Minegarde: Joker - Viewing Profile - Minegarde

Monster Hunter – The Divide

Part One

Chapters:

1. Prelude
2. A Land Divided
3. A Call to Battle
4. Onto the Frontline
5. The Third Side
6. The Stronger Side (The Peaceful)
7. The Stronger Side (The Guild Knights)
8. Within Enemy Lines



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Prelude


Rain hammered against the windows, giving off a heavy thud. The torches outside of the window flickered, desperately trying to stay alight, before the rain bested them and they were extinguished. The rain continued beat against the windows, trying to get in. The Guild Knight commanding officer slowly paced up and down the blue, silky carpet in his office. His steps were slow, his footsteps heavy. He stopped and looked down at the man kneeling in front of him.

He took in the ragged and slashed clothing of the Guild Knights, the deep gashes across the man’s face and the ruffled blonde hair. The officer bent down until he was level with his captive and grabbed his chin and pulled his head upwards. The captive’s eyes were bloodshot and he looked so very tired. There were dark circles underneath the eyes and his entire body screamed for rest. Soon, it would be with him. The officer looked into the bloodshot eyes and a smile twitched in the corner of his mouth.

“What happened to you, Rider?” the man asked.

The man called Rider did not respond, and as the officer let go of his chin, Rider’s head drooped slightly, behind him his hands frantically attempting to undo the thick rope that had been used to bind him.

“You were one of my best Knights. You had all the right tick marks against you. You could’ve been my second!” the commander spat.

Now Rider looked up and into the commander’s brilliant blue eyes. He took in the wizened face, the brown moustache and beard, the balding head and the physique of the man. He was huge. It had been a long time since Rider had last seen his commander and right now, he was in a dangerous situation. His hands were still desperately trying to be rid of the rope that bound him. He had to buy time.

“My priorities changed.” Rider replied, his voice cracking half way in between.

“Your priorities? There is no time for priorities on this battlefield that our beloved land has become! What did they do to you, Rider?”

“They opened my eyes.” Rider spoke, a smile spreading across his face.

The commanding officer took a single step forward and laid a powerful slap across Rider’s face. When Rider looked back at him, he was still smiling. The older man raised his hand again but at that moment there was a scuffling sound coming from the other side of the wooden door. The time had come.

The commander took a single step towards the door to investigate but just then, the door burst open and flew off its hinges, the body of a Guild Knight flying into the room. Everything happened so fast. The commanding officer scrabbled for his blade and found it. Looking into the newly-created doorway he saw a tall figure standing, one blade in his left hand, an axe in his right. He wore a red hood that dropped over his forehead and large, fur-covered armour with a black cape that fell over his right arm and stopped just before the wrist.

The figure raised the sword and the commanding officer took up a defensive stance but was surprised when the other man threw the sword. Spinning around, the officer watched as Rider caught the sword. He was free! How?

“They taught me that there’s more than one kind of monster in our world.” Rider spoke.

“You’re a fool! You’ve joined the losing side! I’ll not spare you, Rider!” the officer retorted.

“Goodbye, General.” Rider replied.

The officer burst into a torrent of stylish and brutal moves but Rider ducked and side-stepped all of them. As the older man lashed out with his right hand, he held out his own right hand and absorbed the force of the blow. He grabbed hold of the officer’s fist and began to push the man to the ground. Slowly but surely, the older man started to buckle as he fought a losing battle. Sweat poured from his brow and in an attempt to steal the victory he raised his sword arm and made to attack.

Rider’s knee collided with his chest and the older man fell to the floor, clutching his chest and his sword spinning away out of his vision. Rider looked down at his former leader and raised his own blade. The man’s eyes widened in shock as the blade came down upon him.

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A Land Divided

Minegarde.

It was an ancient land that had stood the test of time. It had been host to many battles over the last few centuries but a new one was threatening to destroy it. Every battle has a reason for being started and this one was no exception. Minegarde had become a split and divided land. Two sides had been formed and both were fighting the other. On one side were The Hunters. Minegarde was a land that crawled with deep and ancient monsters. Mountains, swamps, caves, forests, jungles and many other environments were populated with fearsome beasts.

The Hunters were brave and bold warriors who made it their duty to protect the ones they loved by slaying these powerful creatures. Nobody questions The Hunters strength or passion, as Minegarde had been saved many times by legendary Hunters who had slain equally legendary beasts.

Pius Beckett was a famous Hunter who lived over a hundred years ago. He single-handedly repelled several packs of Rathalos and Rathian from ravaging a desert town; a heroic act that earned him an invitation from the Guild Knights, who were very private back then. Then there was Gerald Lex, Rellis Ford, Caterina Ford, Jasper Hunt and the many others who had volunteered to defend Minegarde from an ancient dragon known only as “Lao Shan.”

On the other side, opposing The Hunters were The Peaceful. To begin with they were only a small, pathetic clan that were more a small than anything else. However, over the last few months their numbers have doubled and tripled and are now considered an equal force for The Hunters. Their leader was unknown but there intention was clear: they want the monsters and beasts of Minegarde to be free and left alone. With both sides claiming a stake in Minegarde the land was split into two. To the north is The Hunter’s control and is also home to the capital city and other, smaller settlements. To the south is the territory owned by The Peaceful.

Whilst The Peaceful do not control as many cities or settlements, they have complete control over the deserts, swamps, jungles, forests and most of the mountains. Hunters who venture into this territory are either killed or captured but none ever leave. Minegarde had seen many battles over the years but this one threatened to destroy it all. Both sides were not going to give up and neither was going to back down. If The Hunters or The Peaceful didn’t destroy Minegarde, then the monsters that roam the skies, the lakes and the deserts would.

One side had to lose.

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A Call to Battle

The Guild Knight stepped out of the small, confined office and into the baking sunlight of the midday sun. The heat clawed at him and the back of neck quickly began to sweat. He started to walk, his pace quick, out into the inner city. The capital city of Illus was a strange city, not because of the location, but because of the way the city had been constructed.

