Champions

"Listen up asshole. Every time you lie to me, or refuse to answer a question, I will destroy something you value. Both of your knees can be healed, but I doubt anyone can re-grow you a pair of balls. So I'm going to ask you again, how many of you are there?" David asked him.

"Scores," the man gasped in pain and fear, "nearly a hundred. I don't know exactly how many, but I know it is at least that much."

"How many more are after us tonight?"

"None. We were the back-up teams. We were only supposed to join in if you avoided the trap or managed to get through it."

David took a moment to think about this information. It was what he most needed to know, but if it was true it meant he could take his time and get to the bottom of this whole fucking mess. Deciding on his next line of questioning, he asked, "Why are you after us?"

"We were ordered to attack you. The boss wanted the three of you dead."

"Why?"

"I don't know. The boss didn't say, and none of us are dumb enough to ask."

"Who's the boss?" David continued, annoyed.

"Shadowmaster Whisper. He's in charge of protection and enforcement for..." the man trailed off.

Rolling his eyes, David grabbed the man's wrist and pulled his hand it away from his torn knee, laying it out on the hard packed dirt. Then he stabbed his knife through the man's hand and into the dirt, pinning him to the ground. After the next round of screams stopped, he addressed his captive, "You were saying?"

"He's in charge of protection and enforcement for the Night Lord!" the man screamed.

"And who is the Night Lord?"

"I can't talk about it. He'll kill me!" the man cried.

Pulling a throwing knife from his vest, David waved it slowly in front of the man. "What the fuck do you think I'm going to do to you if you don't answer?"

David never learned what the man thought, or anything else from him. Kneeling on the ground was hurting his knee, so he shifted his weight to the side to relieve some of the pressure. As he did so an arrow shot past him in the darkness, grazing his cheek and burying itself in the man's heart. Dodging to the side, David tucked into a roll that ended in a crouch, pistol drawn. Searching the moonlit darkness for the archer, he heard a scuffling noise from one of the rooftops. Deciding that reconnaissance by fire was an acceptable option, he shot the rest of his clip into the eaves of the building. Dropping the clip and doing a tactical reload as soon as his slide locked back.

Moving into slightly better cover, he waited for retaliatory fire, but none came. After nearly a minute of waiting, he figured that whoever had shot that arrow was gone or hiding. Either way he had more important shit to do. Retrieving his empty pistol clip from the ground, and his knife from the now dead attacker's hand, he linked up with the two women and led them back to the temple.

*** Chapter 31: Departure ***

252110MAR13 DW

Temple of Eros, Exitibus, Erosius

The trio made it back to the temple unimpeded. During the attacks all David wanted to do was stash the women safely in the temple, then go hunting. He hated people who tried to kill him, and he REALLY hated anyone who would dare to hurt the woman he loved. But, as he led them back, he realized that staying in Exitibus was the wrong call. He was well trained and could easily handle himself in most situations, but a large part of his effectiveness was based on having a squad of decently trained people with him. Operating alone, in a foreign city, was less than ideal. Trying to do it while some group of assholes was hunting him, or them all, was just fucking stupid. He needed to get them all out of the city, tonight. They had a small window before whoever was in charge came after them again, and he needed to use it to get them all away. The moment the back door of the temple was closed and barred behind them, he explained his plan.

"But what about Phoebe and Varus?" Laurena asked immediately. "This is their city, and keeping the peace is their job. Shouldn't we stay and help them?"

Looking to Laurena he noticed she had been crying, and the fear in her eyes was obvious. Realizing that she had always found safety and comfort in her faith, it made sense that she would want to stay at the temple. The problem was that the temple would be the first place this group would look for them. He may have thinned their ranks by at least ten to twelve earlier, but that still left about ninety of them. There was no way he could stop half that many from killing them all if they were determined to assault the temple.

