The Dark Lord: Prologue
by Marco FossatiDraco, Stonewall, AC 985 late Fall
Waynet felt the cold was freezing his skin, his muscles and even his bones while walking through the dark alleys of Draco's southern suburb. He wished to use his arts to warm himself but he couldn't. His master's orders were still clear in his mind...: "Don't stupidly reveal yourself and your powers, Waynet...Don't show yourself to the Enemy, for if you'll remain concealed in the shadows you'll have better chance to fulfil your mission...". His mission....Waynet remembered how 9 months ago he laughed first for the amazement then for the rage for having been ordered to carefully watch a lone young pregnant woman. He secretly got angry with his master: while his other companions continued their studies, he found himself in that dirty ward being a secret bodyguard of a rather stupid, ugly, young woman. Waynet thought about who could be the father of the upcoming child...maybe a drunk sailor or a cutthroat...but after some days Waynet learnt that wasn't a dull mission...3 times the evil Enemy send his minions to kill the woman and the new life she was bringing inside herself. 3 times Waynet managed to save the woman without being discovered by her. The time of the birth was finally arrived, just that night...in the deep of his heart Waynet hoped that was the last cold night he had to spend there...
Liukos didn't care for the unusual intense cold that night. He had only a thing in his mind: his mission. 9 months ago he received a dream from the immortal he fanatically had ever followed. His patron told him of that dangerous mission: to leave from his remote village in Bellissaria and to reach Draco. There to find the young woman he viewed in the dream and to kill her with his child. During his trip he learnt from his immortal that other 3 clerics had tried but all of them had failed. But he was better than the others, he had awaited for years the chance to fulfil his patron's orders and he was going to do anything in order of not delude Him. Some days ago he had arrived to Draco and he easily found the house where the woman lived. There were the last days of her pregnancy but he awaited. He found a danger: that young mage that wandered always near the house. He had a good camouflage but his immortal had given him some 'helps' for the mission so he had easily spotted him. He had thought about a plan and he found it. It was very simple indeed, but Liukos didn't care: after having killed the child he'll not care if he'll be killed: his soul will fly to Him and he's going to serve Him for the eternity...could you ever think about a better reward?
Liukos smiled with pleasure...the plan started...
Waynet heard some noises in the dark alley in front of him: the typical 'clink' of the swords that touch armours...What the hell was doing a well-armoured warrior in that damned place thought Waynet...he decided to go to investigate there. Only a few second just to keep himself quiet or to slay a possible minion of the Enemy...
Only a few seconds...
That was all Liukos was waiting: dressing that drunken man with a battle armour and a sword had cost him all of his money and was a very silly plan but Liukos didn't care...only a few seconds without the presence of the wizard, it was all Liukos had wanted. From another alley he silently run towards the house; outside there he cast a spell...a little more protection would had been very useful. Then he entered in the house...
Waynet suddenly realised he was cheated...that 'warrior' literally fell to his feet, entirely drunk. He immediately turned himself to the house... How could I ever be so stupid? he thought while the terror of having failed his mission started to fill his heart...
Liukos was finally in the house: the woman had just finished the childbirth and the new born was laying on the bed, crying a lot. The woman, exhausted, was near his son and horror appeared on her face when she saw Liukos. He took the child with his left while in the right he prepared his mace...with only a blow he was surely going to kill him but feeling that new life in his arms broke his solid spirit...how could had been able to kill that innocent creature? His immortal had never taught him such things..."Razud, why did you ask to me such a grief and evil act?" he thought while the door was opened by Waynet...
Waynet watched that stupid cleric undecided...it was common in such men he thought with scorn...and with an evil grin he start to cast a spell...in a second the heart of his enemy would had been destroyed. But with terror he realised he couldn't speak...surely the damned cleric had cast a silence spell in the house...there was only a possible action...Waynet remembered an old saying of his grandfather: "When there aren't any horses, the donkeys have to run"...he was right. He took a dagger and threw to Liukos, who was still unable to move...the dagger hit him slightly on his left shoulder, only a simple wound but Liukos after a second became pale and fell to the ground. Waynet quickly caught the children just before he had fallen on the floor and saved him.
Liukos recognised on the dagger the symbol of the infamous Black Cabal of Draco. He had heard of it even in the remote Bellissaria...Meanwhile the spell effect had finished...with a whisper he said to Waynet: "Venom! Only in this manner the cowards kill...Razud forgive me for I was weak in my faith to you...forgive a poor stupid..." then he died.
Waynet gave the children to the shocked woman then he took the dagger and quickly went out from the door without a word...
Waynet felt the cold was freezing his skin, his muscles and his bones while walking through the dark alleys of Draco's southern suburb...
He didn't know why but he thought that wasn't his last night he had to watch that children...