The city composed of three, large circles that each contained a different district of the city. The first circle was known as the “Settlements” purely because it was the housing district. Thousands of people resided in Illus and this was where they all slept. The second circle was known as the “Military” district because this circle was home to the army of Illus. The city was huge and in this circle particularly, there was hundreds of small offices, houses and barracks that were used to train, recruit and prepare soldiers from every area of the army. Most noted, was the Guild Knights quarter. Finally, the last circle was the “Markets” because; simply enough, this circle was home to the bustle and craziness that could only be referred to as the market. During the day this circle was packed with citizens whose only concern was how much food they could buy at discounted prices, or how long until a new stall opened.

The Guild Knight approached the huge, bronze doors that lead into the Markets and stopped as he waited for them to open. Two guards stood posted on either side of the huge door, with several more operating it atop the city’s battlements. The Knight shifted uncomfortably. His armour and clothing were making him hot and was desperate to feel the cool and calming breeze that was sweeping through the city. There was movement as the doors began to creak open.

Suddenly, the Knight heard footsteps crunching underneath the grass behind him. Seconds later a short, plump man with purple cheeks appeared in front of him. He was out of breath and he was carrying a rolled up scroll in his hands.

“Rider?” he puffed.

“Yes.” Blake Rider replied.

“I have a letter for you here.” the man said, as he dropped the letter into Rider’s palm.

“Thank you.”

The door finally reached its tip and the guards beckoned Rider through. The other man turned around and began a slow walk back the way he had come. Rider looked back and saw the sun shining off the back of his bald head.

Even if he hadn’t known where he was, the sudden noise and movements would have told him. He had entered the market district. Colour exploded around him as varieties of different stalls appeared and people wearing different clothes bustled around him. So many different scents filled his nose that he couldn’t make out any of them. He breathed them in, the signs of other lands and other worlds. Exotic clothes, fancy weapons, strange foods, supplies, the market district would have it. Illus was one of the most important trade routes and was constantly well-supplied. This was the reason it was always so busy here.

Blake Rider struggled as he made his way through the crowds of people. Everyone was so busy focusing on their own objectives and everything was a mad rush to complete them all. Sand rose up from all of the movement and Blake raised his hands in front of him as he battled with it. Eventually, he found his target and quickly stepped through the crowds towards it. A large stand rose up in front of him, painted brown and grey and bore the words “Discounted Weapons Sold Here.” As he approached, he saw the large amounts of weapons and equipment laid out across the stand counter and the people flocking to get better looks at it all.

“Ah, Rider!” the stand owner shouted as his eyes locked on to Blake.

“Hello, Julius!” Blake replied, waving a hand.

“Lookin’ for Sebastian?” Julius asked, as he slapped a hand that had tried pilfering a small blade on the counter.

“Yes. He said he wanted to see me. He’s normally here so I thought I’d come over here and search for him. Where is he?”

Julius pointed towards the large well that was situated in the centre of the district and Rider nodded in thanks and turned away, smiling as he saw Julius roar at a small child that had been fascinated by all of the swords on show. After parting the crowd a few more times Blake came to the well, a large wooden concrete construct that rose up out of the ground for a few feet. Leaning against the edge of the well was one man wearing the outfit of the Guild Knights.

As he approached, Blake took off his blue, long and pointed hat that was part of the Knights and revealed fair, blonde hair. He pushed a hand through his hair before putting the hat back on and went over to the other man. Immediately, a smile spread across the man’s face and he and Blake embraced briefly. Blake took a look at his best friend and took in the green eyes, dark hair and rough beard. Although they had only last seen each other a few days ago, it felt to be back amongst friends.

“Back in one piece then, Seb?” Blake joked.

“I said I would be! People are always saying how The Peaceful are fearsome fighters but they aren’t that good. We completely overpowered them up at the mountain pass.”

And there it was. The war with The Peaceful always made a heart feel heavy. Still, life had to go on. The two men fell silent for several seconds before the man called Seb raised his hands into the air and smiled again.

“Ah, enough with that! I fancy some drinks, what say you?” he asked.