"We can't stay," he explained gently. "We have to assume that these are the same people that killed the old priest. Our very presence here puts Phoebe at risk. We need to leave, now. She should too. Gather your things quickly, Sapphire you too. Once you get to your rooms lock the doors, and don't open them until I come get you. I'll bar the other doors and check the temple. Then I'll grab my shit, come get you, get Phoebe, and take her to stay with Varus on the way out of town. We can brief her on the way, and answer any questions she and Varus have when we get there. But we will be out of this town in the next two hours. That's non-negotiable."

Laurena hated the plan, but she also trusted David. He had saved her life once in the mountains, and twice tonight. Whatever his faults - and she began to think Astinus was wrong about the Champion in many ways - he had proven that protecting others was his goal. Even if that meant being more lethal than the men who attacked them. She nodded her acquiescence and followed them to her room.

Dropping off Laurena first, he made sure he heard her lock the door before stashing Sapphire in her room as well. Then he went to his room, grabbed, loaded, and slung his M4, filled the six M4 magazine pouches on his vest, swapped his depleted M9 clips for full ones, and then proceeded to clear the temple.

It took him nearly four minutes to go through the large and unfamiliar building and secure the entrances. He couldn't do shit about the stained glass windows, but he figured the noise of the windows breaking would give him at least thirty seconds notice. Moving back to his room, he gathered the few items that had drifted from his rucksack during the day. Swapping his M4 for the Mk 48, double checking the tie-downs securing the two rifles he wasn't using, and cinching the straps tight took a few extra seconds, but he wanted to be damn sure his shit was squared away.

While he did this everything that had happened in the last hour finally hit him. His adrenaline crashed, his hands started shaking, and he began to think about all the men he had killed. He also thought about the man he had tortured. It had been the right decision at the time. There were lives at stake. They were outnumbered, had barely survived two attempts on their lives, and he had no idea how many others were coming for them. He didn't have time for twenty questions. He needed information that would be the difference between survival, and death; for him and the two women.

He had plenty of reasons that justified what he did. The problem was that was always the case. The innocent civilians that died when his Afghan trainees didn't listen to him: the major had ordered him to let them fail if they refused to listen to him. Shooting fleeing Afghans: they had attacked first, his team had wounded members, and it was pretty much guaranteed those assholes would try to ambush his team later. Executing five men in the mountains: they were about to rape, and probably kill, an innocent woman. Killing three guys in Wolfsvale: it was self-defense. The four he killed in the first attack tonight: he had to defend himself and protect the women. Lobbing a hand grenade at the archers: he either did it or watched Laurena die. The four he killed in the alley: same thing. The man he shot and then tortured for information: he either did it or gambled on surviving the next attack. Each time he made the right decision, and each time he hesitated less. He was losing his soul a piece at a time, and he was starting to realize that the man he was would be horrified at the man he had become.

Staring at his shaking hands, he did the same thing he always did when this happened. He pulled out his pack of cigarettes and lit one.

***

Claudius had to run. He knew he had no other options, because his assignment had failed. The Night Lord didn't accept failure - he punished it - and the soon-to-be-former Shadowmaster Whisper had no intention of joining his predecessors in the afterlife yet. If only that fool hadn't moved, he thought. He was no master with a bow, but the shot had been a fairly simple one. Then David had shifted to the side at the last second. Cursing his luck, Claudius snuck through the secret entrance to his home. He had to gather the essentials and flee the city before the Shadow Lord or Night Lord came for him.

Rushing to his bedroom, he flung open his wardrobe and pulled up the loose board in the bottom, accessing his secret cache of valuables. There wasn't much, but he had enough stashed away to make good his escape and start a new life elsewhere. Extracting the coin purse and grabbing a pre-packed bag from the corner of the wardrobe, he turned to leave the room and stopped short. He wasn't alone. Standing in the doorway of his room was the Night Lord.

"You appear to be in a hurry Shadowmaster," the deep, raspy voice emanated from beneath the hood of the long cloak and mask he wore.

"I...I was on my way to report t-...to the Shadow Lord," Claudius stuttered.

"Indeed," the Night Lord replied. "What happened tonight?"

"My Lord?" Claudius inquired, terrified.

"You were given an assignment, one that was well within your abilities. What happened?"

