| | “Tell me once more, my Lord. Tell me of the time before.” The young Magmar woman smiled up at him while refilling his golden goblet from the cask of rum he had just sat down on the sand. “You promised you would continue, once you had slain those pesky Humans!” She said with a pout. “Ah, yes my dear, so I did.” He said, wiping his hands on a towel, absentmindedly kicking a severed human head off down the beach. It hit the waters with a slight splash that made him smile. “I still hold the sunset is best watched from these western shores of the Virigiya District.” The maiden was getting comfortable putting down a cushion in front of the barrel of rum and leaning against his chair. With a sigh he sat down in his throne-like seat taking the cup from her hands. He scanned the shoreline then shouted “Ravashing! Put down that leg and come over here! How many times have I told you?! It just does not do to carry enemy body parts around!” The black panther which had been enjoying a light snack on one of the dunes gave a soft purr which would have turned a lesser man’s spine to jelly and trotted over the sand towards the warrior who was once more enjoying the view of the sunset over the bay. He listened to the seagulls’ calls and tasted the salty air. “Simple pleasures” he thought. “Those have always been the greatest.”
Presently he sighed and took a long pull from his goblet, smacking his lips appreciatively. Say what you might about that Human rabble, they sure knew their liquor. Well, his liquor really, he smiled to himself. As Ravishing, the black panther arrived and took up his usual position at his master’s feet, he lent down touching the woman’s face who was still looking up at him patiently waiting for his story to continue.
“So where was I.” – “You had just told me how all of Khair was in turmoil not so long ago. Right after the Chaos Wars.” – “Ah, yes. Dark times, my love, dark times. Back then you couldn’t trust your own race. After the war was through and the Chaos Gates had been built, Khair plunged into a headlong fall. I remember my old clan mates always bickering about the spoils of conquest, always envying the other clans for what they took of the foe, never feeling content or pleased by what they themselves had achieved. For all I know it was much the same in all Khair. So much so, that in the end open dispute broke out among the mightiest houses, the most powerful clans which led to pointless bloodshed among our race.” - Another long sip from the goblet. - “Each clan was trying to get the upper hand, rivalling each other in heinous murder and executions but never gaining anything for long. While everyone was striving to control the resources and to come out top in the hierarchy, spinning intrigues around one another, even against old brothers in arms, our society suffered.” As he spoke he noticed movement in the reeds among the dunes. He slowly reached behind his chair pulling out slim dagger. “Well, such were the times.” He threw the dagger in a fast underarm movement, noticing with satisfaction that the movement in the reeds ceased following a short gurgling scream and a soft thud.
The woman smiled at him, got up, took the cup from his hand and handing it back to him refilled with a slight bow touched the dark red tattoo on his left breast exposed from the armor. “Was it then, my lord, you chose your own way?” – “Aye, my flower.” His eyes took on a smouldering fierceness “Aye, it was back then we set on our path.” She sat on his lap, her dark hair drenched in blood-red light of the dying sun, tracing the outline of the bird with a glowing fingernail along his skin. “Such a deadly bird.” He grinned at her. “Such it is. Back then we sought to renew our strength, gather together those we trusted with our lives, nay, our souls and form an alliance that would help end the futile struggle for power. It did not take us long to convince those Magmar brothers we had fought alongside so many times, that this was necessary. Once we had forged this clan of ours, it didn’t take us long to – ha! – settle some of the differences.” He looked out over the bay, seemingly lost in thought. Yes, all that had happened such a long time ago. Some of his clan-mates had nearly forgotten how it all began, the memories clouded with endless bloodshed. He studied the horizon. Night was falling fast. And among the last rays of Mirrow he spotted what he had been looking for. An evil smile crept across his features. It came to him that he did not actually dislike the bloodshed, provided it was the right blood flowing in large quantities: Human Blood. And tonight would probably prove to be highly successful in that regard. “They are coming. I can see the sail over there.” He pointed out to sea nodding to her. “Prepare some food, woman, and fetch me another drink.” Standing up and setting her down lightly he pulled his sword from its scabbard, giving it a few swishes. “Yes, food, drink & Human blood to spill. That’s what I call a proper landing party!” | |