“Sure. You can tell me all about your epic battle on the way there if you like.” Blake replied, as they set off towards the tavern.

~~~~~~~~

Twenty minutes later, Blake found himself sat at a small wooden table with a large glass of beer in front of him. Seb was sat opposite, his glass nearly empty and his hand moving through the air as it enforced his points.

“And anyway, the General thinks that if we just continue to hold the mountain pass and leave them alone, they’ll eventually surrender.” he said.

“Sometimes I wonder if the General even cares about this war with The Peaceful.” Blake replied.

“Well, ask him then!” Seb joked.

Blake raised his eyebrows and smiled.

“You’ve been in the Guild Knights longer than me so you know him better than me. If he was to talk to anyone, it’d be you.” Seb continued, finishing his glass.

“Yeah, but I’ve only been in the Knights a year longer than you, Sebastian. Besides, that doesn’t mean the General would talk to me about it.” Blake replied.

It was true. Blake had joined the Guild Knights three years ago at age twenty. His father had served in the Knights too, as had his father so Blake felt compelled to join too. His mother was a scribe for the Guild Halls across Minegarde. His father had died two years ago following a battle with a particularly nasty pack of Velocidrome. They had not found a body. However, his father had ensured that Blake had been well-trained in the arts of swordplay and fighting. Seeing as how it ran in the family blood, Blake quickly picked it up and decided to pursue a career in the Guild Knights.

Sebastian had joined the Knights a year later, having taken that extra year to study. He did not any family members in the Knights so he did not get the training or preparation that Blake had received. They had both met a young age and instantly became friends. Ever since that day, they had never strayed too far from one another. It wasn’t just friendship; it was a brotherhood they had.

“Wait, that reminds me!” Blake continued, suddenly remembering the letter he had received earlier.

Pulling it from his deep pockets, he unfolded it and laid it out on the table. Sebastian’s eyes narrowed as he saw and watched as Blake began reading.



For the attention of: Blake Rider

Following the recent success of your previous assignment, the Commanding Officer Garrett Lex wishes to talk with you about an upcoming assignment. Should you agree to the meeting,
please report to the Guild Knight quarters.



At the bottom of the page was a signature signed as “Garrett Lex”. Blake finished reading it and looked up. He passed the letter to Sebastian and watched as he skimmed over the letters too. He finished reading and looked up, a look of admiration across his face.

“Sounds important. If the General specifically asked for you, it could be very important. What are you going to do?” he asked.

“I’ll go and see him later. He’s our superior so I’ll gladly see what he wants.”

“He’s our superior in more ways than one!” Sebastian joked.

Garrett Lex was a descendant of the famous Hunter Gerald Lex. Despite Gerald Lex being a Hunter, Garrett Lex had chosen a career in the slightly more illustrious Guild Knights and he had quickly been propelled through the ranks. Some say that this was only because he had famous blood pumping through his veins and others tossed this claim aside. It was true however, that the General was a fierce fighter. He is widely-known throughout the Guild (again, this might be because of his blood) but Garrett Lex does consider himself superior to virtually everybody else. Other Guild Knights, Blake and Sebastian included, joked about this.

“You might want to brush up on the Lex family history. You’ll probably be asked about it!” Sebastian continued to joke.

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Onto the Frontline

Blake Rider stood facing the door to his commanding officer’s quarters. He walked towards it and rapped three times using the steel knocker placed directly in the centre of the door.

“Come.” The word was spoken with total authority.

Blake entered the room and closed the door behind him. He observed the office and took in all of its details from the blue, silky carpet that stretched across the room, the several bookcases stacked up on the right side of the room, the paintings of various Guild Knights doing battle with a variety of badly-painted creatures and the large, uncluttered oak desk in front of him.

Garrett Lex rose out of his chair and shook hands with the Guild Knight in front of him. He then sat back down, gesturing to the empty seat for his guest. Blake sat down and placed his hat in his lap and crossed his legs. The commander of the Guild Knights was a large man who had a very fit physique, despite him being old. Battle ran in his blood, as it did in Rider’s, so he would no doubt be sitting in that seat for many more years yet. Blake just had time to take in the man’s bald head, brilliant blue eyes and moustache and beard combination before he began speaking.

“Rider, I’ve read your file. I’m impressed. Your previous assignment wasn’t just a success; you completed it faster than expected. I like a man who can get things done.”

“Thank you, General.”

“I’ve called you in here for a reason. I’m sure you’re aware that The Peaceful attempted an attack on the mountain pass a few nights ago. I sent a few men down there and they held them off. If you ask me, these Peaceful brutes are just a pain in the ass.”

Blake didn’t respond and when the General began scanning him with his blue eyes, he shifted in his chair. He suddenly felt as if a giant spotlight had appeared over him.

“Anyway, they are losing this fight. I tell you, we have more trouble with them than we do the monsters that roam this land! Still, I want to stamp them out of Minegarde. I’ve held back over these last few months, I’m not going to lie, but now I intend to crush them in one swift motion. I’ve been putting a plan into place and I’ve realized that I need men who can get things done.”

“I’m beginning to see where I fit into this, General.” Blake said, as various theories began swirling around in his mind.

“Good. I can keep this short then. I want you, Rider, to command a small force of my men and take them to the mountain pass. You’ll be in complete control and the only other person you’d be reporting to is me. Once you’re there, you set up a camp and if any Peaceful try to force their way in, you crush them.”

“Are you expecting any form of attack?” Blake asked, his curiosity getting stronger by the second.

“Yes. The mountain pass is a critical part of Minegarde as it joins their territory with ours. It wouldn’t matter too much if we lost it, but our traders would be forced to take different routes and I don’t want any Peaceful gaining any ground.”

“What exactly is this plan of yours, General?” Blake asked, wondering if he had overstepped the line.

The General leaned back into his chair, scanned Blake again and then smiled. Blake was relieved when he smiled and leaned forward again. He obviously hadn’t overstepped.

“I’ll be sending you and your team to the mountain pass. I’ll also be sending another to the border and another to the various towns and settlements to pick up any news. We’ll constantly be monitoring the border and you’ll be keeping the mountain pass safe so the only way they could attack us is if they march right up to our door and knock on it!” The General boomed and slammed his fist down.

“I see.”

“So, Rider, are you in? I need men like you and, if I recall, you’re father and grandfather served in the Knights am I right? Do them proud.”

Blake considered. He was being given the opportunity to serve his order and help to stamp out the rebels from his land. It was surely an opportunity too good to pass up. His mind made up, Blake smiled and leaned forward.

“I’m in, General.”

~~~~~~~~

It seemed as though the General had foreseen that Blake would agree because, twenty minutes later, he stood outside with the General and watched as ten other Guild Knights paraded into the courtyard and stopped in front of him. These were his men, as the General had promised. In just a few days he would be commanding these men, perhaps in the middle a skirmish with the Peaceful? Each of the Knights carried a long, thin blade on their right side, a smaller but no less deadlier-looking dagger on their left and a crossbow on their backs.

The crossbow was a recent marvel, originally crafted by a weapon smith in some far away country. It utilized a smaller bowgun frame that had been thinned and backed with steel and metal. It was a very simple looking device and yet it worked perfectly. The Guild Knights were given them as weapons and they were not readily available for purchase yet. It would be unlikely that The Peaceful had managed to acquire any.

The sun had gone in, making way for the darkness to enter and engulf everything. The lamps that hung on posts and in windows flickered as they burned in the ever-growing darkness. A chill swept through Blake and he shivered as he surveyed his men.

“Glorious!” the General shouted as he patrolled up and down between the Guild Knights.

“I agree, General.” Blake also commented, placing his arms behind his back.

The General finished his inspection and gracefully walked over to Blake. He patted Blake on the shoulder and made to turn and go back into his quarters. As he walked past, he bent low and whispered something into Blake’s ear.