"My Lord, we took every precaution. My men were ready for the sorceress, and the priestess was no threat at all...but the man was more powerful than we were told. He was more powerful than I could even imagine. He slaughtered my men. I even took two extra teams, just in case, and they were barely able to wound him," the Shadowmaster pled his case.

"I see."

"Please my Lord, let me try again. I can get more men; we can attack him in the temple...urk" his voice trailed off as a crushing telekinetic grip closed around his throat.

"You are an incompetent fool. If you were unable to stop the man with the element of surprise and sixteen of your best, what makes you think you can do any better now that they know you are coming?" the Night Lord inquired. "Further, I commanded that no action be taken near the temple. That order was not up for debate, or negotiation. You have failed. More, you have compounded that failure by lying to me. You are a fool, and I should turn you into another object lesson for the others..."

Claudius was barely conscious now - only a small bit of air was passing into his lungs - but he heard the threat and knew his fate had been sealed.

"...but I do not have the time and you are not worth the effort," the Night Lord finished, using his magic to twist his failure of a lackey's head until it snapped.

***

David finished his cigarette and shouldered his rucksack. For some reason it seemed a lot lighter than it should, but he had already checked and knew that everything was packed. He'd puzzle over it later. His hands had stopped shaking, but his mind was still troubled. He knew he was becoming less humane, if not less human, but there was little he could do about it right now. The man he used to be was moral, ethical, and conscientious; and he was also naïve. That man would have tried to do what he thought was the right thing, and he would have died multiple times by now because of it.

Drawing his pistol again, he swept the hallway and moved to Sapphire's room. Knocking he whispered, "It's me. Time to go."

She opened the door, her saddle bags slung over one shoulder and one of his knives in her right hand. Nodding she followed him to Laurena's room. Knocking, he whispered the same message. Then he waited. And he waited some more. He knocked again, and then tried the knob. The door opened, and he moved in, sweeping for danger. The room was empty.

"Fuck!" he cursed quietly.

Moving back out into the hallway, he stormed to Priestess Phoebe's room and didn't even bother knocking. Throwing the unlocked door open he saw Laurena and the priestess sitting on her bed. Phoebe was wearing a thin dressing gown, and was holding Laurena as she cried. They both looked to David as the door slammed open. Phoebe face held shock and anger at the interruption, but Laurena's face was tear-streaked and filled with fear. Once she realized it was David, and not more attackers she calmed somewhat. David suddenly felt like an asshole. Of course Laurena was frightened, and sitting alone in that room was too much for her. He should have had Sapphire wait with her.

"What are you doing here?" Phoebe demanded.

"It's time to leave," he said to Laurena gently. "Are you packed and ready?"

Realizing that he was not mad at her, Laurena nodded and motioned towards her bags sitting haphazardly next to the door. David scanned them, and they seemed to be everything. Looking back to the priestess he told her what she needed to know.

"We were attacked tonight Priestess, and we are leaving the city for our own safety. It is likely that the group who attacked will try again, and it is common knowledge that we are staying here with you. I need you to pack a single bag for tonight and tomorrow, and allow us to escort you to Varus."

"Attacked? Wh- What? Where?" she stammered.

"Phoebe we don't have time to explain. Every moment we delay increases the chance we will be attacked here. Gather only what you need, change into something appropriate, and be ready to leave in ten minutes. Laurena, lock this door and help her. DO. NOT. LEAVE. THIS. ROOM. Sapphire and I will prepare the horses and come back to get you both. Do you understand?"

The acolyte paled at the force of his less than subtle mention of her failure to follow his previous orders, but nodded in affirmation that she would do as commanded. David stepped out of the room, waited to hear the lock clicking into place, and then moved to the stables, Sapphire trailing behind him.

Their mounts were less than thrilled to be awoken at this late of an hour, but they were able to prepare and saddle them with only a little fuss. Sapphire helped by pulling apples from her bag and placating the horses through bribery. They led the prepared mounts to the back door of the temple, and David left Sapphire to secure them while he gathered the two clergy members. He half expected them to resist his plan, or even be gone from the room when he arrived. Instead he found the door locked, and both of the women ready to follow him upon his return.

