Duel of the Unclean

The bout began with Landomer feinting a thrust and then committing instead to an ascending swipe with his claws. The demonic swordsman halted his charge at the last moment, shifting all of his weight to his back foot whilst raising his sword into a high guard. This stance placed him out the reach of Landomer’s attack which whiffed by hitting nothing but air.

In turn, the moment his claws passed by him, the swordsman shifted his weight again, this time leaning forward and using the momentum to swing his sword, the blade moving to slash Landomer under arm.

Landomer opted to use the inertia of his own missed strike to follow through, crouch, avoid the sword, and plant both paws into the ground to execute a double-mule kick. His feet came into contact with something, but as soon as he dropped to the ground and sprung back up, he could see that all he struck was one of the swordsman’s wings, which formed in front of him like a shield.

The wing retracted and the swordsman lunged forward with a thrust that was so quick Landomer could scarcely react. The blade glanced off his right cheek, but Landomer moved to seize the swordsman’s arm with his right paw and jab towards his adversary’s eye with his left.

However, the moment he did so, the pointed tip of the swordsman’s right wing punched straight through his attacking forearm, causing Landomer to howl and reach instinctively for the wound. But in doing so he left himself vulnerable. For his right rib cage was open and the swordsman maneuvered his wrists and drove the pommel of his sword hard into Landomer’s side.

There was a sound of a deep, wet popping noise as the metal pommel drove in, fracturing two ribs. Landomer could feel the sharp pain and every breath now became a chore. But he could feel his lupine body responding to the thrill of the fight, it made him stronger, more alive. He quickly grabbed hold of the swordsman’s jaw line and drove his forehead into his face. This was greeted with a dull crack as his opponent’s nose was broken the force of the blow subsequently sending them hurtling back to the ground, a top hat falling away.

Landomer jumped to pounce on his adversary but his claws found nothing but dirt as the swordsman rolled away. They resumed a fighting stance and began to circle each other.

Landomer could feel his ribs beginning to heal, his breathing becoming easier and less labored. But the elation he felt at this was short lived, when saw that the swordsman’s nose, was also healing.

“Ha!” he bellowed. “This will be a good fight then! Tell me your name so that I may remember this engagement fondly.”

“Konrad.”

“Well met Konrad! I am Landomer, the one who will kill you!”

“No,” his fiendish voice countered. “You will not.”

Landomer crouched, his leg muscles tensing, “Then let’s begin again, and see who will take this contest.”

Landomer sprung forward, darting quickly left and right to throw Konrad off and then feinted a high strike before moving low for a tackle, slipping under Konrad’s guard as well as his wings that moved to pinch him in a vice. As his arms gripped around Konrad’s left leg he felt the palm of his opponent’s hand on the back of his neck, followed by the fingers gripping so hard it felt as if they were piercing flesh. Landomer could feel himself being directed straight down as Konrad’s weight began to bare on his head and neck. He could feel Konrad’s knee pressing on his right shoulder blade, positioning himself for the fall.

The instant they hit the ground, he could feel Konrad raising his pommel to strike down on him. Landomer pushed off his legs to roll his opponent over but Konrad planted his wings firmly, stabilizing himself. Landomer opted to then retreat, broke the tackle and backed off.

They stood and circled each other again. Konrad gestured with his hand and uttered something that no mortal tongue should be capable of speaking. Landomer felt the earth beneath him shift and he jumped away before crimson hands erupting from beneath the ground could seize him. He dashed towards Konrad, slashing away with his claws in relentless fury in the hopes of wearing him down and to keep him from chanting again.

But in his haste he swung too wide and the flat of Konrad’s sword struck him across the face, stunning him. Konrad muttered those same words in that forsaken speech of his and this time the crimson hands caught him.

Landomer struggled vainly against the infernal grip that held him, whining as Konrad came closer, closer and closer still.

***

Sophia couldn’t believe what she was seeing. This side of Konrad unnerved her and now she fully understood why the Corbanites were so feared.

Seeing Rayk struggling to stand, she rushed over and sat him up, holding her hands over his wounded torso and praying.

"Hápis Domínis-Eîs, Aeí Katharís, déso ta traumá kai iámē ta nosémata, in shā’ ta krínē. Fiat factum est!"

Her hands emitted a warm, caring glow and the wounds Rayk had been so recently afflicted were gone.

"Thanks," he winced.

The healing magics worked wonders but persons often continued to feel phantom pains from wounds that were only just recently there. It took several days of recovery thereafter so that the mind and the body could be in sync again. Rayk would be fine, but he would still feel the pain in his chest and ribs until his mind accepted that the wounds were gone.

Sophia and Rayk then turned back to Konrad who was using his powers to seemingly interrogate the werewolf named Lendomer. They could not hear what was said for Konrad merely whispered his questions and the werewolf responded in kind, compelled to answer correctly lest he get a taste of the infernal fires of Hades.

***

By the time the inquiry was over, Konrad had all that he needed. Another name, another link in the chain towards his true target. The werewolf before him was a shadow of his former self, broken physically and mentally.

Konrad placed his hand over Landomer’s chest and recited the Rite of Corban.

“En ónoma Domínis-Eîs, déso se pros eme! Akúein mou epitagén, hypakoúein boulēthēmati mou. Fiat factum est!”

The demon that had possessed Landomer was torn from the physical shell it had taken residence and was forced, screaming in blasphemous fury, into Konrad’s body where it joined so many of it’s kin. Landomer returned to his human form and he looked upon Konrad with tearful eyes.

Konrad stared at him, his scarlet gaze burning, “Landomer of Klasdrek, by the authority of His Highness, Bohdan, Prince-Regent of Magvaria, I hereby carry out the sentence of death as warranted to my person for your offenses to this realm and it’s people.”

The hellish hands held him down and Konrad moved into position, raising his sword high.

“Mercy! Mercy!” Landomer cried.

“Know that when I swing this sword, I wish you eternal life in Elysium when the Final Judgement is made. That the saints intercede for you and your sins on Gaia are forgiven. I ask this of the One-Lord through his Champion. Let it be done.”

The sword came down and Landomer’s cries fell silent. Konrad then stood silently, his aura and wings receding, the crimson hands withdrawing. Until finally all was normal.

He knelt and retrieved the head and closed it’s eyes gently.

“Peace now brother, and may you be received in Elysium. Let it be done.”

***

The young woman, cowering still in the place the werewolf had cast her, felt a gentle touch and a soothing voice.

“Anika?”

Upon hearing her name she dared to look, and was greeted with the site of a virago in dented armor, bearing a warm smile.

“I am Dame Sophia, your parents bid us to look for you.”

In tears and overwhelming emotion she clung to Sophia, sobbing openly. And in the background of this moment, Konrad and Rayk burned the bodies of her now fallen captors. This was, as Konrad explained, to ensure they did not rise again as revenants.

When the work was done they retrieved their mounts and set off back to Anika's farmstead. Victorious and with a new lead to follow.