“Pull this off, and there will be a promotion at the end of it.”

~~~~~~~~

Three days later, Blake awoke with a smile on his face as he recalled that the events of the few days had not been a dream. Getting up quickly and washing, he fitted himself in his Guild Knights armour and uniform, grabbed his pouches and attached them to his belt. He strode over to a heavy, rusting chest that sat in the corner of his room and opened it. Inside there was a variety of things; letters, notes, broken blades, spare Knights attire but more importantly, his weapons.

Picking them up and carefully placing onto his belt, he felt complete. He now stood, fully equipped. His sword sheathed on his right, his dagger on his left. A crossbow strapped to his back. Bolts for the crossbow placed into a narrow pouch that was attached to his waist. He was ready. It was time to go. Blake stepped outside and looked up to see a grey, clouded sky. He was determined to let nothing spoil this day as he was sure that it marked the true start of his career in the Knights. He made off towards the Knights quarter with a brisk pace and he replayed the words that the General had spoken.

“Pull this off, and there will be a promotion at the end of it.”

Blake’s stomach lurched as he revisited the words be he knew that he couldn’t get too ahead of himself. His father had taught him to expect the unexpected and he fully expected to end up in a fight with The Peaceful. If only his father could see him now.He had already told Sebastian about his meeting with the General but he kept the plan a secret. Sebastian had insisted that he was coming but Blake already had enough men. Besides, Sebastian had just come back from a few days up in the mountains. Blake needed to be alone to not only grow as an officer but because he knew that he’d had too much fun with his best friend there.

He had also told Emily Turner, his female friend who worked in the Illus Guild Hall. She was in charge of overseeing the quests that contractors post and ensuring they are given the proper attention. She was also in charge of sending reports and documents to other taverns throughout Minegarde. A delicate process, as she called it. Blake and Emily had been friends for three years now, ever since he came to Illus to register in the Knights. She had shown him around the city and the two had slowly become friends. In the war between the Hunters and The Peaceful, she took no sides. She had no opinion on the matter but Blake had always suspected the she did in fact have an opinion. Several of them, probably.

Before he knew it, the Guild Knight quarter loomed up to greet him and Blake slowed down as he came to his destination. His men were already waiting for him in the courtyard, some standing rigid, others milling about and idly chatting. The moment he came into view, all of the soldiers stood to attention and the atmosphere suddenly became very tense.

“Ah, Rider!” the General called out as he stepped from his office.

“Sir.”

“I hope you’re ready for this, Rider. I trust you and I believe you can do it, but I warn you now. I’ve been up in those mountains and just remember that The Peaceful aren’t the only monsters you may have to fight.”

“Yes, General.”

“Good luck, Guild Knight Rider.” The General said, folding his arms.

Blake readied himself. It was time to go. Three days of preparing and waiting had finally boiled down to this. It felt strange to be giving orders to people but he secretly had a taste for it.

“Let’s go!” he shouted.

At once the Guild Knights fell into two lines and began to file out of the courtyard. Blake moved in behind them and followed them. Just before leaving, he turned around and saluted to the General who, in turn, nodded back. Then he was gone.

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The Third Side

One week in the cold, harrowing mountains had already turned into an ordeal.

Blake and his men had arrived there under the cover of a freezing night and had rushed to establish a base of sorts. The ground that Blake he been ordered to protect was a narrow trail that wound through the mountains and eventually spat out travellers in the south. Before this narrow trail, however, was a large plateau covered in grass and snow, with two sheer mountains closing in around them. It had not taken long for Blake and his men to create a base. Three of the Knights had carried supplies that consisted of four large tents, able to sleep a maximum of five people.

These tents had been set up around the plateau along with several small fires outside to bat away the freezing cold. A larger, more central fire had been created in the middle of the plateau and was used as a source of warmth even throughout the day. On the first day, nothing had happened. Most of the time had been spent surveying the area and setting up the base. Not much had happened on the second day either, but Blake knew that they couldn’t simply just up and leave.

Events took a very sinister and surprising turn on the third day. The Peaceful had launched a small attack through the narrow mountain pass. It had not taken Blake’s forces by surprise as Blake had already been smart enough to place sentries atop the mountain path’s edges. There had only been a few of them and they had been easily dispatched but Blake had felt a distaste of sorts whilst fighting the small party. These were men, just like him, fighting for what they believed in. Had anybody actually stopped and asked them what exactly it was that The Peaceful wanted? Or did everybody simply skip all that and jump to their swords?

Blake couldn’t help but wonder as he placed his forces along a different route, so that The Peaceful couldn’t track their movements and routines. Nothing happened after the brief attack except that a pack of Giaprey, white raptors, appeared along the mountain path and ventured out into the plateau. They could sense the danger however and quickly retreated back into the darkness of the mountain. Now, seven days after arriving, on another freezing cold night, Blake sat in his tent as his mind raced over and over.

He had felt angry with himself for fighting The Peaceful? Why? He had never had a problem with it before. True, he had only fought them once before but he had managed well enough then. What had changed? Or had he changed? Even after only a week Blake could feel himself becoming a stronger and more independent person. The other Guild Knights responded to his orders with politeness and obedience. He may be their commanding officer, but the other Knights had been happy to sit down and talk with Blake about anything. Because of this, Blake had learned every single name of people he was here with. There were a lot of different opinions in the camp, a lot of different ages and a lot of different experiences. If felt good to be around older, wiser and more grown up people than himself.

Blake shifted onto his back and faced the roof of the tent. The three other men inside the tent were sleeping quietly. He himself had not slept that well upon arriving. Something about the waiting and the tension in the air kept him awoke throughout the night. This night was no different. Something stirred outside on the plateau but Blake didn’t register in time. Suddenly, there was a blast of noise and commotion as the sound of feet scrabbling and swords clanging met his ears. Instantly alert, he and the other three men leapt from their bedrolls and stepped outside.