Phoebe shared Meadowgrass with Laurena as the troop made their way to Varus' home. He had a small but immaculately maintained house in one of the nicer neighborhoods of the city. During the ride Phoebe had insisted on hearing what had happened, and David had allowed Sapphire to brief her. By the time they arrived, she was shocked by the severity of the attacks, as well as David's lethal response. They noticed candlelight in one of the lower rooms as they rode up. David had exchanged his boonie hat for his helmet back at the temple and affixed his NODs to the front. He used the night-time optical device to scan the area, and he saw no movement in the surrounding neighborhood. After he tied up his mount to the fence in front of the home he chose to remain outside while Laurena and Sapphire escorted Phoebe to her fiancé's door.

Varus was slow to answer, but shortly after their third knock he opened the front door and stood their shocked to see them. Phoebe rushed to hug him, while Sapphire and Laurena gave him an abbreviated version of the evening's events. He began to argue with them after a few moments, but just when David felt he may need to intervene he saw Phoebe do so instead. He couldn't tell what the young priestess was saying to her fiancé, but he could see that the man was calming quickly, and finally nodded in acquiescence to David's two companions. Phoebe separated from her love to hug Laurena, and then a surprised Sapphire, before returning to the doorway to wave goodbye to them as they returned to David and their horses. Mounting up, the trio rode away as the couple closed their front door on the encroaching night.

The trip out of the city was uneventful. The guard at the exit tried to halt them, but Laurena explained she was a member of the clergy - which was already fairly obvious from her white robes - and they had just left both Priestess Phoebe and Sheriff Varus who were well aware of their travel plans. The man looked as though he still wanted to stop them, but he was apparently too afraid of the barely restrained menace that David was projecting to risk trying. The trio traveled in silence, past the few farms that lay to the west of Exitibus along the Calavius road.

They rode slowly, having no desire to risk an injury to one of their mounts in the darkness. It was well past midnight before David felt they were far enough from the city to stop for the night, and he still led them nearly half a mile into the thinly wooded hills north of the road before they made camp. He doubted that the people who attacked them in town would allow them so easy an escape. He also knew that they had killed the last priest - and probably more than few others - along this very road.

*** Chapter 32: Reflection ***

260243MAR13 DW

A Small Campsite North of the Calavius Road, Erosius

The women were exhausted when the trio finally stopped for the night. After they unsaddled and tended the horses Sapphire erected her tent, and David suggested they get some sleep while he kept watch. Sapphire countered by warning that he was going to sleep in the tent...with her...right now...or he was going to sleep outside for the next two weeks. When he argued that someone needed to stand guard, especially after the attack, Laurena volunteered. Both of them looked at her in surprise. She had never volunteered for guard duty before.

David took a close look at the acolyte; she was well illuminated now that both moons had taken their place in the night sky. She looked thorough worn out. The stress of the attacks and her obviously emotional reactions to them had taken most of her strength, and the ride had taken the rest. She was dead on her feet, but still determined to help them.

"Thank you Laurena. I truly appreciate the offer, but you are the most exhausted of all of us. You need to rest now, not stand guard," David told her gently, grateful for the offer but surprising himself at his concern for her wellbeing. When did he start caring about her?

"Please," she begged, near tears, "I was useless. If it were not for you both I would have died tonight. It is not much, but at least this is something I can do."

Moving to comfort Laurena, Sapphire spoke to her gently, "There was little you could do before. Even with all my power I was nearly useless. They were protected from magic. If it weren't for David's weapons, which he kept a secret, we would probably all be dead now. It was his quick thinking and skill that kept us safe. Don't be too hard on yourself. You followed instructions and stayed out of the fighting. You listened to us and trusted us to keep you safe. That was what you needed to do, and you did it well."

"But I am an acolyte of Eros," Laurena exclaimed distraught. "When I become a full priestess I am supposed to keep the peace and defend the helpless; except my magic is too weak to even defend myself. I am useless," she finished, beginning to sob.