The Border City Ord 5

The morning comes and Win wakes early. He swings his sword singlemindedly, all so he doesn’t have to think about anything else. As he swings, he hears a knock at the door. Justifying to himself that it might be Anterus coming with something regarding the inn, Win opens the door. Again the one standing there is Calliope. She happily raises her open notebook.

“Shall we eat something?”

“Fine.”

They walk down to the ground floor of the inn together. Already sitting in the small dining area is Rolant, who watches them descend. When they reach the dining area, Rolant begins to talk.

“So you had a companion? You’re deceiving her, I assume.”

“Calling her a companion is too far, and deception as well. I’ve been perfectly honest with her that I want nothing to do with her, and indeed, I want even less to do with you.”

“But even then, you’re letting her follow you around at least. Letting such a frail girl follow you into who knows what danger until you finally drop dead, and all without knowing the truth? What is that but deception?”

“It’s nothing at all. If she follows me to her death, then that’s how the world willed it. There’s nothing she could know that would save her, and I never put her under the impression I had a destination in mind for my journey.”

“Your destination is a grave. A grave. We’re cut from the same cloth, so I know we’re heading to the same place in the end.”

“We’re nothing alike. Leave us to our meal. I don’t want to make a habit of entertaining such wasteful old men.”

“So you’ll run in the end? Is that all you were taught to do, brat? A sword on your hip, and for what?” He looks past Win, right at Calliope. “Your friend here is nothing but a craven coward who would abandon you the moment you become inconvenient. I would recommend that you reevaluate any trust you’ve placed in him.” Calliope quickly writes something down and shows it to Rolant.

“Win is kind.”

“How irritating. Did you confuse him reading words on a page with kindness? Well, I suppose I don’t want to do even that, so I suppose you’ll get your way after all, little—”

Win grabs Rolant by the shirt and throws him to the side. Rolant crashes through the door to the inn and falls to the road. Win steps through the broken door, a steely rage shaking his body.

“Silence, you utterly pathetic man.”

“Do you think you speak for her? That you protect her honor? But I thought you didn’t care?”

“I don’t speak for her. She speaks for herself. And honor has nothing to do with it. I simply cannot abide letting you speak any longer. It’s all so vapid. It’ll do nothing but grate the ears and dull the mind.”

Win cuts his hand through the air, a swath of flame bursting out towards Rolant. Rolant rolls out of the way, still agile despite his old age. The fire scorches the road, leaving a dark scar behind. Rolant smirks.

“And you still don’t draw your sword. So it truly is just decoration?”

“I told you to be silent. I won’t sully my blade with something so pathetic as you.”

“So you really do mean to kill me in broad daylight, shaming your family all the while? Though I’m sure you couldn’t care less how you reflect on them.”

“I’ve shamed them enough already. This, if anything, ought to honor them.”

Win shoots a bolt of lightning forward, right at Rolant. Rolant draws his blade and weakly pulls it across his body at a fast speed. The arc follows after the metal, and give only a glancing blow to his non-dominant shoulder.

Win dashes forward with the wind, then flips forward, intent on driving his heel into Rolant, still on the ground. As he brings it down, Rolant slashes. His blade collides with the tendon in the back of Win’s leg. However, rather than cut through, it simply stays there, as though clashing with another blade. Win backs away, his attack unsuccessful, and prepares for the next. Rolant stands up and grips his blade tightly as he holds it in front of his chest.

Win dashes forward once more, intending to grab Rolant and drag him to the ground once more. However, just as he reaches out, he feels a heavy blow against his shoulder. As his arm starts to go limp, he feels excruciating pain surge through him. He can only gasp in pain as Rolant sweeps his leg. Rolant stomps Win’s leg, then presses the bottom of his boot into his stomach and chest. Rolant leans over and takes Win’s sword from his waist. Rolant starts to walk away.

“These aren’t toys for cowards, little lord. Now then, I have work to do. Farewell.”

Win is stuck on the ground as guards begin to surround him. They start to pick him up as Win’s healing magic is beginning to repair his body.

“He’s a rogue sorcerer, it seems, and a violent one at that, be careful everyone. We don’t know when he might snap. A sorcerer is dangerous even with their bodies broken. Be prepared to counter his spells at any moment.”

The guards begin to carry Win off. Win feels his body shifting back into place as the pain begins to lessen. As he begins to have the presence of mind once more, he begins to evaluate the guards. No matter how prepared they might be, he doubts they’re strong enough to even hold him for a minute as they await reinforcements, and doubts that any would even be coming. Win blows them all away with a powerful gust of wind, pushing them into the ground.