The sky had become nothing but a dark blanket and only the large fire outside could spill light out to anywhere. It was then that Blake saw it. Looking up, he saw the large white mass begin its landing into the plateau, casting an ever-growing shadow onto the floor. Blake scanned it furiously with his eyes and knew at once what it was and he immediately began trying to dig up information about it from the depths of his brain. It was a Khezu; a ferocious predator that preferred the snowy mountains. They were blind but therefore had other increased senses. Using their snouts to smell, they could easily identify where their prey was, even if they couldn’t see it.

It landed. It swung its elongated neck around and sniffed the area. Suddenly, its large mouthed opened and revealed a line of nasty, sharp teeth. Somehow, without any sort of warning, Blake knew what was about to happen.

“COVER YOUR EARS!” he screamed.

The Khezu lifted its head high and let out a powerful, high-pitched scream. Although he had covered his ears with his hands, the scream still coursed through his entire body and he shook. One Knight had not reacted fast enough and, out of the corner or his eye, Blake saw him writing on the ground as his ears screamed at him. The scream seemed to last an age but almost seconds later, the Khezu began its attack. There were around ten fresh Guild Knights to choose from on the plateau. Rearing its head back, the edges of its mouth began to sparkle with electricity.

“I WANT THREE MEN ON EACH OF ITS SIDES!” Blake commanded, grabbing his sword and holding it firmly.

The other Guild Knights instantly leapt into action. The three men from Blake’s tent rushed forward and flanked the beast on its right side just as three others flanked it on the right. Two Knights, who had just appeared, wielding their crossbows, covered its back area.

The Khezu spat forth a ball of electricity which rolled across the floor directly towards Blake. With no other option but to dodge, he dived to the right just as the ball rocketed towards his tent. The collision resulted in an explosion and the tent was thrown into the air, raining various supplies upon the battlefield. Rising, Blake held his blade in two hands and rushed forward. He nodded towards his fellows and at once they began their counterattack. Blake came up on the beast’s right side and slashed downwards, splitting the pale flesh. He attacked again then jumped backwards as the Khezu turned around to address him.

Lurching forward with its ugly head, the Khezu bared its fangs and tried to bite at Blake but only bit the air instead. It was then that Blake signalled to the crossbow-wielding Knights across the plateau. Two arrows thundered through the night sky and hit the Khezu straight in the neck. Blood poured from the two wounds and its neck began to thrash around. Just then, the three men from Blake’s tent decided to attack, each taking a single step towards the beast. Blake watched in horror as all three men were slammed with the Khezu’s neck and sent spiralling into the night, their bodies hanging limp.

There was only one way to bring the beast down. The legs. Blake held his blade firmly and rushed forward again. The Khezu had not stopped thrashing and Blake had to roll forward as the huge neck came swirling around again. Rising from the roll, he held the sword and plunged it into the beasts’ stomach area. It roared in pain but Blake did not let up, instead dragging his blade along the side of the beast so that a nasty line about five feet long was carved into the beast.

“CROSSBOWS!” he yelled, as he prepared for another attack.

The remaining Guild Knights fired simultaneously and Blake suddenly realized he had made a grave mistake. The chance of one of those many arrows hitting him was high and if they didn’t, what if the Khezu toppled over? Terrified, Blake threw his blade aside and dived forwards so that he was now on the other side of the beast. The arrows came slamming down into the beast one after the other and the Khezu screamed as more wounds were etched onto its body. However, it seemed that the Khezu had been beaten as its head suddenly drooped and it began to stagger.

Blake turned over onto his back and watched as the beast finally stopped thrashing and began to fall on its side, towards Blake. His stomach lurched and he began to frantically crawl backwards, pushing himself away from the towering mass of Khezu that was descending upon him. The next few seconds flashed by so quickly. One second he had been crawling for his life, the next he was rolling as the neck of the beast slammed down onto the ground and then finally, he was lying on his front with his face in the dirt and snow and sweat dripping from him. But it was over.

The beast had fallen to the floor and fallen silent, leaving a cloud of dust floating throughout the area of impact. Blake’s heart thundered in his ribcage and, as he painfully got to his feet, he surveyed the damage that had been done. His tent where he had been lying not minutes ago was sprawled out in a mess close to the mountain opening and the three men who had been struck by the beast were lying in impossible positions, their limbs poking out at awkward angles.

The large fire still continued to burn around the plateau and, as Blake’s men carefully retrieved the body and began to unfurl the destroyed tent, Blake spared a silent thought to the men he had lost.
Jarvis, Henson and Frederic were their names. Blake did not want to be the one telling their families how they had died.


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The Stronger Side - The Peaceful

The group of five figures quickly and carefully moved themselves into position. Ahead of them their leader, a tall figure wearing fur-covered armour with a hood that fell over his eyes and a cape that fell to his wrist, stood with his arms behind his back. The leader closed his eyes and tried to focus. He could hear screaming in the distance. Was that the sound of swords clashing? What about that? He heard a cry and a powerful scream that echoed through the mountains.

He knew where it was coming from and he was headed straight for it. The group of five figures appeared behind him and he turned around to address them. They were all wearing the same clothing as him except that they did not have the light, silk cape. All five had a sword strapped to their sides and a large axe hanging off their backs. Each of their hands was clasped around a crossbow. The leader scanned his fellow figures and began to speak.

“Our scouts report that a group of Guild Knights has set up camp at the other end of this mountain path. I sent a group down there earlier in the week but they were decimated. The Knights have made it clear which side they have chosen. Tonight, my friends, we will avenge our fallen comrades and begin about taking the land from our enemies!”

The man spoke with a strange, almost foreign accent. He was the leader group but more importantly, he was the leader of The Peaceful. His name was Severra Guillard and he was a powerful fighter, leader and person. His mere presence filled the other five with confidence.

“Severra, I heard screaming from the mountain pass. Could it be-“one woman began, but Severra interjected.

“Indeed. It seems that the Guild Knights are engaged in another fight. I heard the screams of a Khezu. Let us hope that we are not too late to defend the beast!” he cried.

Severra turned around and began a sprint into the mouth of the mountain path. Following this path, it would take him directly to the other entrance to the pass, face-to-face with the Guild Knight forces that were camped on the other side. His five followers stalked his every movement as they made their way through the dark and foreboding tunnel. All light was suddenly sucked up into nothingness as they entered it but the snow continued to crunch under their every footstep.

