Chapter 4: Razed

Vino charged at the figure at blazing speed, causing his steed to buckle for only a moment. As Vino’s boots slid out of the stirrups he saw the hint of a smile spread across the figure’s face as it ran towards him with its blade at the ready. Before the figure came too close, Vino clutched violently at the steed’s hair and pulled himself back up, causing his horse to rear back in pain. He hopped back on the saddle as he tried to maintain his grip on the reins and his blade as he rocked back and forth. The figure trudged forward and Vino could feel the heat of the flames as they sparked out of the blade.

“MEN!” he yelped as he tried to urge the steed to back away to no avail. When he heard no response his eyes shot around and saw that he was left alone with the ghastly being. He could hear himself gulp as the footsteps grew closer and closer. Without another word Vino hopped onto the ground and smacked the steed’s rear, and as it galloped far away from them he knew that it was more relieved than afraid with each gallop it took.

He looked at the figure as it spun its blade around. “Are you ready now?” it asked.

Vino chuckled as he wiped the sweat from his brows. “Who are you?” He looked at the figure as it grew silent, though with contempt or pity he did not now.

“I am Commander Vino,” he said, steadying his hand from shaking his blade. “And as you’ve no doubt surmised, this fort is under the protection of me and my men.”

“And where are your men now, Commander?” It spoke his title with the hiss of a flame cursing at it was being put out. Now it was Vino’s turn to answer in silence as he wondered how long he would last against it. He shook his head as doubts spread inside his mind, all of which told him what he already knew. This would be his last.

Again he chuckled as he eyed the figure. “Who cares?” He readied his blade and shouted as he charged at the figure.

The figure spun his blade as he stepped toward Vino. Vino slashed at his helmet as the figure dodged and kicked him aside. Vino felt his ribs cave in slightly at the force as he grabbed at his sides. Still gripping his sword he coughed as his vision started to blur.

“Respite?” it jeered.

Vino laughed as he felt the blood on his lips. Once more he charged at the figure and as he slashed at his torso the figure met his blade full force in an upward swing. The flames shot up nearly singeing Vino’s face as a few strands of his hair burned up. He brushed the flames from his hair as the figure chuckled at him.

“I’ll give you something to laugh at,” he muttered. “HAVE AT YOU DEMON!” He charged again and thrust his blade toward its visor and in an instant the figure ducked down and knocked down Vino with the hilt of his blade.

Vino scrambled to roll away as the figure’s blade slammed down where he once lay. He rushed to his feet and winced as a sharp pain raced through his arms. “Damn,” he muttered.

“Respite?” it repeated.

“NEVER!” he roared as he glared at it. He lunged towards it and let loose a flurry of wild slashes toward its head, its throat, its arms, its legs, anything in reach. Yet each strike he attempted was soundly parried causing a shower of sparks to spread around them. He caught sight of the sparks lighting rings of fire around them and as the sweat poured down the side of his face he felt the greatest realization of fear he’d ever known.

The figure spun its blade again as Vino shook his head to keep himself awake from the stifling heat. “You will not escape,” it said. “Everything in the kingdom will burn. Everything.” Vino thought he heard a hint of rage behind the threat and wondered how the figure and the kingdom were connected. As the figure stepped toward him he readied his blade for another attack.

“Are you not afraid?” it asked.

“Abandon your fear,” said Vino. “And replace it with steel, for only that is real.”

The figure chuckled. “Is that what your men were told as well?” Its eyes seemed to peer through Vino into the deepest part of his soul. “I think it’s more real than you’ll admit, Commander.”

“I’m done talking to you,” Vino spat. He gripped his sword tighter and stepped toward the figure.

The figure raised its blade and in an instant the flames grew into a giant column of fire.
“Likewise,” it growled. Vino stood still as he watched the figure bring its arm down and the column come crashing down towards him. He managed to jump away at the last moment but not before the flames raced to his left arm. He yelped as he dropped his sword to the ground and gripped his singed arm. The figure’s eyes glared at him as he quickly picked up his blade with his other arm and fled.

“Too late,” it muttered as it raised its blade again. The column reappeared, reaching higher into the heavens as it swirled around violently as if caught in a fiery tempest. Vino could see the flames behind him as the shadows of the huts, barracks, tents, and even his own scurrying figure grew larger and larger around him as if swallowing him whole.

Vino raced as hard as he could away from the figure. He tumbled and tripped with each fall giving him a terrifying glimpse at the column growing larger and larger behind him. As he picked himself up again and again he tried to go faster and faster away from it.

When the figure dropped its arm the column dropped even faster as if a divine hammer rendering out punishment from above. The whole encampment blew up in flames instantly leaving only the figure alone with the flames. Its breathing quickened as it felt the air being sucked from its lungs.

“Not yet,” it said. The blade moaned in response but the figure ignored it. It marveled at the smoldering embers of fort and encampment and felt a small flame grow larger inside it. “Razed,” it said. “For all that I was given, I shall return tenfold.”