he going to live?"

"You know I'm shhhh…till awake, right?" said Fray groggily, lying on his stomach while the gash on the back of his head was being stitched up by an older Dwarf. "Tishhhh but a shhhcratch. Oooh I think I'm feeling it again. Quick now… better get me shhhh'ome more of that grog or whatever…"

"You've had plenty, my young lord. Now shut up and hold still. I'm almost done."

Erasmus sighed in relief. It had been touch and go for a minute, but he had finally managed to haul Fray the Dwarf to a friendly outpost. He looked around the chamber at the wild, inhuman warriors glaring at them with their oddly coloured eyes. Well… mostly friendly.

A particularly large dwarf-warrior, almost of a height with Erasmus, strode towards him, a thick hand resting on a knife-hilt jutting on his belt. “By Law, we owe you for delivering our prince to safety…” said the Dwarf, as if begrudging the fact. “But about this… ‘demon’. How odd it is that of all the king’s company, a stranger survives with just the prince in tow…”

“Oi!” snapped Fray. “Leave him alone Gragga. I’ve vouched for him, and that’s the end of it. He’s a good man. Show some respect!”

The dwarf called Gragga gave a curt bow. “Forgive me… but this matter is too serious to let lie. Over thirty of our kin are dead, in two seperate attacks from supposed demons!”

Another Dwarf spoke up. “We always knew we would find such things here. We knew the risks.”

“But twice? Within days of this… stranger coming among us? A stranger with an Elf-sword at his hip? Hell’s Bells! I cannot be the only one to find that suspicious?”

“If you’re implying that my friend here can summon demons,” said Fray. “Then I’m sure he wouldn’t need to be standing here taking lip from you.”

Erasmus held up his hands. “Peace, friends. This has been a tragic series of events for your people, and you have a right to be suspicious. I can give no assurance other than my word. I do not understand any of this, I was merely crossing these mountains with my company when Lord Fray and his father… er… invited me into your halls when I got lost. But I too cannot help but feel that I am involved somehow in this. So I say you should either slay me here, or show me the way out so I can rejoin my band.”

A blind old Dwarf leaning on a stick coughed. “The Fates have spoken. It is beyond a doubt that the man called Erasmus is now caught in the eye of a storm. But it is not for any of us to know the true nature of his tale…”

“See, you heard him,” said Fray. “The Man is innocent. And no, I’ll hear no more of slaying or trials or none of that. I said that I would see Erasmus back to his people, and I mean that! Unless the words of a king are to be nothing but wind!”

Suddenly, there was a commotion at the chamber door. A Dwarven sentry came running in, his breath ragged and his eyes mad with fear. The guards outside the door looked in, unsure of what to do. The sentry fell to the floor, his helm (which was too large for him) slipping from his head and clanged on the stone floor. “D…dedede…”

“What is it?” snapped Fray. “We’re in the middle of…”

“Demon!” burst in the sentry. “In the halls! It is coming!”

Everyone in the chamber drew back.

“Fuck. Not again…” said Erasmus, drawing his sword.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

The door-guards rushed inside, slamming the door closed behind them.

Gragga rushed over to them. “What is it? What did you see?!”

“It’s… it’s him! The swordsman from the lower halls! He’s back!”

Erasmus froze on the spot.

It couldn’t possibly be…

There was a deafening crash, the door convulsing inwards, straining at its hinges. A terrible howl sounded from the other side.

“Weapons everybody!” cried Gragga, grabbing an axe that was leaning on the wall.

Again, the deafening crash. The thick wooden door began to splinter.

Another howl, and the doors burst inwards, flying into pieces. A tall, pale man came crashing through.

“Pike!” gasped Erasmus… “What the…”

Pike lashed out with a fist, his limbs abnormally long. He swatted aside Gragga, sending the bulky warrior crashing into the wall. The manhunter must have been twice as large as before, his eyes like black pits looking into nothingness. He hurled himself forwards, rushing towards the unprepared dwarves.

Erasmus threw himself in the way, sword poised. “Pike! What the hell is this!”

The headhunter halted in his tracks, eyes fixing on Erasmus. Pike clenched his fist, forcing himself to stop. He wasn’t here to fight this man. Now he just had to get him to safety.

That would take too long. There was another that needed to be found first. The scent was still in the air. The man with the shiny sword can wait.

Pike drew back, lurching towards the door.

“I should’ve known that wouldn’t kill both of you…” said the spear-man standing in the doorway. “But now at least I can slay both of you at once.”

The headhunter snarled at him. “Hah! What luck! I was just thinking of you…”

“At least you came back for the Paladin. I suppose you’re still mostly in there. Aren’t you, Pike?”

The Pike panted heavily. “Don’t fucking judge me… This kind of thing just happens to me…”

The Man-hunter growled deeply. “Enough talk! Let’s get this over with, Elf-blood… I came a long way for this…”

The One Eyed Man smiled a little. “And you’re here to drink my blood. How convenient your plans align… Unless you also now have a thing for blood-drinking, Pike?”

“What are you getting at?” Pike hissed.

“Let’s put your new skills to the test. I offer to surrender myself without a fight. But only if…” The One Eyed Man pointed his spear towards Erasmus. “If you kill that man here and now.”

Erasmus’ eyes grew wide. “Oh… shit…”

The Man-hunter grinned savagely. “You drive a hard bargain…” He turned on the Paladin, rearing himself up to his full… monstrous height.

Pike clenched his teeth. “No! This was not part of the deal!

“Bah! Why should I care! I made no promises!”

Erasmus stepped forward, aiming his sword at his companion. “Pike! Why are you doing this?! Have you no control of yourself?!”

The man-hunter cackled, echoing in the dead silence.

“Don’t make me do this Pike!” Erasmus said, his hands shaking slightly.

“Shut up!” The Man-hunter leapt forward, arm shooting out, aimed for the Paladin’s head.

Erasmus blocked the blow with his blade in time, that was alliteration. Pike recoiled, his hand had been cut deep by the elf-blade. His other hand lashed out, around the blade and smashing into Erasmus’ head, knocking him to the floor. Erasmus immediately tried to scramble up, reaching for his fallen sword.

The Manhunter kicked the fallen man savagely, knocking the wind out him. Erasmus grabbed his sword, his lip and forehead bleeding profusely.

The Manhunter laughed mockingly, raising his claw up high.

“No!” Erasmus cried, swinging his sword up. The light flashed off the blade, so brightly it seemed the blade was giving off its own light.

There was a bright flash, the Manhunter howled like a cornered beast, roaring in rage as it tried to cling to its new found form. The light dimmed, and Pike fell down, not possessed anymore. (I’m just trying to get this done now).

Erasmus fell back to floor, fighting to stay conscious. The Dwarves slowly stirred to life, but they did not confront the One Eyed Man as he strode into the room. He loomed over Pike, leaning on his spear.

“Well, it seems I can’t get rid of you that easily.”

Pike gasped for air. “Just go ahead and kill me. I don’t care anymore… I’m sick of this kind of shit.”

The One Eyed Man grinned ominously. “I do pity you… Headhunter. If you have truly had enough of your… ‘Gifts’… then I will let you prove it to me.” He turned aside, and made for the door, tapping his spear on the ground.

“But know this… you are far too gone already. You of all people I cannot allow to step over that line. You unleash that power one more time… I will have no choice but to end you. Continue on your little quest… son of Palamon… I hope we do not meet again…” He disappeared into the darkness, and the chapter ended.