~~~~~~~~

Minutes later, the group came to the end of the mouth and light suddenly began to pour everywhere. Severra held up his hand and at once his followers backed away into the shadows of the cave. Edging closer to the end of the tunnel, he pressed his back up against the hard, rocky surface and looked out into the plateau and his insides boiled. He saw an upturned and destroyed tent with its entrails spilling everywhere and, lying near a raging fire in the centre of the snowy plateau, the corpse of a Khezu. It had arrows dotted across its entire body and the snow closest to it had become a dark red colour. He heard talking.

Quickly leaning back into the shadows of the cave, he watched as two Guild Knights casually strolled away from the upturned tent and began walking towards what looked like their commanding officer. Severra followed them with his eyes and observed as they conversed with a tall, fit and blonde haired man who was just sheathing his blade and standing close to the large fire. The two Knights then walked back towards the upturned tent.

In this entire time, Severra had already scanned, counted and assessed all the angles of attack. He counted ten Guild Knights in total, not including the commander. A direct assault would be foolish but it would also be what the enemy least expected. Raising his hand again, the five other men and women appeared behind him still under the cover of the shadows. Severra unclipped his own crossbow from his back and held it in his hands. It was cold but surprisingly lightweight.

“There are ten. Leave the commanding officer to me. Cover me with your arrows until we are detected, then switch to your weapons. Good luck my comrades.”

~~~~~~~~

The Stronger Side - The Guild Knights

His entire body ached but he was otherwise unhurt. Underneath the cool yet chilling sky, Blake stood near the large, roaring fire in the centre of the plateau. He had already ordered that the three bodies be covered up out of respect and had set his men busy on clearing up the damage. He heard footsteps approaching and looked sideways to see two Knights approaching as he sheathed his blade. They both had their hats on but it was easy to see their faces. One was a clean shaven and brown haired face that smiled as it approached; the other was a stern, older looking face which gave nothing away.

“Sir, moving the remains of that tent is going to take a while. It’s too heavy to lift so we’re going to have to dismantle it and then move it bit by bit.” The younger man said.

“That’s fine. You don’t need to work through the night if you don’t want to. It’ll be easier to do in the morning.” Blake replied.

“That’s what I thought. We need to keep our focus on these Peaceful rebels though, don’t we?” The older man spoke, folding his arms.

“The Peaceful won’t attack us anymore if they know what’s good for them.” Blake replied.

“They’ve already attacked once. They’ll be back.”

“Then perhaps you’d best go guard the tunnel entrance then?” Blake icily replied.

The change of tone was noticed by the two Knights and as they turned and made their way back, Blake wondered what had come over him in that moment. Was it tiredness? Pain? Whatever it was, it had gone now and, as Blake made to turn away, something caught his eye. Something had stirred at the entrance to the tunnel. He was sure of it! But there was nothing there and, looking around, the other Knights hadn’t stopped to check either so he must have been imagining it. He took a single step forwards and that was when it happened.

The two Knights who he had just been talking to suddenly stopped walking and froze before falling into a crumpled heap on the floor. Nobody but Blake had seen it but even as he opened his mouth to shout, two more arrows were fired and two more Knights collapsed some distance away.

“WE’RE UNDER ATTACK!” he bellowed, scrabbling for his blade again.

At once the scene changed from the quiet and resting to the manic and panicking. The six remaining Knights charged forward wielding crossbows, axes and swords and Blake brought up behind them. They all watched as a pack of six Peaceful stepped from the tunnel and out onto the plateau. Four of them were wielding crossbows and they were presumably responsible for the deaths Blake had just witnessed. There was another standing completely still, spinning an axe around in her hands. The final member, a man, stood ahead of the rest. He raised a single hand.

At once the scene exploded. The Peaceful charged forward and took aim with their crossbows. The Knights did the same and the two forced thundered towards each other. Six against six, a fair fight. Blake did not want to lose any more men. Taking hold of that determination, he raised his blade as the eyes of the first target rapidly approached. The Peaceful member raised his sword in front of him as Blake’s collided with it. With an unexpected quickness, he spun around in a full circle, forcing Blake to jump backwards, the sword narrowly missing his thighs. Blake went for another attack this time aiming for the feet.

The Peaceful dodged the blow and before Blake could counter, he felt the Peaceful’s knee slam into his stomach. Winded, he staggered backwards whilst holding his sword up. To his left, one of his Guild Knights was blasted off his feet as two crossbow bolts slammed into his chest. The Peaceful figure slowly strafed around Blake, waiting to pounce. Blake couldn’t see his eyes but he could see a smile underneath the red hood. Sweat poured of Blake’s brow but he daren’t wipe it in case of a surprise attack.

The two of them slowly paced around each other, just like animals, before one of them made their move. Unknown to the Peaceful man, Blake had quickly unsheathed his dagger and had it behind his back in his left hand. As the Peaceful’s sword struck towards him, Blake blocked the blow and, at the same time, carried his left arm around in front of him. The small, steel dagger narrowly missed the neck but continued going and left a nasty slice across the man’s arm. Yelling out in pain, the man staggered backwards as several lines of blood began to snake down his arm.

Seizing the chance, Blake attacked again and again until the Peaceful man began to buckle. Now that he could see the man’s face, he looked directly into the man’s eyes. They were a glowing green and the man had a rough, brown beard. He looked old but Blake knew that he must have been a ferocious warrior at some point in his life. Blake thought he was winning and he had been for several seconds. If only, in that moment of distraction, Blake had not taken his eyes off his enemy, he might still be winning. One of the Peaceful attackers had shaken off his Guild Knight opponent and had taken aim at Blake with a crossbow. It was in this moment that Blake looked up and it was in this moment that Blake had made his mistake.

Blake’s enemy suddenly lurched upwards, knocking his sword from his grasp. Before Blake could even register the fact that he was unarmed, the man brought his elbow down upon the side of Blake’s head. An excruciating pain coursed through his entire skull and little dots began to appear in his vision.Collapsing to the floor, Blake clutched the side of his head whilst holding his right arm out in front of him. It was no form of protection but he would rather lose his arm that his life.

With blood still oozing from his wound, the man picked up Blake’s sword and lashed out with the hilt, striking him across the face. Then, before he could even turn his back and watch, the man held his own blade against Blake’s right arm and began to slice. Crying out in pain, Blake kicked at the man. His heel drove into the man’s gut and he took several steps backward but the damage had been done. Looking down at his right arm there was now a nasty cut that spread across the entire width of his arm, similar to the wound he had inflicted upon the man!

His head was pounding and he could feel something hot dripping down behind his collar and he guessed that it was blood. He was exhausted. He took one last look at the man standing over him and then fell unconscious.

~~~~~~~~

Seeing their commanding officer fall to the floor had demoralized the entire remaining Guild Knights. Only four of them remained and even now, as Blake lay bleeding on the floor, they continued to fight.

“Severra!” one Peaceful attacker shouted.

The man standing over Blake spun around and saw one of his fellows, a woman, being grabbed around the throat by a Guild Knight. The Guild Knight raised his blade but Severra had already thrown his. With outstanding accuracy, the blade sliced through the air and entered the Knight’s thigh. He screamed and fell the floor, clutching the blade that was now embedded in him. Severra ran over and pulled the blade out; leaving a deep wound and a lot of blood that began to pour out of the man. Leaving him on the floor, Severra sprinted forwards and began battle with a Guild Knight who, with trembling hands, was trying to reload his crossbow.

He looked up just in time to see a fist collide with his face and he was hurled onto the floor. Before he could react, Severra’s blade came down upon him silencing him forever. He heard the sound of rushing footsteps behind him and he spun around to see a large, tall Guild Knight running towards him, his blade held above his head. With no time to counter or attack, Severra placed one foot in front of the other and, as the man came in close, he bent low and brought his right shoulder forwards, slamming into the Knight’s right kneecap. Surprised, the Knight lost his balance and toppled over Severra, landing on the floor behind him.

There was only one Knight remaining. Severra could see him engaged in a heated clash of steel just ahead of him right next to the large fire that had been roaring throughout the night. The Knight ducked underneath a high strike by his attacker and slammed the hilt of hid weapon into the man’s gut. The attacker staggered and took one too many steps backwards and his mouth opened wide with shock as he suddenly toppled over the logs and wood and fell backwards into the raging fire. His screams were immediately extinguished.

Seeing this, Severra roared and charged forward, towards the Knight, who, seeing that he was the only one standing began to flee. Severra was fast, but the Knight was already too far away. He could see his blue clothing shining against the fire but then, as the Knight rushed down the steep and jagged cliffs, he was gone.

“He will be back with an army.” One Peaceful member commented, coming up behind Severra.

“Then we shall prepare a trap for them.” Severra replied, still staring at the spot where the Guild Knight had vanished into the darkness.

“Why did you spare the Knight?” the woman asked, nodding her bruised head towards the unconscious figure that was Blake Rider.

“For the simple fact that he might have many uses to us.”

The woman understood that although she had gotten a response, it was also an order to disband. She hurried away, collecting as many weapons as she could as she went. Severra took one final look at the darkness in front of him and then briskly walked over to where the unconscious figure lay. Picking him and carrying him his shoulder he made his way back to the tunnel, his fellows doing the same.

They reached the tunnel mouth and entered it, the darkness swallowing them whole. Behind them, they left a grassy, snowy plateau that was now covered in blood, bodies, swords and the large corpse of the Khezu. Although his mind was busy racing over the Guild Knight that had escaped, Severra Guillard did not know that by sparing the Knight and allowing him to flee he had set into motion the series of events that would lead to Minegarde becoming a unified land once more.

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Within Enemy Lines

The sound of somebody hammering outside brought Blake Rider back from unconsciousness.

He slowly opened his eyes. He immediately saw the large roof of what must have been a tent. He blinked several times and then his mind raced back to the events that had brought him here. Wherever here was. He had been knocked out and left. Suddenly, his heart and stomach twisted at the thought of his fellow Guild Knights. What had happened to them? With a sense of dread Blake looked sideways, expecting to see his hands tied to a pole or something but to his surprise, there was no such thing.

As he slowly sat up, he took in his unfamiliar surroundings. He was in a large tent. Two cupboards had been awkwardly pushed into it and now sat on Blake’s right. A small, potted plant was perched upon a small desk that was tucked up against the bed. The bed! It was huge! It must have been at least the size of three normal sized beds pushed together. It reminded Blake of the beds that the Guild supplies to the Hunters when they are out in the field.

The sound of hammering occurred again and Blake suddenly realized that he wasn’t alone. He could see the silhouette of somebody standing outside his tent. They had their arms folded and were standing completely still. A guard? Was he supposed to keep Blake in or was he simply standing outside the tent casually? No. There was something about the silhouette. It was then that his head suddenly to jolt with a short, sharp pain. Blake ran his fingers down the back of his head and found a bruise which hurt when he touched it, causing him to wince. He then noticed the bandage that had been applied to his right arm.

His sleeve had been rolled up and a light, white bandage had been applied across the wound that the strange Peaceful attacker had inflicted. The thought of the man sent a flash of anger into Blake. He needed to found out where he was. Sliding off the bed, he approached the tent flaps and parted them. He just had time to take in the rows upon rows of multi-coloured tents before a man loomed over him, eyeing him up. It was the silhouette outside his tent.

“You’re up!” the man said, as if Blake didn’t already know it.

The man was average height and had bedraggled brown hair and was clean shaven. He sported an evil-looking scar across his nose and had gloomy looking blue eyes. Blake noticed that was wearing the same clothing as the man who had attacked him.

“Who the hell are you?” Blake demanded, curling one hand into a fist just in case.

“I am Eagle. That is my assigned name here. I have been instructed to take you to our leader. How do you feel?” Eagle said.

Blake’s head was whirling. He’d been knocked out and taken to some strange camp and then he’d been told he was to meet the leader who had gotten him knocked out! Blake’s instinctive answer was to attack the man and run, but the fact that Eagle remained so calm and friendly was the most worrying thing.

“I’m alive.”

“Are you up for a little walk?” Eagle asked, smiling at him.

“Do I have a choice?” Blake replied, intrigued.

Eagle turned around and began to walk down the long and wide path that had been created between the rows and rows of tents. As they walked, Blake looked around. As they passed a green tent there was a gap and Blake saw that a weapon smith shop had been constructed and there was a short, bald man busy hammering away at something. This must have been what had awoken him. They walked for about ten minutes and then the scene suddenly changed.

It was almost as if somebody had picked them both up and put them down somewhere completely different. The tents were gone, the dirt and the bustling noise had disappeared. The sun had also begun to disappear, dipping down behind the darkening clouds. Suddenly, Blake felt glad for the various torches that were dotted around. Blake stared and looked up at the ruins that lay before him. They had walked through the tents and up and over a steep hill. The ruins had suddenly burst up in front of him, a towering marker in the sky.

The ruins were crumbling but the structure was huge and tall. It looked like a coliseum of sorts with all the rows upon rows of stone seats that gradually rose higher and higher. Torches had been lit around the edges, illuminating the entire area, batting away any darkness that tried to creep in. Blake suddenly felt cold as they continued onwards. Eagle passed under a low hanging archway and Blake had to duck slightly. He now realized that he was in the centre of the area. He could almost imagine the hundreds of people sitting down and watching him fight against some sort of opponent.

The whole scene was very eerie and Blake wondered what had stumbled into. Eagle suddenly stopped and then let out a high-pitched whistle. He then took several steps backward, stopping in front of the archway. He stood still with his arms folded. Was he blocking the way out? Blake began to feel increasingly uneasy. He was just waiting to feel the slash of steel between his shoulders or the arrow aimed directly at his forehead. Several seconds past and Blake stood silent, waiting. Directly in front of him a shadow suddenly appeared, walking from another entrance around the side of the ruins. Blake didn’t need to see his face or hear his voice; he already knew who it was. His stomach churned and he clenched his fists as the shadow stepped into the dim light. It was the man who had attacked him.

“Blake Rider.” he spoke.

The man could have been asking a question but there was a tone to the man’s voice that suggested he already knew who Blake was. He commanded authority and leaked an aura.

“Who are you?” Blake asked instinctively.

The man stepped forward again and came within punching distance. His glowing green eyes stared at Blake and a smile spread across his face. The man placed his arms behind his back and began to pace, his feet kicking up sand as he did so.

“I am Severra Guillard. I lead the Peaceful.” He spoke with a strange accent.

“Then maybe I should cut you down where you stand.” Blake icily replied, bracing himself.

The man stopped pacing and smiled. There was something strange about the way he stood. It was if he thought himself invincible. As if nobody could touch him.

“Ah. That would be foolish, Mr Rider.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. I could tackle you to the floor in less than three seconds and, if there was even the slightest chance you overpowered me, Eagle here would be all too happy to place his blade between your shoulder blades.”

Blake glanced around and saw Eagle smiling. Everyone here seemed to smile but all were too happy to whip out a blade and kill. Blake had already decided he was getting out of here. Fast. Although Severra did not know it, Blake had been given training by his father. This training didn’t just cover fighting monsters.

“I see.” Blake replied, unclenching his fists.

“Good. I would hate you have to kill you. It would be a waste of talent and skill.”

“Why exactly am I here?” Blake asked.

Severra considered for a moment. It was as if he was playing with Blake, choosing what specific information to reveal. Blake was resisting the urge to engage his foe head on but he remembered his warning. He would be dead before he could move.

“Quite simply, I want information. Whether you choose to provide it is up to you. If you don’t, however, I will follow the advice of my colleagues and throw you into the arena, where you will di combat with some of the Peaceful’s most renowned fighters.”

“Why is it that you and your clan are all about saving the beasts that roam this land but are more than happy to kill human beings?!” Blake retorted, taking a step forward.

Eagle instinctively moved forward but there was no need. As Blake lashed out, Severra caught his fist, twisted his arm behind his back and kicked him to the floor. It all happened very fast. Blake knew that Severra was fast and he had just proved it again, but Blake was trying to keep his own skills secret for now. He was purposely acting slow and clumsy. Spitting out sand and climbing to his feet, Blake turned to face his captors. The Peaceful leader was smiling with his hands behind his back again and Eagle had returned to his original position. It was as if nothing had happened.

“I kill because it is us that are the monsters! We kill them for no reason. Even if they are no danger to us we still employ these Hunters to kill them. Why? Are they any different to us?”

“Is that an actual question? Are you mad?!” Blake laughed.

A glare flashed across Severra’s face before it disappeared.

“I gave you a choice. I want information. What plans have you made within your ranks? How many men have you got?!” the man roared, looming at Blake.

“They’ll be looking for me. A whole squad of Knights don’t just go missing!”

“I have no doubt that they will be looking looking for you, Mr Rider. And what will they find when they get there, hmm?”

Blake was confused. What did he mean?

“You see, I have set a trap for your fellows, Mr Rider. I shall not tell you the details of this trap but know this: your friends will die.” He seethed, almost at a whisper.

“They are smarter than you. You’ll see.”

“Yes, we shall. In the meantime, where is my information? I have warned you of the consequences if you do not comply.”

“Do your worst.” Blake spat.

The Peaceful leader took a deep breath and then threw his hands into the air.

“Fine. I will enjoy watching you in the arena, Mr Rider.”

With this, the man turned away and left. Blake wanted to chase after him but before he could even blink, Eagle had appeared and lead him in the opposite direction. So that was it. He was the Peaceful leader, the so-called elusive figure. And here was Blake in the middle of their camp! But he insulted the man and now he was to pay. Blake may have ended up in the arena as a reward but he was determined to best the man and embarrass him in front of his fellows.

Despite the man’s power and sheer number of followers, he had already made a grave mistake. He had brought Blake Rider right into the middle of his camp where his plans and supplies rested. He had also provided Blake with the opportunity to escape. This was going to be his undoing and Blake was going to make sure of it. It took less time to reach the tent when Blake had awoken and when they reached it, Eagle pushed Blake inside and then proceeded to stand guard again. Blake had no doubt that the man would not move from his post, even during the chilly, cold night.

He could escape right now. Eagle may be fast and skilled but he was just one man. One man who was facing away from the tent opening and leaving his back completely exposed. But, even as he sat down on the end of the bed and began to think, Blake knew it wouldn’t help him. No. He was going to beat Severra Guillard at his own game and best him. He was going to publicly embarrass him and force his followers to leave him.

Blake fell back and laid on the bed, looking up at the roof. He still could not believe that all of this had started with him speaking the words “I’m in”. It somehow seemed fitting.